Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-06-17
CHAPTER XIV
DaVid's Offer

IS David Brethertons words family
For moment she looked past him.
away into distance that was landmarked by
four years of faithful friendship, ending in a
lonely grave
Don't answer me at once" David went on
Think it over. You are lonely and there
is plenty of room down at the Red Grange
My aunt livs with me-possbly YOU know
that-and think you would like her. hope
you will agree to do this. I want to show in
some small way my appreciation of your
kindness to Nigel, and l think to take you
thereto his home"
He stopped as if waiting for her to speak
There was a curious look Of baffed inter
est In his eyes. his woman was a conun-
drum to him. Apparently she had no wish
Of trying to get money out of him, and vet
what was it that kept her from frankly ayow-
ing that she was not his brothers wife?
All his life women had been Of small inter-
est to David, but this one was somehow Diff
ferent.
He moved to the door, pausing for a mo.
ment to look back at her and the little room
still so full of his brothers memory
Write to me when you have made IN
your mind" he said. you know my ad-
dress. | am going down to the Red Grange
this afternoon
Mary made little, Involuntary movement
Words trembled on the tip of her tongue
words which would once and for all have
that would once and for all have settled the
question as to whether she should accept his
offer or not
She had only to say: You are mistaken:
am not Nigels wife. am Mary Furnival."
and her chance of going back to the Red
Grange would be ;,one forever
She thought of its beauties with a ysry
real heartache.
Just for that one short day spent there
with Nigel she Lad been SO happy-so very
Eappy Even now, though it was three years
ago, she had but to close her eyes to see the
Old house, and the belt of trees, and wonder
ful soping lawns
David held out his hand.
Write and tell me when you have made
up YOUR mind, he said.
Her fingers shook IN his kind, friendly
grasp. She knew that already she wished to
make no he mind, knew that she would sac
rifice anything to go back there, even if just
for one day-one week. But she did not tell
him so now, and presently he went away
leaving her alone once more
All day long the torment of what she want
ed to do haunted her; she even found herself
weighing up the probable chances of discoy-
cry. They were so very small
SO few people who had known Nigel as one
or the Brethertons of the Red Grange had
ever known him after his marriage in Lon
don. And Dolly had been girl to
make friends: she had dropped almost en-
trely out Of her own set when she married
in the hope that Nigel's circle would take her
up. When she found that such hope was
vain, she had not troubled to create world
of her own.
And row she the other side OF the
world. She might never come back, and
even If she did-well, she was no longer Mrs
Nigel Bretherton.
And I loved him best!"
Mary Rugged that knowledge tight TO her
heart when she lay awake at night torn with
conflicting emotions
She cit as il her heart were fighting IL
conscience-her heart that longed to go and
do this thing, and her conscience which
would not let her give in.
Continued Thursday. Renew Your subscrip.
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