Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-11-14
CHAPTER XTU


jarI ed across my consciousness with
ing asunder harshly the things tina
had gone before.
$50 this Is the end" I unused Is
one in a dream. I was sure he't
Haunted himself out of the house
and would seek comfort for his in
jured feelings at the club. Not thai
/ cared. The feeling to care seemed
paralyzed. Philip and his mother
had by their actions, left me numb
dumb. So L sat for awhile, stupidity
gazing into space. 1 felt suddenly
quite old. Then, the remembrance of
the idea that had come to me when
L stood at bay holding my child to
my heart came back to me. And I
reused myself and faced the future
again, hoping for the best. 1 went
to bed, but sleep refused to come.
In the soothing darkness l planned.
1t must have been late toward the
morning hours when l slept, and
about day 1 awoke hugging close
the memory Of a beautiful and also
terrible dream. Across wide, free,
open spaces I'd been with Kenneth.
We rambled to far places, happy,
carefree, as of old. 1t was such 8
d1sjointed, disconnected dream, all
jumbled up together. Once Philips
mother was in my dream. She held
my baby in one arm, and with the
other she commanded me to stand
back! She seemed All-powerful and
majestically great. held out my
arms beseechingly, and her mouth
opened wide, and there came forth a
terrible, hooking, wicked laugh. I
shuddered, but crept closer. closer,
pleading for my child. Then she
whirled and ran over rocks and rough
places, until she came to a precipice.
Here she paused and looked back at
men, hideous grin on her face that
was wholly unlike Philips mother.
kept drawing nearer, resolution in
my pace. Then, of a sudden, she held
my child forth as If to throw him
into the depths Of the unknown,
across the preciptce, into blacklist
night
Then a strange thing happened.
Enveloped in a soft, radiant mist O.
light like angels who come and 60,
there appeared Stranahan-Edtth
Stranahan-at her side. Her strong.
young arms outstretched, and in the
tiniest sort Of an instant, in a breath,
Edith Stranhan's arms shot forth and
encircled my child, tearing it from
Philips mothers clutches. Then she
turned to me with a smile, like the
dawn of day, and 1oated toward me.
and placed my babe against my
breast. Then she slowly pointed to-
ward the precipice where tho other
woman still stood looking across the
great divide, and she stretched forth
her now empty arms and 1eadped into
the pit below!
gave a terrible scream.
It must have awakened me, as II
did others, for when opened my
eyes my thoughts were vaguely un~
easy. In a flash tho memory OF
Kenneth in my dream came over me;
then was quickly dissipated by the
terrible winding-up part.
Except, 1 felt somehow that the
dream was good omen, coming as
1t did, in the wake Of the plans that
were forming in my mind, gradual
ly growing Stronger all the while
But before I could think clearly
Philip was standing peering at y,
wide-eyed and wonderingly. "Wny
did you scream" he asked
II was dreaming-and 1t work me
up" replied, not caring somehow tt
go into details, especially about hi:
mother.
More evidence that you require q
hange," he muttered as he stalket
away sort of Disguised with me.
cit, because I'd unwitting1y disturb
ed his morning slumbers I lag
there thinking. for further sleep was
out Of the question. Soon I heart
faint stir, and looked around TO SEE
Stranahan standing in the doorway
looking at me- questioningly, as if
debating whether to turn and go OF
10 remain.
Somehow I felt differently towart
her already. The part she had play
ed in my strange dream so. tened my
heart toward her wonderfully.
smiled and whispered invitingly
Come I'M
CHAPTER XIV
She hesitated only for the moment