Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-26
THE SUPERIOR SEX
BY HAZEL DEYO BACHELOR
CHAPTER LII
The Wisdom of Woman,

The wisdom of Woman
= was Marcia who stepped in where Steele
| l had failed and took charge of everything.
| *" 1t was Marcia who went to Hillcrest, had
a long talk with Mrs. Higgins, and although
she told no one how she managed it, carried
Anne home with her to the house on Seventy
eighth street.
| Steele had told his mother everything and
Marcia had said very little But in her heart
of hearts she felt somehow as though the
Steele pride had been leveled to the ground.
Anne had taught them a great deal This lit
tie Wa1f upon whom she had looked with
! superciltous eyes had behaved like a
thoroughbred. And Marcia had the grace to
blush when she remembered the way she had
talked about Anne, in the past.
Her first interview with Anne had been
brief and not at all sentimental There would
be time enough for sentiment later, and
Marcia was shrewd enough to realize that
Anne would never return to Steele through
any sentimental reason. The girl had been
! hurt, she had suffered beyond her strength,
and for the time being emotion dead in
her. What she needed was tender care free
dom from all worry, and eventually youth
would do the rest Marcia was sure of it,
And so, when she and Anne were alone to-
gether in Mrs. Higgins parlor, Marcia wasted
no time; she came to the point Immediately.
Anne, want you to come home with me.
! No, don't want you to talk, I want you to
hear me out first. l haven't come from John.
I'm here solely on my own initiative and
| WANT you TO come nome with me until you
have had a chance to rest and think things
over Unless you do this, there will be talk.
I'm not eager for any scandal connected with
our name, and / am asking you this as a favor
| to me. Afterward if you decide against stay
. ing with me, things be arranged quietly
| just as you like. Will you do this for me,
| Anne?"
And Anne had consented. After ALL as she
| had said, it didn't matter. She was too tired
out to struggle against any one What she
| WE Tos+ iI1ct To liz chi ho,,r P4o1
hour, day after day, without talking to any
one. 1t was in this frame of mind that she re-
turned to New York and the house that held
SO many memories for her.
| Marcia left her a great deal to herself, and
after Anne had been home about two weeks
she suggested casually that they take trip
together. wouldn't we enjoy that?" she
asked briskly. 'Id like to get away myself
and don't think we'd bore each other
| Her matter-of-fact attitude was exactly
what Anne needed. From the first Marcia had
refrained from asking any questions. She
knew that sooner or later the girls reserve
would break down, but she was willing to
! wait, and today she was rewarded for her
| patience"
I'D love to go, but don't see why you're
so kind to me-"
'Well, there's just chance that I rather
like you" Marica returned brusquely, land
In that case I'm being kind to myself
| The conversation had ended there. but
Marcia was satisfied. Anne had seemed in
terested and that was a great deal To tell
the truth, Anne welcomed the chance to get
away She lived in deadly terror of meeting
her husband, and she shuddered away from
the very thought of such a thing She had
| built uE around herself wall of reserve and
she was safe while she lived within it, She
had even begun to look upon the death of
| El1nor with less agony. of SOUL but, she want
ed TO drift; she did not want to decide any
! thing, and least of all did she want to come
lace to face with her husband. She was so
afraid of being hurt again, that she shrank
from the thought of meeting any one The
idea of getting away from strangers was ap-
pealing and that was why she assented so
readily to Marcias suggestion.