Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-02-25
Chapter XIV.

w OMA4N Win IL luIul e
"A thought of myself. Perhaps ;
l was an egotist, but [ had
thought of myself as such d woman
for so long that it had become sec
ond nature. 1t is one of the great
seldom come true; that Cur hopes
of the future are so often dissolved
in the gray mistS of practical living.
[ know that lifes rareal. its su-
premest gift to woman, is the love
of the one man whom she longs to
hear call her wife" AS / look at
myself during this period OF my aife
| feel that l was Frank Ldmpheef'S
best woman friend and had l analy-
Zed our relation as thol oUSh!y as
have realized that was all. Not
that he was not perfect in my eyes
He was. Yet our courtship. ais WOO
ing was singularly calm and UNI
emotional-after the first few weeks.
L had learned to control my emotion
when [ perceived this caimneSS in
him, but if he noticed any difference
in me he said nothing of it.
Frank was suddenly called abroad,
so suddenly that we hal scarcely
time to say good-by to each other.
We would have to postpone our we'd
ding for a couple of months. 1t was
business that would brook no delay
and, after he had explained, L was
enough of a business woman to see
the necessity; to put no straw OF
selfish consideration in his way.
L have often wondered that had
L would L have been happier in the
end?
kissed me fondly and told me he
would hurry back as quickly as pos
help it even though i had been SO
sensible about his going. 1t made
me feel SO alone again. First father,
then mother, now Frank mad left
me. Of course Frank was only to
be gone a short time, but even SO, as
| watched the great ship sail out OF
the harbor, [ felt such q sudden
loneliness sweep over me shat [ had.
to argue myself into a diffCi ent feel
[ took a long walk. Suddenly l
stood still. An idea had come to me.
The wonder was that it mad not oc-
Cured before.
L would take Annie Fagin to live
with meat least until L was mar
so anxious was L to put this plan
into effect. Annie was such good
company, SO full of quaint conceits
so naively expressed, tnAt no one
could long be depressed 81 lonely if
she were around.
Come into my office, ANNIE" L
sale as l removed my things. She
iaiG aside her work at once and fol-
lGWet. me.
Annie" L commenced without pre-
amble, will you come and stay-ltve
with me a while?"
None of the girls knew of my en-
gagement, and l stifled an i'm ulse to
speak of it and give Franks alb
sence, my loneliness, as the reason.
Instead | said:
'Since father and mother died l
have lived alone with a maid. L
have an extra room and l am lonely.
Will you come and occupy that room
and help me to forget that L am
alone?"
thoug- l didn't mean what L said,
Then a slow flush of happiness suf-
fused her face, and she said in her
impulsive manner:
Really, do you want me, Miss
Morrison"
Il shouldn't ask you did not"
to live with you-and in that lovely
apartment" l had invited Annie and
Nina to dinner one Sunday some time
before, so she knew of my home.
Il hope it will be comfortable for
you and that you will be happy.
When can you Gomez"
1hSAI NV oAlO oc]tNS lhCIl IouoAA-
ingly: Sure it's a lucky Irish girl !
am; I'll come whenever you want me,
Miss Morrison, and will be proud and
gra teful." y
Every we'll; come over tomorrow
afternoon. You may go home early
to pack up" [ wanted a little time
II make some changes in the room
She was to occupy-to make it more
"girly.'
Not a doubt of the wisdom of my
course ever for a moment entered my
head. Annie was such a companion
able little soul. She was so sweet
AND pretty, and she never once had
presumed in any way because of her
rapid promotion or my very evident
liking for her Had any one told me
l was laying Up trouble for myself
hy taking her to live with me l should
have laughed at them and declared
that nothing but pleasure could pos
sibly be caused by having Annie with
me
SO little do we know what is on the
knees of the gods-what they have in
store for us.
Sometimes l have wondered if It
would have changed my life had
tolG Annie of my enga cement the day
I asked her to live with me.
Chapter XIV.