Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-02-17
CHAPTER LII

" Lansing quickly cross
ed to her. She had risen
and stood pale and trembling. Into
his arms he swept her, and holding
her closely he smoothed her hair,
while he murmured words of love
and trust.
Don't tell me any more, dear" he
said as he released her. Il love you.
1 trust you perfectly. L shall forget
what you have told me and"
you would forgive me. Kirk. | was
sure of it." Now the words fell over
each other instead of coming in the
hesitating manner with which she
had commenced to speak. IF only
could believe you could forget, that
we could go on being the good
friends we have been without this
Good friends-why, Helen, you
love me, don't your"
"Yes-I love-you-Kirk." Again
speech came slowly. II tried not to
I didn't want to care-for anyone
Kirk. 1t would always be between
us-this that I did"
mo. dear-I swear it! You are
still my Helen, the same Helen you
were before you told me-"
In, miserable protest she raised
her hand.
There would be regret-always,
though he forgave fully"
Helen. life means nothing to me
without you; your love! I know you
love me. You have told me so in a
thousand ways. Marry me. dear,
trust asi+ me s I will In make you happy a S
standing before her, his hands clasp
ing hers while he pleaded. IT have
something else to tell you. Some
thing that happened herein New
York. But while I did no wrong,
anyone, people who knew. would
never believe. 1t is something your
friends would never forgive-or con-
done in your wife"
1T is nothing l will not both for
give and condone, dear"
Helen shook her head, then, in a
few words and in shame-faced
manner she told of her invitation to
Clifford Sloane's studio party. That
she had expected others to be there
but instead of leaving when they
did not come she had stayed on, al
though she knew the mans evil rep
utation. How the time had passed
because of the wonderful dinner. the
fascinating conversational powers of
the man. and Kato's marvellous mu-
sic. Then, not sparing herself, she
told of Sloane's insults, of her threat
to jump from the window before he
unlocked the door and released her.
bareheaded, her clothes in disarray,
in the early morning hours.
gone on another of his African trips.
Lucky for him he has" The veins
stood out like cords on Lansings
forehead, his face purpled with
wrath-the anger of a decent man
against one of Sloane's type.
But | was seen, Kirk. Don't you
realize that no one would believe me
innocent when I remained alone with
him until almost morning of my
own free will-that's the way he
put it."
"Who-put it? I don't under
stand"
The man who runs the elevator in
the studio building"
He talked to you about it?" still
dazed, Lansing queried.
Yes. He followed me. Saw where
l lived. Questioned the flower seller
on the corner Then came here"
The short sentences came jerkily, as
If 1t. It hurt to speak them.
'Then he-threatened to tell you"
Tell me! Why should he tell
He watched the house. He saw
you come here often, saw me go out
Win you. linen ne came and threat
ened to tell you if"
"Blackmail! The fellow should
have been arrested! What did you
do, Helen?"
I-paid-him-of course. 1 had
to, Kirk" as she saw his frown of
disapproval "At first he only threat
ened to tell you. 1 couldn't let him;
I couldn't! Then, when he found
was esperate-because l must tell
you that other-and I told him to
tell you if he wished, that you
would see him punished, he threat
ened to tell your friends. the people
you know, and so disgrace you be-
cause of me. I couldn't let him do
that. 1t was disgrace enough for
you to know mel" The last so Bit
terly it was like a cry of despair
$50 you let him bleed you, did
you, dear? Foolish girl. I know
Sloane. his methods with women. He
has been roughly handled more than
once because of them. I wish, of
course, you had left at once; that
you had never gone to his studio. By
the way, where was Adele? Why
didn't she go?"
THAT was the night she spent in
Yonkers. Everything worked against
me, Kirk
Don't think Of it again, dear. I'll
find that elevator runner and settle
him. He will never bother you-us
again"
You forgive me?"
Eyes, dear"
1t was such a trife. compared with
the other story; yet it had been
hard to tell.