Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-20
CHAPTER X-LVIII
The boomerang

~ OR only a moment Lorry stared az
II him with that hurt look in her eyes,
and then pride came to her aid. This
was what she had wanted all along, just
the baby, without any fear of Courtney's
dread presence. He was right; of course,
it would be far less embarrassing in the
future if she did not have to look forward
to seeing him, and as this thought oc-
Cured to her she lifted her head and her
features set in look as proud as his own.
For five minutes she listened without
comment, while Courtney talked business
to her. He was arranging everything for
her comfort and convenience. His lawyer
would attend to everything and she would
only have to- communicate with him in the
future. When he finally rose to go Lorry
was conscious that she had no clear idea
Of what had been said, her thoughts had
been wandering, but she must not betray
this fact and as she rose to her feet and
held out her hand{ there was no wavering
in the clear gray eyes she turned upon
him.
"Thank you for everything,' she said
clearly. "You have been more than con-
siderate, and I appreciate it."
He took the small hand and looked down
at her. For a moment his eyes were in
scrutable and then suddenly there leaped
into them that fiery intensity that she re-
membered so we'll in the past. She knew
what it meant, in a moment his arms
would close around her, his lips would be
seeking hers, her will would be beaten
down before the insistency of his. AS al
ways, the brilliancy of his eyes confused
her, she had that sensation of "a tidal wave
about to break on her, but this time she
did not brace herself to meet it. Lips half
parted, she waited with a kind of hush
ed expectancy for that sudden swoop. Her
heart hammering in her breast turned her
faint and weak, but incredibly she had no
fear of what was about to come.
But nothing happened. AS from great
heard
her, and at the same moment he relin-
quished her hand.
"You needn't be afraid. I have no in
tention of taking what no longer belongs
to me- All that is over and done with; you
are free"
He stepped back, took up his coat and
hat from the chair, and with a brief good
by left the room. She stood there listening
to his footsteps striding down the hail. and
then there came the closing OF the door
and silence. He was gone!
For a long time LOrry stood still where
he had left her, and then suddenly she
flung h9rself face downward on the daven-
port, wave after wave Of shame breaking
over her. She was appalled, shocked at
the insight she had had into her own heart
In that moment, while she had stood there
looking into Courtneys eyes, she had want
ed him TO take her in his arms, she had
wanted the fierceness of his kisses, she had
wanted him to hold her tiSht bending her
VIII W HIS 4NOJuIuS 6lSS udu ludCLelSuP
nothing in all the world but that moment.
1t shameless, it was incredible, it was
unbelievable that she could be so lacking
in pride, but it was true!
She writhed at the memory of it. What
must he think of her? Had he noticed that
moment of surrender and was he laughing
at her now for her weakness? In impotent
rage she beat the pillows with her small
clenched fists, she was like a small tornado,
suddenly Embossed. Undreamed-of depths
of emotion had suddenly been reused in
her. capacity for feeling that she had
never known she possessed was sweeping
her from head to foot At last she knew
what it was to loYe with all her being, now
that it was too late.
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