Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-09-20
CHAPTER r.

Miss Mitchell Tells the Truth
<<T LII come in while Mr.. Templeton has
his dinner Vera said haughtily. She
had no intention of leaving the situa-
ton as it was, neither did she intend to take
orders from Miss Mitchell, who was, after
all, no more than hired "attendant.'
I'm sorry Miss Mitchell said civilly, but
quite firmly. But Mr.. Templeton isn't hav-
ing dinner these days. He has light supper
after he is in bed, and then goes right to
sleep. I really think that he has had
enough company today. You see, we want
him to sleep"
Sorry to have to turn you off like this,
Vera, old girl" Rolf said lightly. I told you
how tyrannical they with me-" Then he
and Miss Mitchell were making off toward
the house, and Vera was left alone on the
terrace.
Inside Rolf turned and faced Miss Mitch
ell. "Why wasn't told that Miss King was
here during my illness. / can't understand
it all. I'd like to know the meaning of it,
Miss Mitchell smiled broadly SO they
had told him, and she no longer bound
by her promise to keep silent. 1t was with
a feeling Of intense relief that she fastened
to answer Rolls imperious question, and be-
cause she had wanted for so long to tell
him; her voice glad, eager.
"Mrs. Ttempleton made Dr. Townsend
promise not to tell you. We were all sworn
to secrecy"
"But, why, why?"
"Well, you see, Mrs Templeton was sensi-
tive, and a little hurt, at least that's the way
I look at it. Fever patients say things, you
know, extravagant things that sometimes
they have no recollection Of having said. You
kept calling for your wife, you made love to
her"
while she was here?" Rolf interrupted.
eyes"
"And then
"WelI. then you see, you didn't remember,
and she thought you hadn't meant any of
it"
"You mean she cared one way or an
other"
eyes, I think she did care terribly"
"My God!" The single expletive was SO
fervent that Miss Mitchell smiled:
"Mrs. Templeton was here all during the
worst Of your Illness, she went on after
moment. "She sat up with you night after
night She was the only one who could
quiet you at all, and DR.. Townsend thinks
she was responsible for saving your life"
Rolf was silent. The news had stunned
him, he could not seem to take it in. Gloria
had been here! She had come because he
had kept calling her and she had stayed till
the danger was over. 1t was incredible, and
yet even as the joyous knowledge beat in on
him he was seized suddenly with another
thought. There was no reason to believe
that she cared. No doubt she had been act
uated by pity, she had felt sorry for him.
that was it, and as soon as the crisis was
over she had gone away again. Miss Mitchell
was kind, but foolishly romantic. She did
not know the truth Of the situation, but she
eager to put things before him in the best way
possible because she saw how much it meant
to him.
do you want me to send for herr" Miss
Mitchell was saying eagerly. "She left word
that if you asked for her she would come at
any time.
The blood was hammering in Rolls tenn
pies. He had only to send for her and she
would come The temptation almost too
much and yet the next minute he was crush
ing it back He didn't want her pity. He
wanted more, much more. No, he wouldn't
send for her. If he did she would only de-
spise him for his weakness.
Tuesday-"Veras Little Came" This
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