Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-04
CHAPTER MI
I,cnorse

~ UT in the street fine rain was falling,
| X an October drizze that was disheartel-
- ingly dreary. Everything was blanket
ed in mist, and Courtney tramped block after
| block, his footballs ringing on the stone
pavements, the only sound apparently any
where around.
All the superb arrogance of his manhood
| had dropped away from him. He was no
| longer the man who had set his heart on
having Lorry Grenville whether she wanted
him or not, he was no longer supremacy the
egotist, the passionate lover, entirely sure of
himself; he was beaten, his pride was lev
eled to the ground; he knew that after to-
night there could be no question of holding
Lorry even if she were spared to him. His
reign over her was ended, there was nothing
to do but step quietly out of her life, thus
giving her the freedom she desired more
than anything else.
Only now he was beginning to understand
how she must have suffered. His presence
| must have been agony to her, feeling as she
did toward him, and how entirely selfish he
had been in his treatment of her, how sure
in his belief that to force her to his will
must inevitably bring her to care for him.
Well, it was over now, and he would give
her up, but always there was that gnawing
fear in his heart that she might die, that his
punishment might be more than he could
bear.
"She must live, she must live!" he said
over anu over, LH0ro must De happiness
still in the world for her; she is too young
and sweet to slip out now before she has
known the sweetness of human love, and
thank God for the fact that she is young SO
that this chapter in her life may soon be en-
tirely erased from her memory"
Courtney was unaware of the passing of
time, entirely unconscious of the distance he
had tramped until he suddenly realized that
it was growing lighter. He could see the
clouds of mist in the streets now, and
through it the murky glow of street lights,
and although it still rained, he knew that
dawn would soon be breaking. Why, he
must have walked miles; hours had passed
and he hadn't been conscious of the fact
What had happened during his absence,
what would he find when he returned home?
The thought was like knife thrust in his
heart.
He reached a corner, and peered UP at the
lamp post to see where he was Then with
quick steps he turned west, reached Broad
way, and found a taxi drawn up to the curb,
the driver sound asleep on the seat.
CURLY he gave the address of the apart
ment house many blocks away, and the
driver instantly reused to action and the pos
sibility of good fare speeding through
the silent streets.
At last they were rounding the familiar
corner, they were stopping at the apartment
house entrance. Hastily thrusting a bill into
the drivers hand, Courtney, without waiting
for change, rushed into the lobby, reused the
sleepy elevator boy out of his doze, and
moment later was whizzing upstairs. 1t
wasn't until he stepped out on his own floor
that he stopped, appalled, by what he might
find beyond the door that opened into his
apartment. He dreaded meeting the eyes Of
the first person he might encounter, for in
that first lightning exchange of chances, he
would know the truth, he would know
whether all was we'll with Lorry, or whether
she had slipped out without giving him the
chance to tell her that she was free, that she
should never again fear his presence, that
hereafter she would belong, only to herself.
The corridor stretched away silent and
gray in the first light of dawn. At the far
end was his home. and suddenly with his
mouth set in straight line, Courtney was
strding toward the door.