Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-04-18
CHAPTER LXVT

! A NNIE had been gone three days
IN when l went up to see Mrs
my class and so had luncheon
with the dear old lady. She seemed
delighted to see me, as she always
did, and more than delighted to talk
of Annie.
What lovely child she is!' she
enthused "She sings like bird and
fairly radiates brightness. The idea
that any one could think she belonged
to that awful Fagin man! Father
had him up here last night and [ saw
him as he was going into the library.
He looked common and-tough.
was dirty. too. 1t made me sick to
think Of that dainty girl ever having
been near him."
Has he told Mr.. Curry anything
NO. Not anything positive Fa-
see if he can't get more money. But
he is evidently very hard up, so ia
Their says, and will come to terms"
at will be wonderful if he finds
that Annie belongs to really nice peo-
pie, will it not?"
II believe we shall. All I am afraid
of is that they will take her from
us. I have a little plan of my own
involving the child. I wanted to talk
to you about it. 1t is providential that
you came in just now. [ want Annie
to stay with us. SO does father. You
and Frank are young, almost bride
and groom, and do not need her. We
her to us until either her own people
claim her or she marries? You will
see her often. She will visit you and
you and Frank are always more than
welcome here, as you know"
That there was a destiny shaping
all the tangled ends which had so
worried me I believe. 1 should not
lose Annie altogether so long as she
was with Mrs. Curry; yet she would
be away from Frank. He would be
free from the temptation of her
presence. I should miss her, Of
course, but knowing she was happy,
that [ could see her whenever
wanted to meant a great deal to
me.
"Have you spoken to Annie?"
YES, last night when she was
playing maid for me. Perhaps L
should have talked it over with you
first, but she waited upon me SO deft-
ly, seemingly because she wanted to
her ministrations were so different
from Martha's, although she is well
enough in her way-that I asked her
if she would consider staying with
an old woman"
what did she say, If ! may ask"
She said if you thought it best she
would love to. But she would prom
Use nothing until she had seen you. l
never saw such devotion, such love
between women as she feels for you.
Were you older L should say it was
the love child gives a mother. AS
it is, she looks upon you as almost
saint and IS the person who has
made her life worth living. I think
she is right Olive. You did a Won
derful thing for her when you took
her into your home"
"she has given me a great deal of
said it I blushed to think that 1 had
almost doubted Annie for time. And
had L been wise to take her into my
home?
$50 you are willing she shall stay
Yes, if she thinks best" L knew
we'll she would think best-and why.
But l had no slightest idea that Mrs.
Curry knew also; that her husband
had told her of Annie's confession to
him, and they together had planned
to have her live with them as the
best solution of the situation.
When Frank came in to dinner L
told him. 81 stopped at Mrs. Curry's
for luncheon today. Frank. She IS
delighted with Annie and wants her
to remain with them until she mar
ries." L purposely put it in the way
[ did. Frank did not yet know that
her saying she intended to marry
Hart was simply to spare me and