Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-11-28
CHAPTER XII
The Sernent's Tolls


The dance ended and Norman, with his
hand under my arm, propelled me toward
the veranda, where a minute ago Hash or
scarlet had disappeared. A second later we
had Joined a group gathered at one end OF
the porch. Margaret and Jim, Ruth and Ar
thur, Alice and Ted Hall, a nice boy, whom
I did not know very well, but who was OBJ
viously. bound up in Alice's tolls, and-Her-
bert Livingston
had not seen Herbert since my marriage
to Norman, and in the darkness l felt my
cheeks flush.
They all stopped talking we came up
and were watching me curiously to see how
I would greet Herbert. I was conscious of
the almost malicious CLEAN Of Alice's eyes.
and saw in flash what hadn't recognized
before. 1t had been Alices intention to warn
me against Norman in the hope that would
turn to Herbert before it was too late Ev-
cry one in our little crowd had known of
Herbert's attachment to me, and they had
all expected me to marry him. That was
before Norma appeared on the scene, but
Alice had been more concerned than any one
else because she had expected to win Nor
man for herself. 1 could see it all now.
At that moment I longed desperately for
Alice's aplomb, her carelessness of manner.
She would have managed the situation beau
tifully, while 1 felt shy and ill at ease. But,
as usual, Herbert made things easy for me.
His hand closed mine, and his greeting
was one of assured friendship. In moment
had forgotten everything but the fact that
we had been close friends, and was chatting
gayly. 1t wasn't until the music started for
the next dance that some of my earlier feel
| ing returned, for as turned in my chair
saw Norman's dark head bent low over Alice
and almost Immediately she rose and they
went into the ballroom together.
Jealousy rose in my heart, in spite of ev-
cry effort to crush it down. I was afraid of
! Alice l hated to have Norman dance with
| her. 1 feared The subtle fascination she ex-
| erted over him, and something of all this
| must have been in my face as T turned to-
ward Herbert in response to his Shall we
dancer" His honest blue eyes were suddenly
| very tender, and his quick sympathy brought
| sob to my throat, but 1 choked it back.
Where was my pride? Was I going to let
! Herbert see that was unhappy; Herbert of
| all people, who had asked me to marry him
| and whom l had refused?
! I forced smile to my lips. and moment
! later we were in the ballroom dancing. But
| my heart was heavy within, and in spite Of
| all my efforts l found myself feverishly look
| ing for Norman and Alice they circled the
room. Again, as on that night at Margaret's
when we had danced to the phonograph, Nor
| man was oblivious of every one else in the
| room. He never took his eyes from Alice's
| face, and she had tantaliZing way of look
| ing up at him, and then turning her face
| against his shoulder. l tried not to look at
| them, and yet every time they danced by
| us [ found it impossible to turn my eyes
| away. l breathed sigh of relief when the
| dance was over, but Alice and Norman did
not return to the group on the porch.
| The conversation hummed around me, and
[ tried to concentrate on what was being
said, and to respond myself, but 1 felt that
| my friends were making talk in order to re-
| lieve the tenseness of the situation, and that
| was more than / could bear.
InWardly L began to pray for Norman's re-
| turn, if for other reason than to save my
| pride. How could he stay away like this
with Alice Wilson? No matter what HE
| feelings were, had he no consideration at
/ all for me? But the moments drifted away
ard the next dance began, and still Norman
and Alice had failed to put in an appearance.