Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-06-19
CHAPTER, VIII
ut Might Have Been"

TT was only in her own room, with-the door
| shut tight on the world, that Lorry felt
absolutely herself, and even then her
cheeks would burn at the memory of things
Courtney had said to her. If she had ex-
pected him to be considerable she was mis-
taken in him, for he had set her clear on that
point from the first. He had no intention of
being magnanimous, giving her time to
become used to him. She had promised to
marry him, and Lorry was too proud to beg
for time; in her heart she knew that it would
make no difference any way; she would new
er love him any more than she did now.
She was careful to hide her actual feelings
| from her mother, and Mrs. GrenviIle, who at
| first was amazed at the course things had
taken finally found it in her heart to rejoice
I for LOrry.
Courtney Herringt inspired both of Lor-
rvs parents with trust. He knew what he
wanted and he drove straight to the point.
There mistaking the quality of his
! feeling for Lorry, and Mrs. Grenville was
sure that if Lorry did not love him now, she
would come to love him in the future.
Il feel that we can trust Lorry to him. -
she told her husband. He's every inch a
man, and somehow [ always felt that Tom
was too much Of boy and too easy-going to
make Lorry happy. 1 think the feeling she
had toward him was largely maternal!"
And all the while Lorry hid her real feel
ings; she hid the fact that she yearned over
Tom; that she longed for the girlish happi-
they had been together. Tom was not de-
handing, his arms about her had never left
her breathless his kisses had been light and
tender, while Courtney's lips on hers de-
prived her of strength, left her dizzy and
made her draw back with a shiver of dread.
The girls who were to have been Lorry's
| bridesmaids at the wedding that never took
place now rallied around her in the hopes
that they would be pressed into service a
second time. They all raved, as Lorry
thought, rather foolishly about Courtney
Harrington, and even when she told them
out attendants of any kind they still had
only praise for his attractions.
Three of them were in Lorry's room one
afternoon when COralie Wells burst out i'm
pulsively:
"Lorry, we all think that Fate had hand
in breaking up the affair between you and
Tom"
There was a breathless silence following
Coralie's words, for although Lorry's friends
| had all conjectured as to what had happened
between Tom and Lorry, not one of them
knew the truth.
why do you say that?" asked Lorry a
bright flush creeping up into her cheeks
Coralie flushed. too, but having said what
she thought she went sturdily on. There's
a rumor about that Tom is just going to the
dogs. He's out drinking and carousipg every
night. For my part, 1 never thought\he was
worthy of you. I'm glad you came to your
senses even at the last moment. Why, COM
pared with Mr.. Harrington, Tom is weak;
he's nothing but silly boy"
Lorry made no reply and one of the other
girls quickly changed the subject. But after
they had gone, Lorry gave free rein to the
misgivings that had swept over her at Co.
rallies words.
IF Tom is drinking it's my fault" she
told herself over and over. perhaps if
had forgiven him, if 1 had stood by him,
everything would have come out all right
but now it's too late, and l love him! I'll
never love any one else!"