Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-02-26


H~ OMEn Helen called care
lessly. The door opened
~ to admit John Blackston.
White as a ghost, Helen
rose from her chair.
"You-here?"
yes, as you see. Amt you going
to ask me to sit down, my dear
Helen?'
"No-I want you to goat oncew
Then: Il have nothing to say to you
lever" A slight tap and Adele came
running into the room, only to stop
aghast.
so she was the cause of your
treatment of me-" He spoke to Adele
Yes, thank God. she told me in
timer Adele exclaimed. Then: Shall
NO, .stay!"
II suppose you know that she, the
woman who poisoned you against me.
lived with me-"
II know all her story, so you may
save your breath" Adele Interrupted
so tiercely he covered II know how
you deceived her, how you lied to her
even that you struck her. j should
not have endured one 1.-THE of what
she did,
80 you think now-but a woman
WIZ ctCCCpIS IIIS pOSlLIOI sic dCC0pI6u
must take the consequences"
Adele said nothing but was at loss
to account for the cringing look upon
Helen's face-a look that blasted all
happiness from it.
What do you want? What have
in voice from which the disdain
had fled. Something almost servile
had taken it's place.
"Just to see how you were getting
on. Who pays the bills?"
II pay my own bills. l write
stories"
His rancous laugh rang out.
II suppose you use your own life!
Glad you don't have to draw on your
imagination do you? Stories"
yes. she writes such stories that
editors tumble over each other to get
them" Adele's eyes snapped angrily.
please go now, Adele. I'll listen
to what he has to say"
With not a glance at the man she
had once thought she loved, unheed-
ing his sneering adieuX. she bent
over Helen and whispered: ..
"Pll stay in the hall" then passed
out and once again Helen was alone
so terribly.
Now say what you have to say.
II hear you are going to be mar
ried. Lansing is the fellows name,
l believe"
"Yes, / am going to marry Mr.
1--WE been looking him up. You see
I'm interested. Rich, good-looking,
good social standing. All even a good
woman could ask for"
What do you want?"
"Oh, nothing very much. Just to
renew our acquaintance. I fancy that
some day Mr.. Kirk Lansing may be
useful to me. You see. Helen. I am
poor man now. You helped me
spend money when 1 had it. I may
need your help to get more"
Mr.. Lansing knows all about you
thank God!" The last under her
breath.
."Yes-but does he know all about
you?" The sheer was unmistakable.
"Ah! I thought not!' AS he saw her
white face grow still whittier. when
the time comes l shall have some
thing to tell him. something that 1
think will interest him. Now I will
bid you good afternoon. You see l
have Adele's treatment also to thank
you for. Quite a settlement we shall
have some day"
Adele entered upon his going. With
out a word Helen sank to the floor
in a faint.
With difficulty Adele got her into
the bedroom and on the bed. She lay
back on the pilloWs-face and lips as
white as the linen.
"I'm going to call Mrs. Cook and
a doctor" Adele said as Helen opened
her eyes and fixed them upon her in
a sort of helpless terror.
mo, no! Don't CO. Stay" Helen
whispered, clutching Adele's wrist
stay have something to tell you"
Never mind telling me anything
now" Adele soothed. then as Helen's
slim body was torn with anguished
sobs she wondered what it was that
Helen wanted to tell her-something
to. do with Blackton's- visit she was
sure, so something that could wait.
Cry all you want to, dear. it will
do you good" she said, smoothing
the hair from the weeping girls
brow. You are sure you aren't ill?'
'No, Adele-only soul-sick!"
ITO Rn Continued