Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-11-06

by, old maid, dying in lovelessness
and loneliness, leaves her fortune to her
niece and .namesake, on condition that
the girl marry before she is 35 Althea
falls in love with young DR.. Peter Graz
ham and they marry but Althea does
not tell him about the strange condition
in the will! He hears two gossips dis
GUESSING it, and though he loves his bride,
he believes their word that she married
him to get possession OF the $50 900
bequest Naturally, his manner toward
her becomes cooler. She observes this
and becomes reserved alsO.z-NOw go
with the story.
CHAPTER XIV
~ EFORE their relations had become so
* strained Althea had taken great delight
in fixing UP the house they were to
occupy. The first floor to be used by Peter had
received special attention and she had spent
literally in spite of his objections, to make
it attractive as we'll as businesslike. When
it was ready he thrilled with pride although
deprecating the fact it had been done with
Althea's money. The plain, softly tinted
walls, the rugs, the office furniture all in
good taste, the reception room, bit less
formal yet still part of the office, gave this
impression of lucrative practice. And DR..
Graham knew the help such an impression
was.
The second floor, furnished almost entire
ly from the Holden cottage, consisted OF
large living room, library and dining room.
The third floor held the sleeping ROOM also
nearly furnished from the cottage. 1t was q
most attractive home when all in order and
Althea felt she should love it dearly-until
she allowed herself to believe Peter did not
love her. Then for time it was as ashes
in her mouth; she could take no pleasure
in it.
But Althea was young, and youth is resl-r
lent. Mollie came OFTEN as did others Althes
knew. Their praise of her home, their envy
almost of her good fortune braced her to
hide her unhappiness to pretend she was
content.
ga home like this, and such a handsome
husband, wonder you are happy Nell
Langford said. She was a California girl,
the daughter of well-to-do parents, and had
known Althea and her mother in the West.
"And to think she went on, "that you had
rich aunt who left you a lot OF money and
summer home. Why, Althea, if thought
should do half well I'd be just about
crazy"
Althea parted. She talked of her aunt,
told some little anecdotes OF her life the old
lawyer had retailed to her. She showed her
linen closet, the shelves piled to overfiowing
with fine linens, then took out of trunk one
OF the stiff black grosgrain silks Miss Crosby
Invariably wore, and Nell tried it on.
Anything to stop her from talking about
how happy she was.
'She must have been a very stately old
lady to wear gowns like this, Nell said as
she preened herself before the mirror, "ahd
tall. See how long it is for me-"
"She was tall and very stately, so 7 am
told" Althea answered. Taller than | am.
People were bit afraid of her, 7 gathered.
She was lonely
What makes you think she was lonelyf
You never saw her"
ooh, just an idea OF mine,'' Althea re-
turned thinking of the diary. "Then she.
left some writing--a few letters"
Poor woman Nell said her hands ca
ressing the silk of the dress. after all,
Althea, it isn't what we have so much as it is
having some one to enjoy it with us, is it?
And you, lucky girl have small fortune all
your own and perfect husband to help you
enjoy it. You want to watch him." she
added mischievously. II have always heard
that doctors are particularly susceptible.
And Peter does have some good-looking pa
tents A stunning girl came in just before
/ did" F
"Nonsense!" Althea replied laughing q
little, but flushing Doctors see so many
women they cease to be interesting to them
as women; they are simply patients" :
Don't fool yourself and don't trust wom- :
en-, even patients, too far with Peter. You'll
be sorry il you do
The conversation had been all merry ban
Ter, DuC AFTER Nell IeIL ner AlLn6a SAT very
still for long time thinking Of what she had
said. Peter was handsome, attractive. Per-
haps some patient would fall in love with
him--but he-why--~he didn't love her-he
might also be intrigued
Molie had talked the same way, telling
Althea she had better be awfully good to
Peter or someone would steal him. Althea
wished they would stop talking to her in that !.
way. Knowing Peter didn't love her had
not stopped her loving him. If anything she
loved him more passonately now that she
felt obliged to hide that love from him, to
put constant curb upon herself ~,
The little affectonate greetings and part
fngs had gradually been abandoned.
goodbye" or "helo! I'm in again." had
taken their place. Peter would not force
himself upon her; she was too proud and
hurt to ask him.
But the talk Of her girl friends, especially
Nell Langford's a girl who was supposed to
know more about such things than Mollie {,
and the others, and her own unexpressed
love for him had awakened new feeling
one of jealousy. She often questioned him
now about his patients, but without getting
satisfaction.
"a doctor is like q minister. What he
knows about his patients should be kept in !.
violate, - he told her.
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