Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-12-30
CHAPTER XIV
A bohemian Crowd

We ate dinner at queer basement
place, and l was embarrassed because we
could not have a table to ourselves. Then,
too, l was uncomfortable because I could
not seem to enter into the informality Of
everything. People seemed to know each
other and called out from table to table,
and the air blue with cigarette smoke.
Mrs. Benedict smoked constantly, light
ing one cigarette after another. She SEEM
ed to know every one in the place and
was apparently enormously popular. "a"
She and Norman sat opposite and I sat
next to Mr.. Benedict, who did not Seem
to find me interesting. woman always
knows when is interested in her, but
try as l would l could not find anything
to talk about and finally "Bennie" devoted
most of his time to a bobbed-haired girl
who sat on the other side of him.
1 know that all during the meal Norman
thought me stiff and unnatural. He could
not know that in my heart 1 wanted to be
friendly, I wanted to like these friendsoof
his, but | had been brought up in a con"
ventional manner and 1 did not know how
to enter into things. 1 had to be met more
than half way and these people felt my
conventionality and held back from me.
Mr.. Benedict offered me cigarette, when
the dessert was brought in and L took it.
| had never smoked much and had never
inhaled, and when he held the match for
my cigarette l blew it out twice before
succeeded in getting light. 1 knew, that
Mrs. Benedict, or Vivian, as Norman called
her, was watching me quizzically and
knew that I was novice, and this in
creased my nervousness, so that l@hisat
through the rest of the meal with flaming
cheeks and downcast eyes playing with
my cigarette and having miserable time.
Afterward it was suggested that we go
to some ones studio and dance and | was
hoping that Norman would decline, but he
did no such thing. He seemed to be nav,
ing the time of his life, and I was forced
to make one of the gay crowd whether
would or not.
We went first to the studio of man
named Baker, where we danced while
and then went back to the Benedict place.
It was really very attractive there, with its
high ceilings and large studio skylight,
but the furnishings were shabby andT the
apartment had a rundown look InoHsnt
of my own fresh little place, VITA Dts
glistening woodwork and pastel colorlngs'
and was glad that I did not have to live
in New York's Bohemia, even though l
was forced to admit that the people were
charming. Their freedom from conNen-
tionalities was inviting, and their chafm
of manner was undoubted. Every one
something interesting to say, ana olh
could have forgotten my shyness II wosulu
have been stimulating. xra.,
Toward the end of the evening VlVlan
Benedict came over and sat pesloe meon
the couch.
II haven't had chance to say word
you'u think me very remiss as a hostess,
but village life spells a woman for enter
tanning, that and doing regular work every
day"
She held the inevitable cigarette between
her fingers, and there was a queer gypsy
charm about her, that even l could nfeel
1t seemed that she never still mo-
ment, she talked with all her features,
and a little dmple came and went at the
corner of her mouth when she spoke. l
could easily understand her popularity with
men, and as we sat there she chatting
lightly and easily and [ responding in my
ow preserved manner, l. could not help no.
ticing Norman's eyes as they wandered
away from the girl he was talking to and
rested every few moments on V1Ylans
vivacious, colorful face.
By mistake the foregoing chapter was not
published i'm it's regular order in Thursdays
issue. In Tuesdays issue will appear chap
ter XVII, an Unexpected Guest. -,