Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-11-13
CHAPTER X-XXVEz
Breakfast Conversation


~ INCE Claudia's affair with Harris Fiske,
~ she had given very little of her thought
~ to her stepmother. In short, Claudia
looked at Julia with unseeing eyes, and
Julie, studying her, could not help noticing
a Subtle change in the girl. Something was
evidently preying on her mind, making her
thoughtful. Julie could not help wishing
that she might talk to Claudia, help her if
she were in trouble but she knew the fu-
tlllty of attempting such a thing.
Julie herself was far from happy. or
late change had come over Matthew. He
no longer made the slightest attempt at love-
making. Their lives seemed hardly to touch,
but there were times when Julie fancied
that he looked at her strangely, and she
wondered little at this.
The morning after the country club dance
Matthew had asked her direct question at
breakfast
did you have a caller last night?"
Julie met his narrowed gaze quite frankly.
''Why, yes Bradford Pierce came over for
a time"
Matthew was silent, but there was a
strangeness in his silence that struck Julie
as somehow omnous. After time she
spoke.
why, Matthew?'
He shrugged his shoulders. Nothing,
only that l have been wondering if it isn't
questionable taste for you to see so much Of
Pierce. He means only to be kind, know,
but he's here a great deal"
Julie went first scarlet, then white Her
+ lips felt stiff and rigid, and for moment
she could not answer him. Matthew had
accepted her friendship witt Pierce from the
very beginning, even when she -ad felt that
it was not quite right. And now, for the
first time, Julie aware of Pierce as she
had not been before. There was something
almost accusing in Matthew's words, and
their implication made her feel suddenly
ashamed
"Would you rather not have me see him
AGAIN." she asked finally.
would you rather not have me see him
again." she asked finally.
There was something in the way she
spoke that stabbed at Matthew's conscience.
He thought suddenly of the time he had
spent Of late with Margaret Davenport. The
long room, with its many soft lights, the
tea-table. Margarets subtle fattery and his
own response. There had been several eve-
nlngs in town as well, and it struck him
quite suddenly that he had been careful not
to mention these to Julie, while she herself
had been quite frank as far as Pierce was
concerned. But had she been frank? Wasn't
it likely that his call the other evening had
been arranged between them, and that she
hadn't wanted her husband to know?
Also as soon as this occurred to him
Matthew pushed it out Of his mind. No,
Julie hadn't an evil thought in her mind.
Whatever else she was, she was not that.
Any mistake that she might make would
be done through ignorance, for she hadn't
the fnesse to be subtle.
"Oh no, anything so radical isn't neces-
sary," he said evenly. bradford would
think it strange if for no reason you ceased
seeing HIM"
He stopped, hesitating to speak the words
that had leaped into his mind. What he
had wanted to tell her was that he was
not afraid for Bradford, but for her, lest
she mistake Bradford's kindness for some-
thing else. But there was something about
her that kept Matthew from speaking those
words Something hurt in her eyes, and
her face was so white, as though she had
received a sharp physical blow.
Don't take the matter so seriously" he
said, with an attempt at lightness. And
then, as though dismissing the entire matter
from his mind, he rose from the table, made
some conventional remark about having to
hurry on or he. would miss his train, and
moment later was gone, leaving very silent
Julie behind him.
Saturday-"A Wild Hope" Renew your