Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-12-26


have had to go to hospital for care,
but while he would, of course, have
been welcome in any of their homes,
they could not have given him the
care he deserved. He was now at
an age when he ought not longer
to live alone, and to show their APP
probation for his many kindnesses
they would make up the deficit,
whatever it might be, after the store
and house were sold, to buy him a
life membership in a home for the
aged.
And if you should at any time
| need spending money-why, you
know where to strike" he had fin.
ished with a great laugh, in which
| everybody joined. But Cadwalader
understood. They regarded him as
old and helpless and needing care
they declined to give. In other
words, they washed their hands of
| him. He looked down the long table
at Jack, so many years his chum,
| but Jacks eyes were on his plate
his face twisted with an unnatural
smile. Bella, too, his pet, was intent
on her child in the high chair at
her side. Not face quivered, not
an eye met his and a surge of anger
so great that it swept away every
other feeling, took possession of him
But he remembered they were
guests in his house for the last
time, but none the less guests. When
they were ready to go he walked
with them to the gate, opened it
and stepped aside, bowling and smil-
ing at each BEST wishes, Uncle
Cad" and MANY happy returns" "
But when they turned to wave a
last goodbye, though he still stood
there. there was no response. He
did not even see them. He was
facing the ruin of his life, his sacri-
fees, and they included his young
manhood, his mature life, every
qualification and opportunity and
pleasure, and they had amounted
to this.
The house they proposed he should
sell he had built for Mildred More.
his sweetheart, and their wedding
day was but month in the future
when Floss, his sister, had brought
her four children and come to him,
widowed and penniless. He could
not turn them away. After three
years she went away and he knew
the end had come. She married for
money, she wrote him. She hated
poverty. If there had been money
Floss could not have stood between
them. She would always love him
but she had married. After that he
was SO lonely and hopeless he was
glad he had Floss and her children.
But it had been a great strain.
The little store which had been his
fathers and which he had regarded
as a means of living only till his
great work was perfected was the
means by which they all lived, that
and the royalties from small sue
cesses, important only as promises
Of something greater. But even then
the expense of educating them had
not been met. 1t had required a
mortgage for that he thought bit
terly, one still in effect. Worse than
all had been the encouragement and
exhaustion that prevented, him get.
ting the link that was missing in
his invention.
But he got it finally during his
convalescence in the hospital, when
he felt man again, a drudge no
longer. 1t had come then without
an effort. The firm that had used
his first work was eager for this,
and the sale was made with the
money in the bank before he planned
| his birthday. He had wanted praise
and the appreciation he had never
! had, and instead, would you buy
one of my calendars?" voice sud
denly asked MY Sunday school
class is trying to raise some money
for the Armenian orphans. I saw
you sitting here and thought per-
haps you'd buy. A pretty cold place
to sit! Mop" The child laughed