Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-19

|
Tomorrow morning about eight"
MAY I go with you?" 1 wanted to
know.
/''You've no business going. You're
! to rest or you'll be sick next. You're
only flesh and blood, you know"
But I've got to go!'' I cried con-
vincingly. why, if I couldn't get
| there any other way, I'd walk. I'm
| going 1 must go!' [ declared.
"Oh, we'll, if it's all that bad, come
along with me, but remember it's as
say. You need a rest. 1 can't
understand you at all. You know
yc- don't have to work as you've
been +oing. Everybody knows that, "
and he walked on.
1 wondered how much everybody
knew. What did Clarke Warren
| know?
After all, I was most concerned
over what he knew, or had heard
from others lips. He'd never in
quired of me concerning my past,
still he knew the commonly known
facts in the case. 1 was a widow,
etc 1 dressed plainly, of course.
My best dresses remained hidden
IIOllI Wow anu elI4 GU OAAlS III Lily
room, when alone.
Well. the following morning I was
ready to go out with DR.. Warren.
1t was a March day, and spring
was on the way. Farmers plowed
and the odor of the fresh p1owed
ground was waited to us by the gen.
tie breeze, as we raced along up
hill and down, over good roads and
bad. L loved that earthly tang in
the air; a message from natures
own bosom to me. He loved it, too,
he said so.
L was strangely glad, deep down
in my heart, that wonderful morning.
just glad to be alive. Glad to be
on my way to Burnt Oak Ridge.
Glad to feel, at last, Jason SWaford
had need of me! And, with it all, a
strange, new, surging joy sweeping
over my heartstrings, because as
travelled onward to be of help to
Jason Swaford, L rode at Clarke War
rens side, and hearing his strong,
deep tones brought quiet satisfaction!
/ felt rested. [ felt secure and safe
from all the storms of earth. My
bruised and bleeding heart seemd
slowly healing-his presence brought
balm to a Wearied soul. Our journey
was mora interesting because, in the
course of time, we came to places
I'd known when a child. The old
country store, the mill, run by water,
the new school, built to replace the
old one that burnt down. And we
found we both remembered our few
schooldays when we were a couple
o. kids Then, he mentioned our gum
chewing days. 1 quickly changed
the subject.
He laughed and looked at me keen
ly but my eyes were downcast and
shining! Because, all at once, l
glimpsed the scar on my third finger.
The scar reminded me of my first
lie--for him And, almost uncon-
sciously, my other hand slid over
the scar protectingly.
When we reached Jason Swaford's
L had the surprise of my life.
They lived in the house where
Kenneth was born! And it occurred
to me that now 1 owned this farm,
because dad had given me the scrap
of paper before he died and the rents
went west to my agents hands to
| be properly accredited to my &C
! count! Mine! It's funny how a
, piece of land can look so different
when one experiences the feeling Of
| ownership! Scraggly acres. Run
| down, needing building up, but
somehow it's red gullies stared at
turous sensation of Mine, mine,
mine" thrill every fiber Of my be-
| ing.
I'd be only Mrs. Swami to these
people. My father was Carnes; no,
they'd not guess. Anyway, their
to my agent there.
So it was L entered the Swaford
home, honor bound to pay the debt
I owed him, because he'd saved my
brothers life SO long, long time
ago!
L was lost to Clarke Warren the
moment we entered the house. His
| thoughts for me were Immediately
drowned out in the business at hand.
| His keen mind was strictly on his
patient. L would not have had it
| otherwise. Oh; I'm glad he's like
| that.
CHAPTER xxxv
| Mrs. SWaford, | found, was suf-
| foring from nervous exhaustion,
| among her other complaints. An
| opera ton was required if she ever
| recovered, but at present she must
| be built up in order to successfully
| undergo that ordeal.
The children were mostly grown
up and had moved far away. The
single boy worked in the city, so 1
fitted in agreeabl because 1 was
sorely needed.
The house and furniture were quite
ordinary indeed. Comforts they had
net. DR.. Warren left instructions
| for me to carry out and in a few
days I'd settle myself down, adapt
| ing myself to things generally. Doc
tor came every day until Mrs. Swa-
q LIZ. Il .alaxASL LIZA