Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-02-13

T TG HAD meant to go home that evening,
II but after all he did not go home. He
! - ~ went to the theater and stood at the
back, with his sense of guilt deadened by
the knowledge that Nina was having what
she would call heavenly time. After all,
it would soon be over. He counted the
days. "The Valley" had only four more days
before it moved on.
He had already played his small part in
the drama that involved Dick Livingstone,
but he was unaware of it. He went home
that night, to find Nina already in bed and
very sulky and went to bed himself in no
pleasant frame of mind. But he took firm
er hold of himself that night before he slept
He didn't want smash, and yet they might
be headed that way. He wouldn't see Bever-
ly Carlysle again.
He lived up to his resolve the next day.
bought his flowers as usual but this time for
Nina, and took them with him.
But Nina was not at home. The butler
reported that she was dining at the Wheel
ers', and he thought the man eyed him with
restrained commiseration.
did she say l am expected there?" he
asked.
"She ordered dinner for you here sir"
Even for Nina that sounded odd. He took
his coat and went out again to the car; after
a moments hesitation he went back and got
the orchids
Dick Livingstone's machine was at the
curb before the Wheeler house, and in the
living room he found Walter Wheeler pac-
ing the floor. Mr.. Wheeler glanced at him
and looked away.
Anybody sick?" Leslie asked, his feeling
OF apprehension growing.
Nina is having Mysteries upstairs" Mr.
Wheeler aid Between you, you've made
fine mess of things, haven't your"
Leslie placed the box of orchids on the ta-
BILE and drew off his gloves. His mind was
running over many possibilities.
hat fnl1 ~
you?''
ooh, will. Don't worry I've seen this
coming for months. I'm not taking her part
God knows know her, and she has as much
idea Of making home as-as-" he looked
about-"as that poker has. But that's the
worst you can say for her. AS to you"
''Well?"
Mr. Wheeler's anxiety was greater than
his anger. He lowered his voice
She got a bill today for two or three
boxes of flowers sent to some actress" And
when Leslie said nothing, I'm not condor
ing it, mind YOU You'd no business to do
it. But he added fretfulIy why the devil
If you've got to act the fool, don't you have
your bills sent to your Officer"
Il suppose I don't need to tell you that's
all there was to it. Flowers, l mean"
TN taking that for granted. But she
says she won't go back"
Leslie was aghast and frightened not at
But she would always hold it against him.
There was no sound from upstairs Mr.
Wheeler got his hat and went out, leaving
him alone. Jim came in, whistIing, looked
in and said: Hello, Les" and disappeared.
He sat in the growing twilight. and cursed
himself for fool. After all, where had he
been heading? man couldn't eat his cake
and have it. But he was resentful too he
stressed rather hard his own innocence, and
chose to ignore the less innocent impulse
that lay behind it,
After a half-hour or so he heard some one
descending and Dick Livingstone appeared
in the hall. He called to him, and Dick
entered the room. Before he sat down he
lighted cigarette and in the flare of the
match Leslie got an impression of fatigue
and OF something new, of trouble. But his
own anxieties obsessed him
She told you about it, of course?"
Yes
Il was fool, of course But it was only
a matter of a few flowers, and some after
noon calls. She's fine woman, Living
stone, and she is lonely. The women have
given her pretty cold deal since the Clark
story, I fancy. They copy her clothes and
her walk, but they don't ask her into their
homes
isn't the trouble more fundamental than
that, Ward? I was thinking about it up-
stairs. Nina was pretty frank She blames
herself too, but she has fairly clear idea
of how it happened"
Do you think she'll go back homer"
She promised she would"
They sat smoking in silence
DICK suddenly stirred and threw away his
cigarette.
/ was going to talk to you about some
thlng else, he said "but this is hardly the
time, I'll get on home" He rose she'll
be all right. Only Id advise very tactful
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