Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-04-15


had undertaIen-to keep Frank so
interested he would not miss Annie
unduIy and not allow his evenings
spent with ne to pail upon him.
Surely l might apply. some of my
business principles right here at
home. | would become expert rs Il
wife, expert in holding my husband.
| 1t looked like a big job just then.
| especially when thoughts Of Annie
Intrudcd. But [ never had f1inchcd
| because Il thing was hard to do. /
did not intend to finch from this.
| recalled nearing some one once
''What isn't worth working for
isn't worth having" | would work to
regain the love which had strayet
more than anything else in the
world.
that night before ! slept l added
10 my usual prayer 4 plea for help in
this I had undcrtaken-a prayer for
guidance in winning back the love
Of the man who had sworn to love
ana cherish me. | knew it was what
both father and mother would wish
me to do; that neither of them be
lieVed in divorce They would, if
living. tell me to put aside my pride
and think only Of my future and
Franks: the future we had prom
Used each other should be spent to.
gether.
easy task Frank really thought
himself in love with Annie. whether
he were or not. He was fretful, I'M
patient, ard while not obviously in
ConSiderate, there was no GpOntaneitN
in anything he did for me. In fact
at all pleasant or soothing. That
his long silences were pregnant
with thoughts of Annie [ imagined.
[ did not talk to him, neither did
| avoid doing so. If | were to win
aim away from thoughts of her it
must be in spite of her attraction
for him, and / might as well face
that fact at once
CEAPTER LXv
- do not make pretense that my
work for women was the best,
or even the first. work of the
kind to follow up the disband-
ing of our army, or that 1t in any
greater measure than did other work
gave women a chance to be economi-
cally helpful save that it was in
branch which heretofore had been
sole property of men. There were
trade schools. openings in big bust
ness, many fields for their endeav-
or to better their condition as well
as to helpfully assist their country
The Red Cross and allied war So
cieties still demanded the work OF
mayn, either as a free will Offering
or in paid positions. Yet [ still
felt that the banking business was
ideal for women, especially that part
having to do with woman investors
and investments for women.
Strange as it may seem. consider
ing my devotion to my work, l had
talked of it to Frank in way to
get him to express his opinion frank
ly. l do not know but l am inclined
to believe, that had he expressed a
tirNo Nv tn nDI @
manded that l give it up to please
him, l should have been tempted
in the. mood [ was into have done
so. Fortunately for me, for our fu-
ture happiness he made no such de
mands. 1 believe the man who
for him, takes away his wite's in
terest in others puts a peg in the
coffin Of his own happiness. SO now
| worked just as hard if not harder,
but after our talk ] said little or
nothing of my accomplishment un-
less he questioned me.
Our evenings became real relaXa-
ton for me as well as for him. /
soon realized that L had kept myself
keyed up to a sort of nervous strain
over my work, because it never was
out of my mind. L talked Of it so
constantly that | had crowded out
other and just as important things.
[ rested better, found myself fresher
in the morning than before l follow
ed Franks advice to lock my busi-
ness affairs away when I left them.
My music had become again such
a joy as it had not been since father
was taken from me. Frank grad
ually fell into his old trick of hunt
ing new songs and instrumental mu-
things he loved which L either never
had possessed or which had become
lost.
Lawrence Hart ran in occasionally.
Frank was much more cordial now
than he used to be when Annie was
spoke of his visits to her at Mrs.
Curry's and how very happy she
seemed to be with them.
When are you to be married."
Frank asked.
"Married!-Why, Annie hasn't con
blush more crimson than l did. He
knew nothing of Annie's remark
that day when she was trying to
compel Frank to desist in his love
making. And Franks question was
a surprise to him and an embarrass-
ment. l hurried to his rescue.
Frank is referring to something
Annie said 7ne day We were talk
ing and she sGid she was going to
marry you-proh<,hly to tease Frank
who commended thai she was too
young to marry"
"She was." Frank broke in.
Il shall hold her to her wOrd-if L
cam" Lawrence declared. And [ Ell
Their imagined it or he looked bright
er, happier than he had before. She
is growing older every day, you
know" he turned to Frank. youth
is something which one cannot hold
forever.
Annie has changed, don't you
to prove my husband in every way
possible.
"How changed?"
''She is more sedate, a little more
responsible since 1 took her with me
and since she has lived with Mrs.
Curry. You see, Mr.. Hart, Mrs. Cur
ry seems like a mother to Annie. She
is a semi-invalid and the care Annie
has given her has developed her
along a line which until she went
there to live had never come into
her life
"she suits me right down to the
ground Always has. 1 shall have
more hope of winning her after to-
night. Still object, Frank"
1 waited for Franks answer with
mingled feelings. I could not hold
Of Annie and her people that day in
hold him to his promise not to speak
to her for an indefinite period.
GO ahead. 1 haven't any objections
never had except for her ignorance
of the world" Frank said glibly, not
trace of anything like resentment
or regret in his voice.
Thanks, old man! I felt rather
hurt at your attitude III confess. But
she hasn't said yes yet by any
means" He finished so lugubriously
that [ laughed heartily, Frank join
ing me. That laugh of Franks prov
ed to me more than anything that
had yet happened that he. was get
ting over his infatuation for Annie.
(To Be ContinuedD