Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-07-24

I t NJ
spoke quietly, but there was a world
of emotion behind the simple words.
A week had passed since DR.. Moore had
told Lorry that she was to become mother,
and each day she had made up her mind
to tell Courtney the truth, but somehow her
courage had-always failed her as though she
simply could not find the words to tell him,
and so she had deliberately put off the mo-
ment intending each day to summon up
enough courage to tell him the truth.
Courtney was alone with Mrs. Granville.
He had dropped in on his way home to find
out il he could whether or not Lorry's moth
er shared his fears, but she seemed remark
ably calm and assured She even smiled at
him reassuringly and he found 1t difficult to
understand her attitude.
II shouldn't worry if I were YOU" she
said indulgently "Other women have gone
through it, you know, and Lorrys healthy
and strong
Courtneys brow drew into frown. Gone
through it, what do you mean? L don't
understand"
It was then Mrs Grenvilles turn to be
surprised and she opened her eyes wide upon
him 1t wasn't possible that Courtney didnt
know, that Lorry hadn't told him at once. -
/ Surely Lorry has told you about her con,
dition." Her tone was incredulous.
"Lorry has told me nothing. Every time
I have spoken to her about not looking we'll,
she has laughed at the idea"
'Lorry is going to become a mother
Mrs. Grenville said very gently. 81 suppose
girlish reticence has kept her from telling
you the truth. Naturally she is depressed
and nervous just now"
Courtney sat very still but the emotion
that suddenly rushed over him so pow
erfu1 that it seemed if every nerve in his
body was shaking helplessly. The news in
| itself was staggering, that L0rry to
have child, his child, shook him to the
depths, but that she should have deliberate
ly kept the news from him when she must
/ have known what it would mean, was in
credible
Outwardly he gave no sign of how he felt
and as soon as possible he made an excuse
to get away. But on the way home, he kept
turning the situation over in his mind try
ing to understand Lorry's attitude, wonder
! ing how best to approach her the subject.
Passion for her leaped up in him ten-fold,
but beneath it was the knowledge that he
must not brighten her with any show of feel
ing. But why hadn't she told him? Was it
possible that she hated him so much that
she resented the idea of having his CHILD :?
The thought was agony and r4tconscously he
hurried his footsteps in his desire to get to
her.
The minute he unlocked the door of the
apartment and stepped into the foyer hall,
he caught the faint perfume that was so
much part of Lorry. He never entered his
home that this fragrance did not fill him
with gratitude that she was a part of his
life; belonging to him, and tonight more
than ever he realized all she represented,
and for the first time fear entered his heart,
fear that something might take her away
from him.
"Lorry," he called, his voice suddenly
sharp. And always Lorry appeared in
answer to his call. Even though she was
| aware of his presence the minute she heard
his key in the lock, she never went to meet
him until he spoke her name
Tonight, as usual, she came to meet him.
The light from the swinging lamp overhead
turned her half into a nimbus of rudy
flame, but although she came up quite close
to him, he did not sweep her into his arms,
and this fact was so unusual that she looked
UP at him, faint surprise in her eyes.
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