Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-06-30
CHAPTER III

IH
NE ever resented anything in her
L. VI much spoiled life. Jean re-
santed the entrance OF Mark
Brand into her existence. When Mr..
Heas!1p had mentioned her guardian,
she had felt frozen, incapable Of
was not like her father to do any
thing of that kind. Why hadn't he
told her of this man? And who was
he; Why hadn't she known of his ex-
istence? 1t was an more than she
could understand. And yet the fact
thing! to do with her life. A stranger
was to come out of the west who
would evidently expect her to do as
he said. Her chin went up at the
thought. She who had never obeyed
any one, who had always been in
dulged, whose slightest wish in the
past had been considered and grant
ed, was now to submit to man she
had never seen and worst of all a
man with the name Of Mark Brand.
She shuddered every time she said
the name over to herself.
Mark Brand! It reeked of cattle,
and rough things that she despised.
In imagination she could see this
man, ugly and bettle-browed. She
contrasted him with her father, 50
gentle, so high-bred and SO consider
ate with women. No doubt this Mark
Brand would have not the slightest
idea CT what to do in the presence Of
q woman. If only she were not so
helpless she could refuse to see him
even If he were her guardian. But
the fact remained that she was pen
niless, that she had not been brought
up to work and the thought of the fu-
ture was vague and terrifying.
With a shudder Of distaste she
heard the elevator door clang outside,
and quick. firm steps rang out on
Cd q
the ring of the bell. the ring that she
had been waiting for, and with her
chin held high, and her gray eyes
cold and disdainful, Jean went to
open the door.
Jean stepped back. He did not
even call her Miss Northrup. o, she
was right, he was impossible!
IT am Jean Northrup," she said
evenly, and he came into the little
entrance hall seeming to fill all the
tiny space with his big bulk.
In the living room she looked at
him curiousIy. He was very tall, and
his body, under the ready-made suit,
was superbly built. His face was
tanned to deep brown, and his eyes,
which she had expected to be dark,
were curious blue. They were as
full Of curiosity as her own as -
looked at her searchingly, and she
turned away with a little flush
spreading suddenly over her white
face.
He was thinking, what poor lit
tie white-faced creature" And then
as he looked at her more closely he
saw that she was not frail, but very
perfectly made, with small bones and
that the color Of her 1F,,a skin III w was baa
mounted on that mustang of mine
he thought, "she looks as if she could
ride"
"Of course you know who I am"
he said abruptly.
Yes" Jean replied. But l neVe'
heard of you until this week"
Your father never spoke Of me
then"
No"
And you don't like the idea Of
guardian thrust upon you NE NE tnds ms
do you?" he spoke quizzlcally' and
Jean thought his speech rough ana
uncultivated. although he spoke cor
She struggled for a moment to
speak, and her disdain of him spoke
in every line OF her face ,
ing forward. You needn't be fright
ened of me; your father was a tlne
man and he trusted me. He ana my
father were friends years ago ana ~
was for that reason that he asked me
ed me. You do need me now you
haven't a cent, have you?"
YOU speak to me like that?" she burst
out hotly. mo, 1 don't need you,
don't want ever tC see you again.
words were out, she realized that she
was helpless, she could no longer af-
ford to ask and choose her friends.
ITO Ea continued,l