Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-12-27
CHAPTER III
Small Town Standards

her engagement to George
when Gail had wondered if it
were wise to keep postponing their
marriage. Often she had been on
the point of telling him so, but
standards in Dalesburg did not per
NIT of the showing of any eager
ness on the girls part 1t would
have saVored of immodesty if she
! had made any attempt TO hurry
things, and SO the long months had
drifted by, until with the passing of
| time Georges ardOr had cooled and
he had come to take Gail for grant
ed
At first he had been eager pas
SiOnate. Sometimes ut social gath
erings when Gail had met his eyes
across Il crowded room the color
would rush into her face and her
own lashes would fall. That had
been during the first year. when
just the fact of their being alone
in room together was thrilling in
itself. But gradually. % gradually
that she had not been aware of it
for a long time, the novelty had
worn off; their greetings had be-
come more perfunctory. Whenever
any one gave n party in DaleSburg
George and Gail were always paired
off together. People accepted chem
Us an engaged couple who might
some day marry, but there was no
longer any romance about their
attachment and Gail could not helm
but feel this attitude.
Subconsciously she had rebelled
against this wasting of time. Since
she and George had become engaged
tXIrn Of fx,.-
ried. In each case there had been
a. thrill and excitement about every
thing that had made Gail feel cheat.
ed. How wonderful : void ave
been if she and George had mar.
ried during that first year. Sup.
pose they didn't have much money,
it would have been fun to save and
work and plan things together, but
George couldn't see things that way.
He scoffed openly when Mabel
Weston and Bert Williams married
Just like Bert" he commented.
scathingly. He never did have any
sense, and now he lets his heart
run away with his head
But they're happy" Gail had said
little wistfully.
Happy; do you think that will
last? Bert isn't :naii!"g IS much as
[ am. They'll have to scrimp and
save, and Mabel will have to go
without things. In a year they'll
wish they'd been sensible and wait
ed"
IT DOM think Id mind -.oing with.
out things"
And then George, who was very
much in love with Gail at that time,
had swept her up into his arms.
AS if I'd let you do that! AS if
Id be content to marry you and
make. a slave of you. When we're
married things are going to be done
right. You wait and see
And Gail, thrilled with his near
ness, conscious only of the fact that
he loved her. forced herself to be
content and to go on dreaming.
Georges prophecies about Mabel
and Bert had not come true. Mabel
had taken tiny little house on
side street, and III spite of their
lack of money they had been hap
py. Gail thought of Georges gloomy
demonstration whenever she went
to see Mabel, but she never referred
to the talk they had had, and neither
did George.
George ana Gail had been engaged
about year and a half, when, due
to the death of one of the members
of the firm for which he was work
ing, George Vas ST !Jcnly advanced
to a position that practically doubled
his salary. He was eXultant; for days
he walked on air, but when he told
the news to Gail he tried to appear
casual. To Gail this 9oOd fortune
meant just one thing. She and
George would be married; there was
should wait. But, Strangely enough,
George made no mention of their
marriage, and Gail was too proud
to hint. She was hurt; she could
not understand his attitude. and vet
she tried to believe that as soon as
George became accustomed to his
new position he would come to her
with eager plans for the future.
Saturd ~: '13ie other Woman"
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