Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-01-18

| the congregation. During her SLOW
progress up and down the main aisle,
behind the Courtney boy, who was
still a soprano and who carried the
great gold cross. she always looked
straight ahead.
Nevertheless, although she never
| looked at the pes, she was always
conscious of two of them. One OF
them was near the pulpit, and one
was near the door. The one near the
pulpit was the Sayres' and it was
| the social calendar OF. = the town.
| When Mrs. Sayre was in 1t, with
Wallace or without him, it was the
social season. One never knew then
when Mrs. Sayres butler would caII
I'D and say: "I am speaking for
Mrs. Sayre. Mrs. Sayre would like
to have the pleasure Of Miss
! Wheeler's company on Thursday 10
luncheon at 1870"
VXTHEN the sayre pew was
wv empty, the town knew, If it
| happened TO be winter. that
the Florida or Santa Barbara season
was on; or in summer, the Maine
coast.
The other pew was at the back of
the church. Always it nal one oc-
cupant; sometimes it had three. But
! the behavior of this pew was very
cratic. Sometimes an elderly and
portly gentleman with white hair
and fierce eyebrows would come i'll
when the sermon was almost over.
Again, an usher would reach his
hand through the grill behind it, and
tall young man who had had his
eyes fixed in the proper direction,
but not always OH the rector, would
reach for his hat, get up and slip
cut. On these occasions, however
he would first identify the owner o.
the hand and then bend ovre the
one permanent occupant of the pew,
a little old lady. His speech was a
yea, yea, or nay, nay, for he either
said: "I'll be back for dinner" or
Don't look for me until you see
me-
And Mrs. Crosby, without taking
her eyes from the sermon, would
nod.
Of late years, DR.. David Living
stone had been taking less and less
of the Don't look for me until you
see me" cases, and DR.. Dick had &C
quired a car which would not freeze
when left outside all night like a
forgotten dog.
When he went to church he lis
tened to the sermon, but rather often
he looked at Elizabeth Wheeler.
When his eyes wandered, as the
most faithful eyes will now and then
they were apt to rest on the flag
that had hung, ever since the war,
beside the altar. He had fought for
his country in a sea of mud, never
| hot II
line, fought with a surgical kit in.
stead of gun; but he was content
Not to all the high adventure.
Had he been asked, suddenly, the
name of the tall blonde girl who sang
among the sopranos, he could not
have told it.
The Sunday morning following
Clare Rossiter's sentimental comics
sion, Elizabeth tried very hard tc
Danish all worldly thoughts, as usual
and to see the kneeling, rising anc
sitting congregation as there for
worship,
But for the first time she began
to feel that people, in the mass
might be cruel, too. How many OF
them, for instance. would some time
during the day pass on, behind then
hands, the gossip Clare had men
toned?
She changed her position ana
glanced swiftly over the church. The
Livingstone pew was fully occupied
and, we'll up toward the front, Wal
lie Sayre was steadfastly regarding
her She turned her head away
quickly.
Came the end of the service. Came
the rector. Mr.. Oglethorpe, a trifit
wistful. because always. he fell sc
far below the mark he had set. Came
the benediction. Came the slow ris
ing from IT'S knees of the congrega
ton and its cheerful hustle of dis
persal.
DR.. Dick Livingstone stood up ant
helped DIR. David into his new spring
coat. He was very much content
1t was May. and the sun was shin
ing. Tt was Sunday, and he would
have an hour or two of leisure. AnC
he had made a resolution about {
matter that had been in his mint
for some time.
He looked around the church with
what was almost possessive eye
These people were his friends. HI
knew them all, and they knew him
They had, against his protest, pu
his name on the bronze tablet Sc
in the wall, on the roll of honor. HI
did not realize that behind theil
bows and greetings there was some
thing new that day, something no
so much unkind as questioning.
Outside in the street he tucked hi:
aunt, Mrs, Crosby, against the spring
wind, and waited at the wheel O
the car while David entered. Long
ago Dick had dropped the titula1
uncle" and as David he now ad
dressed him.
You're going to play some gol
this afternoon, David" he said firm
ly. mike had me out this morn
| ing to look at your buggy springs.
David chudkled. I'm going t.
Sleep he said comfortly. "Ge
Wallie Sayre-I see he's back from
| some place again-or ask a nict
girl. Ask Elizabeth Wheeler.
don't think Lucy here expects t.
be the only woman in your life"
Followed a short silence with Dicl
driving automatically and thinking
Finally he drew long breath.
Nov about that golf--you neec
, exercise. You're putting on weight
and you know it.. And you smok
! too much It's either less Tobacco,
: or more walking, and you ought t.
. know it."
} David grunted, but he turned t;
: IEcy Crosby, in the rear seat.
Lucy, d'you know where m,
clubs are?''
"You loaned them to Jim Wheele
l last fall. If you get half of then
: back you're lucky" Mrs. Crosby
: voice was family tart. Long agt
, she had learned that her brother