Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-09-02
CHAPTER NIL
DeliriuTn
HE atmosphere of hushed suspense thu
Ion in q cd tho ho1l-La o.

HE atmosphere of hushed suspense that
predominated over the house WAS &C
centuated here in Rolls bedroom.
Gloria caught her breath and drew herself
up as though preparing for an ordeal In
voluntarily her eyes flew to the bed, and the
long figure lying under the covers. She was
suddenly oblivious of everything else.
She was vaguely conscious of the fact
that two nurses were present. One rose from
a chair beside the bed as Gloria and the doc
tor entered the other stood beside small
table dropping medicine into a small glass.
They both eyed Gloria curiously, but she
was hardly aware of it.
"Any change, Miss MITCHELL" DR.. Irwin
spoke in a low voice.
The woman shook her mead. mo. DOCTOR"
"Where is DR.. Townsend?"
He is in the next room waiting to speak
to you
DR.. Irwin, with only side glance at
Gloria, moved toward the door connecting
the two rooms Miss Mitchell followed him,
and for the moment Gloria was virtually
alone for the other nurse had returned to
the task in hand.
She advanced slowly toward the bed, and
took the chair Miss Mitchell had vacated.
Rolls face against the pillow looked strange
1y flushed, his eyes were closed, and he
moved his head uneasly from side to side
The nurse advanced from out of the shad-
ows, and slipping an arm deity under his
head, held the glass to his lips. He drank
protestingly and the minute his head
lowered again to the pillow began that rest
less movement from side to side
In the stiffness there was no sound save
Rolls breathing. 1t had a stertorous sound
that was somehow ominous. Each breath
he drew seemed to rack his frame. Gloria
wondered how he could possibly live and go
on breathing like that.
The door clicked, and Gloria, turning her
hos hat hp ha left 10
room. For the time being she lone
with Rolf, and on impulse she leaned sud-
denly closer. Almost as if he realized her
presence, he began to speak. She had to
lean very close to hear what he was saying;
but gradually his voice became stronger.
Gloria, darling, the rooms are beautiful.
They look like home All you need is a
little cat purring by the iresde. You'd like
that, wouldn't you? l must about get
ting one for you
The voice trai1ed off. The nervous fingers
began moving over the counterpart. Gloria,
with her heart eapng madly in her breast,
suddenly put her own cool fingers over that
incredibly hot hand, and as she did so he
began to speak again.
81 want you to be happy. You must be
happy. But how you would laugh if you
could know how lonely I am. You wouldn't
believe it. You never did have much use
for me. What was that you said about
honor? You've made up your mind about
me, Gloria, and nothing L could do or
say would change it. You think I'm rot
ter, but 1 love you, that much is true
wild protest leaped up in Glorias heart.
1t seemed as if she couldn't bear it, as if she
must stop that voice going endlessly on and
on. Her heart began to pound violently,
and with every beat stab of agony went
through her. pain so intense that she want
ed to scream aloud. Why hadn't she been
more kind? What had possessed her to be
50 har unfair
blame him for everything, when, after all,
she herself had been responsible for a great
deal. And now, she might never be able
to tell him how sorry she was. He might
die without ever regaining consciousness;
that would be her punishment.