The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-09-17
By MIGNoN HALL

OtN HALL
 in the face-screaming at you-and you meander off into the wrong guess. No wonder women go wild having to deal with you brutes. What women want IS Tor you to ask them what Is the matter--beg them to make you their confidant."
 Bob's lips frightened in self-accusa- tion.
 T admit I'm brute. all right. If I had dreamed or such a calamity as this I never would have gone to At lanta."
 Annette dsregarded his answer.
 For Loves Sake
 Forgive me if l hurt you, Bob. but was there ever anybody in the world that your mother may have loved to the breaking point? I don't mean your father. But maybe some other"
 q don't know of anybody. Still. of course, it might be true"
 Well, Bob, my guess~<is that she Is doing this for someone she loves more than she loves her life. Don't you see, she went of her own accord and even knew she was going? But she had to give you up against this greater icve. If she ever meant to return she felt 1t would be a long time-and, knowing her physical weakness, what she said to you was her goodbye"
 But great heavens-that's a ter rible thought! Do you mean to tell me you think my mother would give up her home and family to follow an old dream?"
 T don't exactly say that, Bob--but 1t was something which concerned her heart that took her-you can be ,f ha al careful of the money you gave her. Don't you see the problem she was up against made her even forget that made her sacrifice her earnest inter- est in your fortune for the other thing-whatever that may be?"
 Spoil Happiness
 She put out her hand:
 "Oh. Bob. I felt just like I had to tell you that-because l some low have had a fear that you might in your avid interest really spoil a great happiness for her. don't believe I'd push things too closely. Bob. Give her little time"
 "Timel I can't Why Annette. no telling what on the face of the earth is happening to her. Sorry-you may be right. But I have 10 keep on"
 He turned, murmured goodbye and left the house.
 But he became a firm believer in woman's intuition after he had reached the Elberton home. For, from plain envelope, he unfolded this surprising and unexpected message from his mother.
 His fingers trembled as he read.
 Dear Bob:
 'I want you to quit looking for me. I don't want to come back, am going to far country to live, where I will be a great deal happier than I was in Birmingham. l have the chance now to do what 1 have wanted to for a long time. You may say I ought not to desert you; but you don't know the circumstances, and I feel I will get well now be- cause I won't have to worry about anything again. You have been fine son-better than I deserve. But I must do what 1 want to do. l am not alone. but with someone who will take care of me. l would feel terrible to come back. So don't make me. I hate to write this be- cause 1t may make you feel bad, for I would rather you would re- member me like 1t was when told you goodby. I am feeling fine. l will never write again. "Ano so no more.
 "E. LANDoN." Just Arrived From Bob's face all the color had receded. He looked haggard.E lie turned upon the maid who had just entered.
 "when did you get this letter."
 "In the mornings mail. sir. The paper was plain and told no tales Only the Birmingham post mark was visible. It must have been mailed by some friend of his mothers in the city.
 Although a thought flashed into Bob's mind that his mother might have been coerced to write the letter, he banished this instantly. For the letter forced belief into his very soul. It showed she had been aided in its expressions and spelling: but 1t sounded like his mothers old d-time form of reasoning before her illness in the days when she was able to take care of herself. It possessed the old time stolidity; brought be- fore him times when, in her dirty