Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-08-02

Il really don't know dear; she was here
a moment ago"
Mary had slipped away when she heard
the sound of the car in the drive; she did
not feel as if she could face David again
just then. Whenever she thought of her
own mpulsive words she felt if her whole
body were blushing.
What must he have thought of her? What
moment of madness had made her say such
a thing?
She had loved highland David was Nj
gels brother.
But, though as yet she did not realize it,
it was strange how lately Nigel had begun to
fade into the background Of memory She
would have Indignantly denied it had any
one told her that it so, but the fact re-
NAMED, nevertheless.
Perhaps she had never loved him, as
deeply as it was in her nature to love; but
he had been her one and only romance, and
the tragedy Of his death had lent halo of
beauty to his whole life.
Married to him, she would always have
adored him, but in spite of herself her whole
feeling towards him had unconsciOusly
changed since his marriage.
Even to the broken-hearted, Time is a
wonderful healer, and there is no truer say
ing of all the many penned by the immortal
hard than that Men have died and worms
have eaten them, but not for love"
And Mary was still young. She be-
ginning already to lose the wan, careWOrn
look that had thinned her face when she first
came to Red Grange. The quiet, healthy
life, free from trouble, had done wonders
for her; she slept we'll and dreamlessy, and
woke full of energy, looking forward with
almost childish anticipation to the simple
events of the day.
Learning to drive David's car had given
her tremendous pleasure; it was something
so different from anything she had ever eX-
Notwithstanding so exciting.
David was speaking of the when,
little later she came itno the room.
Dora only just caught her train. The en-
CINE was running badly; it would hardly
take Deacons Hill at all" He swung round
sharply at the soft sound of the opening
door.
Mary did not look at him as she came for
ward, but she was painfully conscious Of
her quick heart-beats and flushing cheeks.
She sat down beside Miss Varney, and
took up book
well, are you ready for another lesson
in the morning." David asked her.
He was determined that somehow she
should be made to look at him, and speak to
him; he wanted to meet her eyes again
but Mary did not raise them.
ST think it will be wet tomorrow" she
said.
He laughed.
what difference can that make? There is
>
terday when We went OUT
"Was it?' she felt strained and unnatural
with him; she wished he would go away or
sit down He looked tall and overpower-
ing as he stood there, and she was so pain
fully conscious of his gaze bent upon her
Suddenly:
miss Fisher wants you to go and stay
with her in town. he said deliberately.
The words had the desired effect. Mary
raised her eyes at once.
ooh, 1 couldn't! I don't want to be rude,
but I'd so much rather not
you don't like herr"
She flushed.
"Oh, it's not that. 1 think she's simply
beautiful, but-oh, I'm such bad one at
making new friends"
"You made friends with us easily enough,
my dear" said Miss Varney affectionately
Mary could think of no reply. The book
had fallen from her knees; she stopped and
CROPPED after it at the same moment in which
David bent to pick it up for her, and their
hands touched
Mary drew hers away sharply, and there
was a little additional color in David's face
as he laid the book down on her lap.
The silence was unbroken save for the
click of Miss Varney's knitting needles.
II am going to show you over the old part
of the house after dinner" David said sud
denly. 'You said you would like to see it,
and there is a moon tonight
What has that got to do with it,"
Everything. The old wing looks only its
best by moonlight"
"Oh!"
"And the ghost always walks by moon
light said Miss Varney,
Mary casped her hands rather tightly
in the lap of her frock.
perhaps We shall see her, them she
said, with a forced lightness.
Miss Varney shook her head.
I'm my Opinion she never existed, my
dear. I've never seen her, and l very much
doubt if anyone else has. Dear me-not
dinner already?'
The gong doomed through the house.
David rushed off to tidy, as he laugh
ingly said He had given up dressing for
dinner since Mary came for Miss Varney had
been quite right when she said she was sure
the girl had not an evening frock, and some
thing in Mary's manner, some little reserve
and pride had kept her as yet from offering
any such presents
There is plenty of time' she told David
gently when he urged her to see that Mary
got all she wanted. I'VE don't want to
brighten her, David, and / think she would
resent any such overtures just al present.
But, to Davids masculine ignorance, no
woman had ever looked half so charming as
Mary when he watched her across the dinner
table
The old room, with its. oak-paneled walls
and hanging armor, made a perfect back
ground for her slight figure and dainty
head; the light of the red-shaded
lamps lent the touch of color to her pale
cheeks that made her almost beautiful. He
did not realize how often his eyes turned to
her.
When Mary and Miss Varney rose from
the table he joined them Immediately.
I'm not going to sit and smoke in state