Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-03-08
CHAPTER WIKI
Unexpected Surrender

n 70 one had seen her go, and she had not
M taken nothing with her but the blue
- wool dress that she had worn. The
news was carried to Marcia with the morn
ing chocolate that she always had in bed and
a sort of self-righteOus attitude took posses
sion of her as she slowly slipped the rich hot
liquid and nibbled daintiy at a piece of
toast.
Her thoughts ran, well, always knew
that something like this would happen. She
wasn't grateful for anything that was done
for her, she was willing to take everything
and give nothing. Perhaps John will realize
now that l was right"
Later on in the morning, Marcia called
Katherine Cleveland on the telephone and
made an engagement for luncheon downtown
Her heart felt very light. Strangely enough
she felt no pity for Anne. With the girls
fascinating personality removed, she became
only little street wait and was no doubt
quite well able to take care of herself.
Steele has gone to his Office without any
attempt to see his mother. Between them
they had frightened the girl away although
he was ready to admit that he had been large
ly to blame.
He could not reconcile himself to the fact
that she had gone as she had. He would not
have believed it of her. 1t was unlike the
ideal that he had built up of her, and yet
she had gone and there was every reason to
believe that he would never see her again
When he faced that thought in his mind
it seemed that he couldn't bear it. He want
ed to leave everything and go in search of
her. He recalled with agonizing clearness
the softness of her in his arms, the madden
ing sweetness of her lips, the fluty cadences
of her voice. He saw her smile wistful and
sweet, and again he was trying to probe with
his own burning eyes, the mystery in hers.
But he was helpless The city had swal-
lowed her up. Where could he look for her
even If he hired detectives, for there wasn't
a single clue to go on And all the while his
thoughts were given up to this girl who had
so strangely stolen into his life, he went
mechanically about the business of the day
interviewed men, dictated letters to his score
tary, opened and read his mail, all with a
frown between his eyes, and his manner more
than ever dictatorial.
I'D hate to be the woman he married. "
confded Miss Reeves, the secretary, to one of
the filing clerks, 1.-The way he orders people
about. And all the while, if Miss Reeves had
but known it, the great John Steele was mis-
cradle, because of the power of one small
girl. He would have given anything he
possessed to have her back, this cold domi-
neering man who all his life had had every
thing he wanted.
And them strange as it may SEEM just be-
lore dinner that evening Anne returned.
There was nothing of the mysterious sophisti-
Gated woman about her this time, for her
eyes were wide and frightened. This was
Anne, the child, the little girl who hadn't
wanted to live, and as she slipped into the
library and Steele rose to his feet with mutt
tered exclamation, she feced him bravely
Last night" she began hurredly, you
said you were willing to marry me on any
terms"
He nodded without speaking
Il don't love YOU" she went on desperate
ly I'll never love you-like that, but I'm
willing to marry you, if you really meant
what you said"
Il did mean it," Steel said quickly, "and
you're quite free. I shall never ask anything
from you, give you my word"
Thank you," she breathed. And it SEEM
ed to the man that little of the torture went
out of her eyes as wstful little smile quiv-
Vered for moment around her mouth.
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