Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-08-04

| ~ Ortens millinery establishment, Bruce
had telephone call from Lulu
Am never going to see you AGAIN." she
asked.
"Of counsel" Bruce quickly replied, de-
! lighted to hear her voice, and all his resolu-
tions about not seeing her forgotten. Some
thing particular?"
ooh, no! just wanted to see you" There
perceive. Unconscously that tone flattered
| him.
Name the time and place, he answered
gayIy, land I'll be there
| Gould we take another ride? I did so en-
joy it, and haven't been in car since"
That's all right. Ill-no, meet me near
| the office-about where you did before. Six
! thirty, L shall have to stay late tonight
| Bruce did intend to remain to finish some
work. 1t would be almost dark when he met
her. Bruce called Muriel to tell her he would
not be home until late and passed a disagree
able five minutes eyading her questions.
| Lulu was waiting when he drove up to the
curb The dusk was falling rapidly. Even
now one could scarcely distinguish a person
at any distance.
Ordinarily women held no allure for Bruce
Conway. Muriel had almost destroyed his lik-
ing for the SEX OF course, there were excep-
tiOns like Ann Mason, whom he admired i'm
mensely because of her real worth. But Lulu
held an allure. She was the only woman of
her type he ever had known, and to him she
was like waters under rock unfathoma BILE
in her limpidness. She worth studying
She had ideas and could listen to his ideas
Her gay welcome delighted him. She was
so simply natural. She knew he was married
land SO directed none of her arts at him.
showing that she square, Bruce told him
self. The thought made him comfortable
She gave him of her good nature without
demanding a return. While not highly edu-
Gated, she entertained and interested him as
no other woman ever had. So, seated beside
her, he gave himself up to enjoyment of the
hour turning deaf to conscience whose
prickings were apt to disturb him.
At dinner, after jolly ride, Lulu for the
first time laid herself out, not to please but
to fascinate him. Now added to her gay
frendliness was an intriguing feminine quail
ty which she called upon to aid her in win
ming return for the love she had given him.
love he did not even suspect He thought
her only grateful.
Bruce noticed a subtle change in her, how
ever, but he laid it to the fact that she now
had employment and no longer was de-
pendent. To himself he said:
''This is her real self, all her embarrass-
ment gone because she is now independent of
me-" He charmed by her evident desire
to please and he also gained interest
in her. There was the old camaraderie with
an added softness that intrigued and flat
tered.
There was no real cruelty in Lulu's ma
ture Had Muriel not insulted her and left
her with yelled threat it is doubtful ii
Lulu would have tried deliberately to win
Bruce. She loved him-yes. But her love up
to this time had held no element Of selfish
ness She had looked up to Bruce, admired
him and been happy when he had few mo-
ments for her. But it had been the admira-
ton she gave to one beyond her reach, and
love that hid itself, so she might enjoy his
companionship Resentful because of Mu-
rieIs attitude at the millinery shop she had
convinced herself that she had been stupid TO
conceal her love long. And it was sweet
to yield to it even in measure, even though
she had no surety 1t was or ever would be
returned.
Lulu had no pity for Muriel. woman's
cruelty to woman had brought to her bit
terness nothing a man did ever could have
brought.
She supposed Muriel had heard the town
gossip about her and that had given her the
daring to come to her and forbid the con-
tinuance of friendship with Bruce. In this
she wronged Muriel. Living by herself, in her
own emotions as she did, she had heard moth
ing about Lulu. To her she was just a girl
irving to lure Bruce from his fealty to her,
a. girl like Elizabeth Longworth, or any 9TH
er who admired Bruce's boyishness, his good
nature and took up his time-the time that
belonged to her.
And also to do Lulu justice she did not
look ahead to what ght follow her resolve
to make Bruce care for her. She held no flu
,ture with him in her mind. But Muriel's ac-
ton had determined her to get what sweet
ness she could from association with him. AT
the same time she would be reyenged upon
Muriel