Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-29
THE BREA KING, POINT
BY MARY ROBERTS RINEHART

"A FTER that they left Walter Wheeler
II to play his usual part at such times,
and went upstairs. He filled the
stockings bravely, an orange in each toe,
box of candy, toy for old times sake, and
then the little knicknacks he had been gath
ering together for days and hiding in his
desk. After ALL there were no fewer stock
ings this year than last. Instead of Jim's
there was the tiny one for Ninas baby. That
was the way things went. He took away,
but also he gave. -
He sat back in his deep chair, and looked
up at the stockings, ludicrously bullying.
After ALL il he believed that He gave, and
took away, then he must believe that Jim
was where he had tried to think him, fill
ing a joyous, active place in some hoyish
heaven.
After while he got up and went to his
desk, and for long time he wrote steadily.
Dearest: You will find this in your
stocking in the morning, when you get up
for the early service. And / want you to
think oyer~it in the church. 1t is filled with
my love and with anxiety. Life is not so
very long, little daughter, and it has no time
to watse in anger or in bitterness. little
work, little sleep, little love, and it is all
over.
will you think of this today?"
He locked up the house, and went slowly
up to bed.
Elizabeth found the letter the next morn
ing. She stood in the bleak room, with the
ashes of last nights fire still smoking and
the stockings overhead not festive in the
gray light, but looking forlorn and aban-
doned. Suddenly her eyes, wry and fiercely
burning for so long, were wet with tears. 1t
was true. 1t was true. A little work,
little sleep little love. Not the great love,
perhaps, not the only love of a mans life.
Not the love of yesterday, but of today and
tomorrow.
All the fierce repression of the last weeks
r1,a o. Rfa- IIAe L.
coming home, perhaps high with hope, that
whatever she knew she would understand
and forgive. And she saw herself failing
him, cold and shut away, not big enough nor
woman enough to meet him half way. She
saw him fighting his losing battle alone, pro-
tecting David, but never himself; carrying
Lucy to her quiet grave sitting alone in his
office, while the village walked by and stared
at the windows; she saw him, gaining har-
Dor after storm, and finding no anchorage
there.
She turned and went half blindly into the
empty street.
She thought he was at the early service.
She did not see him, but she had once again
the thing that had seemed lost forever, the
warm sense of his thought of her
David was beaten; most tragic defeat of
all, beaten by those he had loved and faith
fully served.
He did not rise on Christmas morning, and
Dick, visiting him after an almost untasted
breakfast found him still in his bed, and
questioned him anxiously.
I'm all right" he asserted. 'Im tired,
Dick, that's ALL Tired of fighting, You're
young. You can carry it on, and win But
I'll never see it. They're stronger than we
are"
Later he elaborated on that He had kept
the faith. He had run with courage the race
that was set before him. He had stayed up
at night and fought for them. But he couldn't
fight against them.
Dick went downstairs again and shutting
himself in his office, fell to pacing the floor.
David was right the thing was breaking
him. Very seriously now he contemplated
abandoning the town, taking David with him
and claiming his estate. They could travel
then; he could get consultants in Europe;
there were baths there, and treatments
The door bell rang. He heard Minnie's
voice in the hall, not too friendly, and her
tap at the door.
Some one in the waiting room" she
called.
When he opened the connecting door he
found Elizabeth beyond it, pale and fright
ened Elizabeth, breathless, and very still
1t was perceptible moment before he could
control his voice enough to speak. Then;
II suppose you want to see David I'm
sorry. but he isn't well today. He is still
in bed"
81 do If you don't mind"
He stood aside then and let her pass him
into the rear office. But he was not fooled
at all. Not he. He had been fooled enough.
He knew why she had come, in the kindness