Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-04-26
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Termination.


DUT in the days that followed, although
* Steele found that his whole life CEN
49, tered around his need of Anne, and her
strange, almost uncanny power to bring him
to her feet, reason asserted itself.
Things could not go on like this, and final
ly there came the thought that if Anne would
not tell him the truth he must find out for
himself in some other way.
The minute the thought occurred to him
he realized that he must put it aside or sink
in his own estimation of himself He could
not stoop to spy on her, and yet the thought
having once occurred, it returned to plague
him.
Why not? 1t was his right to know. Even
Anne had admitted that. Already he had
stood for great DEAL and his days had now
become torment to him. He was torn be-
tween his love for her, the knowledge that
he could not let her get out of his life, and
the thought that not only had she a past
which he did not share, but a present.
When he left her in the morning he could
not be sure that before he returned that night
she might not have had a clandestine meet
ing with some one. The thought was agony.
Steele showed the strain under which he
was living. The outlines of his face became
sharp and his jaw was set more sternly than
ever. Marcia noticed the change in him and
remarked about it.
John, are you unhappy about anything?"
He shook his head impatiently. He could
not betray Anne to his mother even though
he had almost reached the point where he
could not restrain himself from spying on
her.
But Marcia drew her own conclusions. Her
general attitude was one of II told you So"
II warned him." she said to herself. 81
knew all along just how it would be. And
he's feeling it more because of his infatua-
ton for her than he would if he had more
control of his emotions"
Which is perfectly true things went.
One day, as Steele was hurrying through
one of the downtown streets on his way to
lunch. he came face to face with. Katherine
Cleveland. He had thought himself in a tear
ing hurry, but the minute Katherine smiled
her slow smile, that lighted up her dark eyes
and gave to her face that look of gracious
serenity, Steele forgot the press of business
and smiled back.
you're working hard" she said, accus-
7'Why have that tired business mans
look?"
"You have"
"And what are you doing downtown at
this hour?"
I'm going shopping. Of course, you get the
connection
They both laughed, and Steele, with sud
den inspiration, suggested that they nave
lunch together.
! He took her to one of the few attractive
places that he knew in that locality, and
they fingered long over the simple meal:
Once more, Steele experienced that feeling OF
well-being that he had on the night they had
all taken supper together after the theater.
He wanted to prolong the time, with her; he
liked her tremendously and it was relief to
talh with a woman without the danger OF
emotion interfering. With Anne, 1t was so
different She was a constant stimulus and
when he was with her he never wanted 10
tell her what was going on in his mind SO
much as he wanted to hold her in his arms
and tell her that he loved her.
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