Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-06-17
BALLOT THE MAINsTAY

uldly the uILIloSI Spll1I VI Cn1Nd1ly.
BALLOT THE MAINsTAY
With woman suffrage now GER
tainty, we may expect instant ac-
ton toward the repeal of taxes on
corSets.-Baltimor American.
day to teach me. Only it is very
hard for me, because she speaks no
one word of my own aanguage. And
so far I understand nothing that she
says, which makes me more lonely
than l ever was in all my life.
But sometimes it is so absurd that
we both laugh.
am to study drawing and painting
at a studio for women. The kind
to study piano and voice culture.
This I did not suppose would be pos
Sible with the money [ have, but the
Princess Mistchenka, who has asked
me to let her take charge of my
money and my expenses, says that
I can easily afford it. She knows,
of course. what things cost and
what ] am able to afford; and
L trust her willingly because she
is SO dear and sweet to me, but l
am a little frightened at the dresses
she is having made for me. They
can't be inexpensive!E7such lovely
other things about which L never
even heard in Brookhollow.
I ought to be happy, Mr.. Neeland,
but everything is so new and strange
even Sunday is not restful; and
Paris and Saint Eustache from our
church at Gayfeld! The high arches
and jewelled windows and the can
dies and the dull roar of the organ
drove from my mind those quiet and
solemn thoughts. of God which al
filed mind co 1oo fJ1ral 1xr mr.
peacefully in our church at home.
couldn't think of Him; I couldn't
even try to pray; it was as though
an ocean were rolling and thunder
ing over me where I lay drowned
in a most deep place.
Well, I must close, because de-
jeuner is ready-you see I know
one French word. after all! And one
"BonJour, monsieur! (which
counts two, doesn't it?-or three in
|Iall.
1t has made me feel better to
write to you. I hope you will not
think it presumption.
And now 1 shall say thank you
for your great kindness to me in
your studio on that most frightful
things that girl can never, never
forget-your aid in my hour of need.
Through all my shame and distress
it was your help that sustained me;
for 1 was so stunned by my disgrace
that [ even forgot God Himself.
But I will prove that I am thank
full to Him, and worthy of your
goodness to me; / will profit by this
dreadful humiliation and devote my
life to a more worthy and lofty pur-
just because man asked me so per-
sistently and I was too young and
ignorant to continue saying no! Also,
I did want to study art. How stupid,
how immoral I was!
And now nobody would ever want
to marry me again after this-and
also it's against the law, I imagine.
sire to marry another man. All I
want is to learn how to support my
self by art; and some day perhaps
/ shall forget what has happened to
me and perhaps find a little pleasure
in life when 1 am very old
With every wish and prayer for
your happiness and success in this
world of sorrow, believe me your
grateful friend, RUE CAREW.
Every naive and labored line of
the stilted letter touched and amused
and also flattered Neeland; for no
young man is entirely insensible to
young girls gratitude. An agreeable
warmth suffused him; it pleased him
to remember that he had been as
ISOLATED in the moral and social re-
l1LdLlOu OIL nue. SdISW.
He meant to write her some kind,
encouraging advice; he had every in
tention Of answering her letter But
in New York young men are very
busy; Or think they are. For youth
space space of avn a hreay's dingering has h?
and the moments swarm by like
fight of distracted golden butter
flies; and young man is ever at
their heels in GREATNESS chase with
as much chance of catching up with
the elusive moment as squirrel has
of outstripping the wheel in which
he Whirls
So he neglected to reply-waited
a little too long. Because, while her
childish letter still remained unan-
swered came a note from the Prin-
cess Mistchenka, enclosing a tremul-
Gus line from Rue:
Mon cher James:
Doubtless you have already heard
of the sad death of Ruhannah's par
ents-within a few hours of each
other-both stricken with pneumonia
within the same week. The local min
lister cabled her as Mrs. Brandes in
my care. Then he wrote to the child;
the letter has just arrived.
talks wildly of going back at once.
But to what purpose now, mon ami?
Her loved ones will have been in
their graves for days before Ru-
hannah could arrive.
No; I shall keep her here. She is;
young; she shall be kept busy every
instant of the day. That is the only
antidote for grief; youth and time it's
only cure.
Please write to the Baptist min
lister at Gayfield, James, and find
out what is to be done; and have it
had charge of the Reverend Mr.. Ca
reWS affairs. Let him send the
necessary papers to Ruhannah here.
l inclose a paper which she has eX-
ecuted, comforting power of attorney.
If a guardian is to be appointed, l
the good offices of LeJeune Brothers,
the international lawyers whom
have put into communication with
| Judge Cary through the New York
representatives of the firm.
There are bound to be complica-
tons, | fear, in regard to this mock
| marriage of hers. | have consulted
my attorneys here and they are not
very certain that the ceremony was
| not genuine enough to require fur
| Their legal steps to free her entirely.
A suit for annulment is possible.
Please have the house at Brook
| hollow locked UP and keep the keys
in your possession for the present.
Judge Cary will have the keys sent
| to you.
James, dear, I am very deeply in
debted to you for giving to me my
| little friend, Ruhannah Carew. Now,
1 wish to make her entirely mine
| by law until the inevitable day ar
rives when some man shall take her
| from me.
Write to her, James; don't be sell
| fish
Yours always,
|. NAIA.
The line inclosed from Ruhannah
| touched him deeply:
I cannot speak of it yet. Please,
when you go to BroolhoIlow, have
| flowers planted. You know where