Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-06
CHAPTER NLII
Encinu IL

" inside the apartment it was deathly STILL
| Courtney closed the door, and for mo-
ment stood there leaning against it.
Then he went forward, walking very softly
on the polished floor. Outside Lorry's room
he stopped a moment, holding his breath to
listen, and as he stood there hesitating, the
door opened and DR.. Moore came out.
l. All Mr. Harrington" he said closing the
door softly behind him. It's all over, and
you have SON"
"Lorry?" Courtneys voice was sharp At
that moment the baby meant nothing to him.
but surely, surely DR.. Moore couldn't be
speaking so confidently if anything had gone
wrong. She had come through it safely; she
was still alive, she must be!
Come into the living room where we can
talk Mrs. Grenville has gone to see about
breakfast Lorry is asleep now and rest is
essential for her. She's appallngly listless
and weak, but with care I think she'll be all
right"
+ They had come to the door of the living
room and as the morning light struck across
Courtney's face, wave of sympathy welled
u2 in the doctors heart. All night listening
to Lorry's screams of fear, he lad condemned
Courtney, but this morning he saw the
intense agony of the younger mans face, and
the way the features were sharpened he was
suddenly aware of the fact that Courtney had
suffered, if not more, at least as much as
Lorry had and he was sorry for him. lie
no longer bore him an unreasoning grudge;
he realized that there was something more
in this situation than he yet understood.
Courtney allowed himself to be persuaded
to sit down and drink a cup of strong coffee.
The terrific pressure of the night had light
ened; he could breathe again. He was enor-
mously grateful that she had come through
the ordeal safely, but he was also well aware
of the fact that for him the agony of life was
still ahead. Remuneration to him would be
the keenest agony. lie loved her with every
fiber of his being. The time would come
when wanting her unspeakably, he could
not have her, when she would have passed
out of his life forever, and yet he had made
up his niud to relinquish her and he would
do it.
In the midst Of his mental anguish he
suddenly became aware of the fact that the
doctor had finished his breakfast and was
rising from his chair. He came around the
table to Courtney and held out his hand with
brisk cheeriness, Pm going home for a bath
and a short nap, but I'll be back around 9
O'clock Get Miss Flowerton to show you
the baby. He's a fine little chap; you'll be
proud of him" And then he was gone and
Mrs. Grenville and Courtney were alone.
| Across the table Courtney's blazing dark
eyes looked straight into those Of his mother
! in-laW Those eyes were indOmtable, com
| polling; they were not the eyes of man
who, for moment, would accept pity. Mrs.
| Grenvlle knew that and so she said nothing.
| Then suddenly Courtney was speaking.
Tim going to move my things over to the
! ctub so that you'll have more room here.
Lorry will want you with her, and / came
| back this morning only because had to
| know that she had come through
He rose from the table and stood there
tall and straight, wrapped in an impene-
trable reserve. Oqtwardly he wasAas haugh
tfly arrogant as ever, a man toward whom a
woman would feel either love or hate but
| no lesser emotion.
"You want to see the baby before you go, -
| Mrs. GrenviIIe spoke tentatively. She was
uncomfortable; she hardly knew how to pro-
| coed.
| mot now" he said crsply, hard inflec-
! ton in his voice. A moment later he had left
| the room.
| Saturday-"N motherhood. Renew your