Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-08-18
CHAPTER .XXX.IV
Two Women
ORRY did not appear


ORRY did not appear in the dining
room the next morning until after Jim
~ had left for the office. Somehow she
dreaded meeting COralies eyes she was ter
ITifed lest Coralie suspect something of the
truth and her glimpse of herself in the
mirror was not reassuring. She was pale
and hollow eyed, veritable ghost in com
parison with the radiant vision she had been
the night before.
Coralie's blue eyes were anxious.
Darling, did you sleep well?" she asked
as she poured Lorry's coffee. 81 ran away
from Jim last night, so that we could have
talk, but you must have been asleep when
knocked"
II guess I must have been l know | was
awfully tired. But it was beautiful party.
Didn't we have good timer"
The door from the pantry swung open and
Coralies trim little maid appeared with a
plate Of hot mullins. She put them down
beside Lorry, smiled a good morning. and
disappeared Coralie, leaning forward, ell
bows propped the table, watched with
absorbed eyes while Lorry buttered a muf-
fin. For moment there silence in the
sunny little room, and then impulsiveIy
Coralie spoke.
'Lorry, I'm sorry 1 asked Tom here last
night"
Lorry heart skipped a beat Coralie was
making flank attack, and Lorry was I'M
certain whether to meet it with frankness or
pretended innocence. For just an instant
she hesitated, and then she slowly raised
her eyes. Il am, too, if you want the real
truth"
Instantly Coralie was expansive Sure
tnat Lorry was about to conf1de in her she
hurried on brea$hlessly. 'You see, dear. [
wanted to find out something that have
suspected for long time. But I shouldn t
have done it. [ realize that now
1t seemed to Lorry at that moment that
Coralie was bending down to her from the
0n1o Of
CoralIes radiance was a |barrier between
them; it made impossible any thought of
confidence
What do you mean Coralie? What have
you suspected?'
That you still for Tom, that you re
not happy with Courtney" Coralies voice
trembled with eagerness and pity aud the
pity stung Lorry's pride to the quick She
would not be pitied! No one could pity
her. least of all Coralie, who had eyeryt hing
in the world to make her happy.
An incredulous little smile broke over
Lorrys face and she met Coralies eyes quite
frankly. you don't really believe that,'
she said slowly, mot really!"
For moment Lorry fancied that Coralie
looked disappointed and she understood
shat, too. Coralie, falsely bulwarked behind
her own happiness, would have found 1t in
tensely interesting to come upon a dramatic
situation of this kind in the life of a
friend
But you said" Coralie began.
SAID was sorry you had asked Tom
here, yes,' Lorry interrupted quickly But
only because of what had happened in the
past. You must have known that it was
something serious to make me break off my
marriage, and | never expected to see Tom
again /Of course, it was something of a.
shock when [ turned around and saw him y
Lorrys tone sounded convincing even to
her own ears, and it had the desired effect
upon CoraIe
Can you ever forgive me?" she burst out
lmpulsVely Il don't know what made me
SO sure that you still cared for Tom but
oh, Lorry! I'm glad it isn't true! You
will forgive my stupid bungling, won't your"
"Of course" And LoTry smiled, glad only
OF the fact that her secret was still locked
fast in the recesses of her own heart
tuesday important Decisions" Renew
NnII be- .i.,+ic.