Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-06-06
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w. N ROBERT " CKAMBER5 IN WI
rCCPYRI1HT 1917

I smoke of every river boat, every
| locomotive speeding along the shores
| below, lay almost motionless above
| the water, tinged with the delicate
enchantment of declining day.
And into this magic veil Rue was
passing already through the calm
of a late August afternoon, through
| tree-emb pwered villages and towns
the names of which she did not know
swiftly, ineXorably passing into
the silvery points of arc-lights
stretched away into intricate geo.
I -atrical designs-faint traceries as
yet sparkling with subdued luster
under the sunset heavens.
Vast shadowy shapes lowered up
ahead-outlying public buildings
private institutions, industrial plants,
bridges of iron and steel; the ponder;
Gus bowed spans of which crossed
wildernesses of railroad tracks or
craft-crowded W. ters.
Two enormous arched viaducts of
granite stretched away through
sparkling semi-obscurity High
it became an increasing confusion OF
phantom masses against a fading
sky-bridgeS, towers, skyscrapers,
viaducts, bouIevards, a wilderness of
streets outlined by the growing bril-
liancy of electric lamps.
u6llly Tle6IluS
the SWarming maze of twilight ave-
nues, turned east across the island,
then swung south along the curved
parapets and spreading gardens OF
Riverside Drive.
Perhaps Brandes was tired; he had
become uncommunicative, inclined to
silence. He did point out to her
the squat, truncated mass where the
great General slept; called her at
tention to the river below, where
three grey battleships lay. A bugle
call from the decks came family
to her ears.
If Rue was tired she did not know
it as the car swept her steadily
deeper amid the city's wonders.
On her left, beyond the trees, the
great dwellings and apartments of
The Drive were already glimmering
with light in every window; to the
right, under the foliage of this end
summer-clad throng stro1Ied and
:dled along the river wall; and past
them moved an unbroken column of
automobiles, taxicabs and omni-
buses.
At Seventy-second street they
turned to the east across the park,
then into Fifth avenue south once
more. She saw the name of the
celebrated avenue on the street cor
ner, turned to glance excitedly at
Brandes; but his preoccupied face
was eXpressionles,;, almost forbid
ding so She turned again in quest
OF other delightful discoveries. But
there was nothing to identify for her
he houses, churches, hotels, shops,
on this endless and beWildering ave-
nue. of grey stone; as they swung
west into Forty-second street, she
caught sight of the great marble
mass mass of the Library, but had no
iCs
Into this dusky canon, aflame with
E light. they rolled, where street lamps.
the lamps of vehicles, and electric
signs daZzled her unaccustomed eyes
so that she saw nothing except Il
Llery vista filled with the rush nd
When they stopped, the chauffeur
dropped from the rumble and came
around to where a tall head porter
IN blue and silver uniform was open
ing the tonneau door.
Brandes said to his 'chauffeur:
Here are the checks. Our trunks
them aboard. then come back here
for us at 10 o'clock"
The chauffeur lifted his hand to
ms cap, and looked stealthily between
his fingers at Brandes.
good, sir"
Rue instinctively sought Brandes
arm as they entered the crowded
lobby, then remembered, blushed
and withdrew her hand.
Brandes had started towards the
desk with the intention of register
ing and securing room for the few
hours before going aboard the steam
er; put something halted hin1-some
instinct of caution. No, he would
not register. He sent their luggage
to the parcels room, found a maid
who took Rue away, then went on
through into the bar, where he took
a stiff whisky and soda, a thing he
seldom, did.
In the toilet he washed and had
himself brushed. Then, emerging,
he took another drink en- PEASANT,
conscious of an odd. dull sense of
apprehension for which he could not
account.
At the desk they told him there
was no telephone message for him.
RE sauntered over to the news stand
stared at the display of periodicals.
but had not sufficient interest to
buy even an evening paper.
So he idled about the marble-col-
umned lobby, now crowded with a
typical early-autumn throng in quest
of dinner and the various nocturnal
amusementS which the city offers
at all times to the frequenters of it's
thousand temples.
Rue came out of the ladies' dress
ing room, and he went to her and
guided her into the dining room on
playing. In her blue, provincial
ID &c 90 "a g