Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-11-04
CHAPTER XXXUT
The Expected Happens

@LAUDIA found her usual poise shaken
L by her nearness to Fiske. Then too,
there was the knowledge that she was
doing something highly unconventional, that
she was here alone with him and under the
too steady regard of his eyes. She finally
rose to her feet put her cup down and be-
gan to wander about the room.
She made pretense of examining things
here and there, picking up a piece of bric-a-
brac or bending to scrutinZe picture.
Finally, she stopped beforea large hand
carved frame which held photograph of
rather handsome woman.
She was gazing at it, when .Fiske crossed
the room to her, and, because she was mo-
mentarily confused, she turned to him with
question:
Who is that?"
His eyes followeNher glance and she FAM
cied that look of embarrassment crossed
his face Afterward she felt that she might
have been mistaken for the look was gone
in a moment. At any rate, he did not an
swer and instead of speaking swept her sud-
denly into his arms.
Claudia was conscious Of breathless
dizzy sensation, a sudden swooping of her
heart as though from fear, followed by a
rapturous surge of emotion. Her heart ham,
mered against her breast she found herself
clinging to him and then her eyes closed az
his lips touched hers. She did not know
how long they clung together
A wave of sick revusion swept over her.
She was conscious suddenly Of staring at
him with wide eyes, staring at him
though he were stranger and wondering
DULY how she could want to be touched by
him moment and be sick with fear and
dstaste the next.
"Claudiar' His voice was low, caressing.
He made move to take her once more into
his arms, but she drew quickly back.
What is it, >dear?" he went on softly.
"You care for me more than you realize.
You must care for me! Why, there was
response in every nerve of your body"
The hot. shamed blood rushed into her;
face. 81 don't know" she faltered, ~ must
think" She tried to summon back her self
control. to regain her poise. If only she
could laugh, could feel the old self-conf-
dence that had always been hers but some-
how she couldn't, not while he stood there
looking at her that way, not while she knew
that he had only to touch her again to mako
her respond she had
II must CO." she began desperately.
"Please don't try to stop me, and I don't
want you to come with me. | want to be
alone"
"But, Claudia I can't let you go like this. I
Come over here and sit down. We must
talk things over. Perhaps I shouldn't have
done what I did, but somehow / couldn't
help it. Ever since that night long ago ]
have thought about you, wanted to be alone
with you. You're not angry with me, are
you sweetheart"
No. she said very slowly. "Tm not
angry. ! think ! must have wanted you to
do it, but I want to go now; must" :
She slipping into her coat now and
Selling her gloves and purse, was moving
toward the door.
"PIease don't come with ! can pick
up a taxi right outside the entrance, and l
want to be alone"
Without even a goodbye, she opened the
door and closed it quickly behind her. The
next moment she was running downstairs as
though he were pursuing her all the way
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