Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-29

of her heart. (She was so little. Good
heavens. man could crush her to nothing)
She had come because she was sorry for him,
and she had brought forgiveness. 1t was
like her. 1t was fine 1t was damnable.
His voice hardened, for fear it might be
soft.
as this professional visit, or a Christ-
mas call, Elizabeth? or perhaps l shouldn't
call you that"
"a Christmas CALI"
'You know what I mean. The day OF
peace. The day of-what do you think I'm
made Of Elizabeth? To have you come here
gentle and good and kind"
He got up and stood over her, tall and
almost threatening.
"Youlve been to church, and you've been
thinking things over. 1 know. l was there.
| heard it all; peace on earth, good Will to
men. Bosh. Peace, when there is no peace.
Good will! I don't want your peace ana
good will"
She looked up at him, timidly.
''You don't want to be friends. them"
mo. A thousand times, no, he said vlo-
lently. Then, more gently I'm making
fool of myself. want your peace and good
WILL Elizabeth. God knows need them"
''You brighten me, Dick she said, slowly.
81 don't come to bring forgiveness, Il that is
what you mean. I came"
Don't tell me that you came to ask 1T.
That would be more than l can bear"
will you listen to me for moment
Dick? I'm not good at explaining things,
and I'm nervous. / suppose you can see
that" She tried to smile at him. "A
little work little Sleep little love, that's
life, isn't it?'
He was watching her intently
~Work and trouble, and long sleep at
the end-for which let us be duly thankful
that's life, too. Love? Not every one gets
love-"
Hopelessness and despair overwhelmed
her. He was making it hard for her. Inn
possible She could not go on.
81 did not come with peace" she said
TREMENDOUSLY. "but if you don't want it"
She rose. II must say this, though, before
/ CO. 1 blame myself, l. don't blame you.
You are wrong if you think I came to for
give YOU"
She was stumbling toward the door.
Elizabeth, what did bring you?"
She turned to him, with her hand on the
door knob
81 came because 1 wanted to see you
again."
He strobe after her and catching her by
the arm, turned her until he faced her.
"And why did you want to see me agalnT
You can't still care for me. You Know the
story. You know I was here and didn't see
you. You've seen Leslie Ward. You know
my past. What you don't know" ~
He looked down into her eyes. "A little
work, a little sleep, little love-" he repeat
ed. what did you mean by that?'
Just that she said simply, only not
little love, Dick. Maybe you don't want me
now. l don't know ! have suffered so
much that I'm not sure of anything"
Want you'll" he said. more than any,
thing on earth"
Bassett was at his desk in the office. It
was late at night and the night editor, see
ing him reading the early edition, his feet
on his desk, carried over his coffee ana
doughnuts and Joined him.
Some time" he said, 'Im going to get
that Clark story out of you If it wasn't
you who turned up the confession, I'll eat it.
Bassett yawned. "Haye it your own way"
he said indifferently.
"You were shielding somebody, weren't
you? No? What's the answers"
Bassett made no reply. He picked up the
paper and pointed to an item with the end
of his pencil,
"Seen this?"
The night editor read it with bewilder-
ment. He glanced up.
whats that got to do with the Clark
case?"
Nothing. Nice people, though. Know
them both"
When the night editor walked away, rath-
er affronted, Bassett took up the paper and
reread the paragraph.
erly, announce the engagement of their
daughter, Elizabeth, to Doctor Richcard Liv-
ingstone."
He sat for long time, staring at it. "a
THE END.