Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-02-17
CHAPTER Y
TIE Homecoming


~TEELE returned from Washington with
out writing beforehand to say when he
~ might be expected. He jumped into a
taxi at the station with strange sense of
exhiaration, and found on arriving at home
that Marcia had gone out to dinner and
from there was going to the opening of the
opera.
If Marcia had suspected for moment that
John would return during her absence she
would have refused the invitation, much as
she wanted to go. But it was the first i'll
vitation she had accepted since the advent
of Anne, and society functions were as food
and drink to Marcia; she fairly glorie7 in
them.
After he had gone to his room and had
had shower and change into fresh clothes,
Steele found himself suddenly restless. He
wandered into the library and leafed through
the evening papers carelessly, but his
thoughts wandered He found it difficult to
concentrate, and throwing the papers aside,
he lighted a cigar, and leaning his head
against the back of the chair, found himself
suddenly face to face with the thought that
was uppermost in his mind
He wanted to see Anne Temple and had
been subconsciously fighting the idea. II
was ridiculous, it utterly absurd, but 1t
was the truth, and having admitted it to
himself, he went on thinking of it.
Was it too late to see her? Had She al
ready gone to sleep? 1t wasn't 9 o'clock yet,
but, of course, she had been very ill and
there
asleep.
He tried to put the thought of seep. her
tonight out of his mind, but it persisted, in
spite of every effort to dislodge it, AT least
he could inquire about her. He might Intel
view the nurse who was in charge of her.
moment later he had rung for the maid
and when she appeared, told her to ask the
nurse who was taking care of Miss Temple it
she would mind coming down to the llor2ry
for few minutes.
1lroJ he -nCtl Ncc-
iy while he was waiting. 1t seemed an I'M
considerably long time before the door
opened and a stiffly-starched, rosy checker
woman came in. He wheeled about at the
sound of her footsteps.
"You wanted to see me, Mr.. Steele?" she
asked
Eyes wanted to ask about Miss Tample.
How is she getting along? My mother wrote
that she was improving rapidly, but thought
would inquire about her before [ weCt out
tonight"
The nurse smiled. ooh, she's getting well
fast. OF course she's still very weak, bat
there's an improvement every day. She sits
up for a couple of hours every morning now .
I'm glad to hear that" Steele spoke the
words mechanically. He was suddenly I'M
reasonably angry with the nurse. Her smii-
ing, good-natured face annoyed him. She
had an air about her of such utter com-
petence that he certain if he expressed
the wish to see Anne she would agreeahlT,
but firmly, refuse.
els she asleep now" He asked the words
abruptly.
81 don't think SO, Would you like to soc
her?"
Instantly the sense of irritation left him
and the exhilaration returned. eff you don't
think it would be bad for her | would IKE
to look in on her moment he heard him
self saying And then he following the
nurse up the stairs and down the corridor
to the room at the end. Outside the door
the last time he had been in this room he
! had held Anne Temple in his arms.