Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-04
By Carolyn
BeeCher
ONE WOMAN'S
STORY

Ambition is a fine thing for a young
man if il is directed in the right chan
nels. mans ambition Will Keep MN
straight and strong better than any oth-
er one thing. 1t is sometimes hard Tor
US. their wives, to give way, but If we
only understand and help, we soon for
get ourselves and think only of them.
Tim saws your husband is becoming
very popular and that when he gets
ready to run for some office he's surely
be elected. My husband is a great pol
itician. YOU know"
wanted to say that / did not care to
have Robert in office. that | needed all
his spare time for myself. That L mated
living i'm Clearyillc and wanted TO move
to some large city. That | craVed soc1e-
n and amusements as ] had known
them in my fathers home, but as l look-
ed into her sweet, earnest face | Just
couldn't give expression to my reoel-
lious thoughts, so l. only smiled and
changed the subject.
we talked of my boy. She had had
son-"Tim, Jr." she called him.
The good Lord took him when he
was only two years old. Perhaps he
took him from trouble and sorrow SO
I try not to complain, and l have the
memory" Her smile was so sadly
sweet l scarcely could keep back the
tears. go,
How can you be so calm about lt!-
I asked, cold with fear as l thought OF
what / Mould do were my baby TO De
taken from me.
cit was hard at first, doubly hard be-
cause Tim grieved so, although he tried
not to let me know But ne was SO
proud of his little lad. l had to be
brave for his sake Then, too, l had
much to be thankful for; it might have
been Tim"
Would ii have been harder for me to
lose Robert or my boy? AS L look
back ] could not then answer that ques-
ton. Now I know, but in those lean'
unhappy years it is doubtful.
After she had accepted my invitation
to dinner, l promised to bring oapy
Bruce to see her very soon. L went
home in a particularly softened MOOD
and spent the entire afternoon with
baby. pleading handache when Tod
Freeman called as an excuse for not
seeing him.
How could Mrs Mulhany be so re-
signed ?"' | asked myself as l Rugged
nv precious boy closely in my arms.
What If anything should happen to
him? resolved I would be good and
patient if only God would let me
keep him. AS usual, l meant tat the
time.
I haven't said much of my housekeep-
ing trials after baby came. They SEEM
ed INSIGNIFICANT when l had something
else to occupy my mind; although they
were Just as vitality uncomfortable for
Robert as before. 1 hadn't materially
improved. My table was as badly man
q ged; my house and myself often un-
tidy Occasionally Robert voiced his
disgust. but not often. 1 guess he saw
1t did no good.
But 1 had determined that this, my
first real dinner party in ClearVille
should be a success. So l hired
woman to come in and prepare the food.
Martha could wait fairly we'll, and her
sister would come to look after the
baby
L remember the menu for that dinner
as though it were yesterday. We had
oysters, cream marshmallow soup,
salmon, broiled young turkey, salad,
dessert and coffee. Robert sent home
some light wine. When l proposed
having cocktails-the Caldwells always
did-he vetoed it instantly.
81 don't care to serve liquors. A
light wine is sufficient" he declared.
l had bought a new dress for the oc-
casion, a lovely shade of rose pink, a
color ] knew was becoming. ! had been
more than satisfied with 1t until Holland
Lansing InEe" OIL H6T evening -lOdh
Her dress was of some silvery stuff,
made perfectly plain. without one bit Of
color about her anywhere except her
wonderful bronze hair and eyes. 1t
made my dress look cheap and common
by contrast, although 1t was neither. l
thought at once of what Robert had
said about knowing how to dress to
bring out her good points. She was
indeed fascinatingly lovely, and 1 felt
all my jealous fears arise as she
swept into our little living room.
l watched Roberts face as he greeted
her, and his admiration was so plainly
expressed 1t should have disarmed me,
instead of spelling my whole evening
for me.
I had Robert take Mrs. Mulhany in,
while l went in with Tim. l paired
Holland Lansing off with Tod Freeman
and put them as far from Robert as the
small space allowed. Myrtle went in
with George Cutting. and Ned with Miss
Sloane, an indeterminate sort of girl
who fitted in anywhere, and to which
fact she owed numerous dinner invita-
lions.
The dinner was perfectly cooked and
although the service was very poor, l
could see that Robert was pleased.
fCou&1nuad Naw& T.~raN