Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-28
CHAPTER XIV
REVELATION

REVELATION
r! was when the Harrimans went
down 10 their rar cUunt tt place tna
Charlotte suffered her keenest hui
miliat ton. She had been so intiml-
dated by the fact that nothing she
did seemed to please her new rela-
tives that she was utterly self-con-
scious and did everything under
strain.
She loved this place from the first
moment she glimpsed it through the
trees. The sweep of emerald lawn,
the curving driveway leading through
trees to the low white Colonial
house with it's wide verandas. Green
and white awnings added a color note
and carefully tended flower beds
blazed riotously here and there.
Here she had a freedom from the
irksome restraint that had held her
in the city, but here also she was
required to do things and to be places
where she felt entirely out of her
element. She would have loved
roaming through the grounds at tWi-
light or in the early evening, but in
stead she must be dressed in new
frock and motor over to the country
club where the young people danced
and the older ones sat i'll adjoining
rooms playing poker and bridge.
Charlotte was a hanger-on at dances.
She was too shy to tell people her
thoughts and her reserve was always
taken for primness by the younger
crowd, who were forced to take her
because of Tony.
Edith tried to teach her tennis, but
she showed no aptitude, she did not
show to advantage in any way until
they motOred over to the water one
day and Charlotte saw the ocean for
the first time. She was akin to it
inStantly-the wild waste of sea had
no fears for her-and she showed the
widest enthusiasm over learning to
swim. 1t was astounding the prog
ress she made and Tony was really
delighted, until after a strenuous
hour or two, she had to be carried
out white and faint admitting that
she had overdone. 1t had been her
one chance of making good with the
crowd and she had spoiled it.
1t was with mixed feelings that
she realized not long afterward that
she was to become a mother. She
dared not think of how she would
feel about this big event if she were
happy, but as things were at present,
would be pleased or not, and the
thought of telling him filled her with
Il vague terror. Fear gripped her in
it's tolls as we'll, for the thought of
being all alone without sympathy and
without understanding was over
Whelming.
She turned her head from side to
side restlessly, tears of sheer self
pity forcing themselves from under
her lashes and running down her
cheeks. Finally the sound of voices
in the hall recalled her to herself.
Tony might come in any minute and
he must not find her like this. She
forced herself to 4 sitting posture
and realized that she felt much bet
ter. Her brain was clearer, too, and
something of the wonder of it all had
brought a warm little glow to her
heart. For the present she deci led
not to speak Of it to any one; the
wonderful secret should be her very
own, and when she had the courage
to tell Tony the truth, who knows
perhaps he might welcome it as Won
derful news.
CHAPTER XIV
The Return of Nick
Ut WAS shortly before dinner and
Tony, in passing along the hall
l. on his way to his own room,
knocked on his mothers door.
Janice opened to him, holding the
door slightly ajar, but when she saw
who it was admitted him to the
nice had been with Mrs. Hartman
for six years and she had absorbed
all traditions of the family. Like all
people in her own class of life she
believed thoroughly in caste. AL
though nothing had ever been said
to her on the subject of Tonys mar
riage, and although she never would
have presumed to mention it herself
nor to allow any of the servants to
talk of it in her presence, she was
ShreWd, and knew exactly how Mrs.
Hartman felt about it. She felt that
Tony had married beneath him and
although she felt no enmity toward
Charlotte, she did not approve of
her as Tony's wife.
Mrs. Hartman was seated in a
chair with her head back, her face
covered with ice packed in soft
cloths. 1t was only by the greatest
care that she retained her girlish
complexion, and she emerged now
fresh and rosy as girl to smile, up
at Tony as he dropped into a low
chair near her.
THAT will do, Janice; you can go,
and I'll call you when L want my
hair done. What is it, dear?" as jan
ice withdrew, closing the door softly
behind her. HAS anything gone
Wrong?"
ToHy's face looked troubled ,
this afternoon that Nick Fowler was
visiting the Grants. He will prob
ably be at the club tonight"
Mrs. Hartman looked annoyed.
"Why on earth have the Grants in
vited him?" she said, biting her lip.
| ut isn't as if we didn't know them
we'll, we can't suddenly cut them be-
cause Nick Fowler happens to be
| their guest"
See here, MOTHER said Tony
| bluntly. You don't really think
that Charlotte would do anything un-
| dignified?"
Mrs Hartman was silent.
Don't you like her at all, mother?"
What do you think, Tony?" she
asked quickly. Are you entirely
satisfied with the way Charlotte has
been behaving? Does she seem to
! want to do the things that will please
| you, or is she always determined to
do just the opposite?''
"Shei doesn't like the young people:
she thinks they're artificial" Tony's
| tone was eXtenuating.
| Yes, she won't make friends with
Edith, and yet she likes that queer
Hastings girl, the one who wears the
queer clothes and goes in for literary