Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-08-25
CHAPTER NXXVH
11hn Rrnnkin n Point

The Breaking Point
A FTER that scene in the living room
~ when Courtney had turned her own
words against her, Lorry knew that
there was no need of fighting any longer.
The minute his arms had closed around
her she realized the irrevocabilfty of be-
longing to him, but long afterward she re-
membered the significance of his words and
shuddered over them.
She had tried barring her heart to him in
a last attempt to make him understand,
but it had done no good. In fact, 1t would
have been better if she had not tried to
tell him how she felt, for it made him be-
lieve the impossible.
But in spite of Courtney's uncontrolled
very gentle and consderate of Lorry
in the weeks that followed. There were
times when he rebelled because she was
forced to be temporarily out of things, he
chafed at the weeks of waiting, and all the
while Lorry grew more listless. more quiet
and unlike herself, until finally in alarm
Courtney sent one night for DR.. Moore.
Lorry had eaten very little dinner. Court
ney sitting opposite to her had watched
her pick uninterestedly at her food, ard
afterward, she had gone Immediately to FER
room. After he had telephoned for the
doctor, Courtney strobe up and down the
living room for what seemed an intermin-
able time, and then even though he was
not be welcome, he knocked at Lorry's
door.
''Who is it,"
cit is Courtney. I want to speak to
you"
Silence for a minute, and then: THE
door isn't lOcked''
Courtney turned the knob and went In.
Lorry was lying among the pillows of her
couch. She had taAenl off her dress and
her negli&ee of soft yellow chiffon made
her look almost waxen She did not move
but lay looking at Courtney out of dark,
mscrutable eyes, and again fear stole over
him, that fear which he had felt many
times before, the fear of losing her
"Lorry, I've sent for Dr. Moore. I want
him to see if you're all right"
She made no protest, she did not even
move, but finally she spoke very slowly.
I'm quite all right There's nothing the
doctor can do
In a sudden passion of tenderness Court
ney stopped over her, and then there came
violent change in Lorry. She shrank
away, and as if seeking protection. she
flung one slim white arm up over her face.
instantly Courtney Strengthened and turned
away, and at that moment the bell rang.
and Courtney went himself to open the
door
DR.. Moore was pleasantly professional.
WHAT'S this, Lorry, not feeling so well "
I'm quite all right, DOCTOR just tired,
and today has been rather warm"
she brought out her words as if with an
effort and after taking her temperature
the doctor brought out of his black bag his
instrument for recording blood pressure
Lorry had never had her blood pressure
taken, and she watched with interested eyes
while the doctor bound up the instrument
tightly around her arm. But after a mo-
ment she turned ndifferently away Some
how she was too tired to care, and she did
not rouse even when the doctor patted her
on the shoulder and told her to go to bed
and have a good nights rest.
Out in the living room the two men faced
each other.
Her blood pressure is alarmingly low."I
the little doctor rasped out. He was forced
to look up at Courtney, who lowered above
him, but for all his shortness he gave an
impression of alertness, of keen ceverness
that was not on the bigger man. "She has
no vitality, it's almost as if she didn't care
to live. Is anything preying on her mind?
You're her husband, you ought to know"
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