Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-02-10

Y UCY heard him. some time later, COM
ing down from Davids room.
- But he did not turn into his Office
Instead, he came on to her door, stood for
moment in the doorway like man un-
decided thenScame in. She did not look at
him, even when, very gently he took her
knitting from her and laid it on the table.
"Aunt Lucy?"
Eyes, Dick
Don't you think we'd better have talk?"
what about?" she asked with her heart
hammering.
"About me-" He stood above her and
looked down, still with the tenderness with
which he always regarded her, but with reso-
luton in his very attitude First of all,
I'll tell you something. Then I'll ask you to
tell me all you can.
She yearned over him as he told her, for
all her terror His voice, for all its steadi-
ness, was strained.
II have felt for some time" he finished,
chat you and David were keeping some
thing from me. I think now, that this is
what it was Of course you realize, that
I shall have to know
"Dick! Dick!" was all she could say.
"I was about" he went on, with his al
most terrible steadiness, Ito ask girl to
take my name. want to know if 1 have a
name. to offer her. I have, you see, only
two alternatives to believe about myself. Eli
SON, and in that case I have no right to my
name, or to offer it to any one, or am
he made desperate gesture-"or am some
one else, some one who was struggled out OF
the mountains, and given an identity that
makes me living lie.'
do you know which?' he demanded.
eyes Dick
would you have the unbelievable cruelty
not to tell me?"
She got up, taut little figure with dig
nifty born of her fear and her love for him.
II shall not betray David's confidence,
she said. Long ago warned him that this
time would come. / was never in favor Of
keeping you in ignorance. But it is David'i
problem, and l cannot take the responsible
ty of telling you"
He knew her determination, and her obsti
nate loyalty. But he was fairly desperate.
"You know that if you don't tell me,
shall go to David"
"If you go now you will kill him"
cts as bad as that, is it?', he asked
grimly "Then there is something shame
full behind it, is there?"
"No, no, Dick. Not that And 1 wan
you always to remember this: What Davit
did was out of love for you. He has made
many sacrifices for you First, he saved
your life, and then he made you what yol
are. And he has had a great pride in it
Don't destroy his work of years"
Her voice broke and she turned to go out
her chin quivering, but halfway to the dool
he called to her.
"Aunt Lucy" he said gently
She heard him behind her, felt his stront
arms as he turned her about. He drew hel
to him and, stopping, kissed her cheek.
You're right" he said. always right
I'll not worry him with it. My word O.
honor When the time comes he'll tell me
and until it comes, I'll wait And l love vol
both. Don't ever forget that"
| He was very gentle with David from tina
| time on, even Lucy was deceived at times
| He went his customary round, but he began
| to look very thin, too, and lucy often heart
| him pacing the floor at night. She though
that he seldom, or never, went to the Wheel
ers'.''
/ And so passed the tenth day Of David
! Illness with the smile on Elizabeths fac