Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-24
CHAPTER LII
The Limit of Endurance

| CUDDENLY Steele thought of the child and
- in a flash he realized way in which he
w. might pierce through Anne's strange ar
NOR of reserve.
anne, are you worrying about the baby?"
he asked abrutly. "If you are, want you to
know that It's quite unnecessary
But Anne interrupted his words with sud-
den peal of strang laughter The laughter
died away into a choking sound that was like
sob, and he saw her slender hands clench at
her side as she battled for se1f-control. Then
she began to speak in low tense voice
1.-THE baby is dead, she's dead, do you I'M
derstand? That's why nothing matters now,
because it was my fault?! 1 loved you more
than l did her. Even after the things you
said to me, even when you gave me no chance
to explain that L had been married, that
had never done anything really wrong, I loved
you. That's why God punished me, because
loved you more than Elinor and now she's
dead, and I'll never love any one or anything
again.
She swayed slightly and caught at the table
for support. The next moment she would have
sunk to the floor if Steele hadn't sprung for
ward and caught her slender body in his arms
He carried her over to the sofa and hung
over her distractedly, chatting her wrist and
calling her name over and over 1t seemed
hours before her eyelids futtered and little
color stole into her white cheeks, but when
she opened her eyes she turned her head away
from him. She was deaf to his murmured
was entirely unaware of his presence, and it
seemed to Steele, at that moment, as though
his punishment was more than he could bear
Mrs. Higgins hustled in wearing her out
door things. She had been out marketing
and she stared at Steele with sudden sus-
pfcion in her eyes. He hurried to explain who
ne was, and at the expression in his eyes, Mrs
Higgins motherly heart went out to him in
spite of her prejudice against him. Anne had
told her nothing, but she was shrewd enough
n
course, that 1t had been necessary to keep
El1nor's existence a secret from him.
She bent over Anne and murmured a few
words in voice low that Steele couldn't
understand what was said. Then she straight
ened up and although the eyes that she turned
on him were kind, her words left him in no
doubt of the fact that she intended to take
charge Of the situation.
Il think you'd better go now. She's upset
and over-wrought, all this has been too much
for her"
Steele met the woman's eyes with an AFRO
CANT lift Of his head. eff you'll be so good
as to leave US alone for a few moments" he
began haughtily. was the tone of voice that
he used when he wished to reduce a person
to state of inferiorty, and all his life Steele
had had his own way But Mrs. Higgins did
not quail before him. She continued to meet
his narrowed eyes with her own kindly toll
Grant
Il don't think she wants to be left alone
with you,' she observed quietly. 81 should
think you could see that"
But Steele ignored her words and strobe
swiftly UP to the couch
"Anne,' his voice was sharp, "Anne,
sweetheart!'
But this time Anne was oblivious to his I'M
perious demand of her. She had suffered too
much, she had reached the breaking point.
and with little moan of pain, she turned
| away from him and buried her face in the pill
low. 1t seemed to Steele at that moment that
h0 hod L
drop, and that his last hope of happiness had
forsaken him.
Saturday: 1.-THE Wisdom of Woman" Re-