Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-01-18
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Edith Is Reused

| [ stared at Edith with my eyes wide. 1t
seemed incredible that she had come to my
room for the purpose of appointing herself
my moral censor after her deliberate at
! tempt to ensnare Norman. Even if Edith
! and | had been closer than we were l should
| have resented such interference, but now it
Infatuated me that l. had difficulty in hold
| ing nv temper. But | crushed back the
| angry words that were forcing themselves
to my lips and responded to her attack as
quietly as l could
LAS you say" I said my lips curling sar-
castically. Its nothing to you, Edith.
| Really, if it weren't so silly might resent
your speaking to me you have After all,
and in spite of the fact that you obviously
! think yourself a woman of the world, you re
only little girl, and you must allow me to
be the Judge of what is right or wrong
| for me to do"
/ l was actually surprised that I was able
! to speak so calmly and it did me more than
a little good to tell Edith what | thought OF
| her She had had her own way in Norman S
and my establishment for too long, and 1T
would do no harm to be put in her place
| But she wasn't so easily vanquished. The
cream of her face deepened suddenly to
scarlet and her Usually inscrutable eyes
blazed
Il suppose that means that you care for
him." she fairly shot the words at me.
| I was about to deny this when 1 thought
better of it,
And what possible difference could it
make to you if l did," l retorted
| She sprang to her feet suddenly ana stood
staring at me, incredulity and some other
| expression that l could not make out battling
! for supremacy on Ter face. Her hands
were clenched, and her slender body sWayed
| from side to side. Clearly she was IN the
grip of some terrific emotion and could not
understand the reason for it, If Edith had
ever shown herself as possessing human
side | might have accounted for her at
| titude by believing that she actually cared
| about whether or not | jeopardlzed my
reputation. But 81 always progressed 10
scorn such a thing as public opinion Her
carrying on with Norman was proof enough
of that. o o.,,o,,u
admit you for him.
Her neroics made it possible for me to look
at the whole thing even more lightly than J
would have ordinarily, and l almost smiled
as | returned, 81 didn't admit it, Edith. L
admitted nothing. You're apparently de-
termined to accuse me, and inasmuch as l
consider it none of your affair maven
taken the trouble to deny it.
"Oh!" she gasped. How dare you stand
there and talk that way. l hate you tell
you | hate you!".
And then before could reply to her sud
den attack, she said nothing more ana rush,
cd from the room slamming the door behind
her. .,,,u
For a moment l lay still among the pillows
Of the chaise lounge. l was at loss to ac-
count for Edith's outburst, rack my brain as
| I would 1 simply could not understand It.:
Why should she fly into such a tempest OF
rage over Herbert and me? If she cared Tor
me + could understand reason for her warn
ing. but there had been more than warning
in her attitude, she had been beside herseH
with anger. 49,,
Law for long time trying to fathom the
mystery, and it wasn't until later when
dragged myself up from the pillows anu
hogan to get ready for bed, thai the old acne
ret1Irned to my heart and l remembered my
own problem. Ediths display of fireworks
had made me forget it FOR time, but 1t was
still there and I wondered with little sep IN
my throat if things would ever De [leu'
| again between Norman and me.