Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-01-17
CHAPTER XIV
Strings of Conscience

WAY stared increduousIy at Harriet.
r. Sitting up in bed, with her dark hair
tumbed and her nightgoWn falling Off
one dimpled shoulder, Harriet seemed some
how different Passion quivered in her voice,
she was all feeling, and suddenly Fay saw
her position, the position of every girl in a
small town, and with the sudden clarity of
vision she shuddered.
Wrapped in her own selfish schemes, she
had never thought much about the other
woman She had the metropolitan view
point, and now suddenly there had burst
upon her something new, and she saw Dales-
burg for the first time as a sort of prison.
Locked behind its bars were girls like Har-
riet, Violet Fowler, Gail Martin, girls who
had been born there and would probably
live out their days within it's provincial linn
its. How horrible it all was and how
strange that she had never thought of 1t
that way before!
1t was hard for Fay to humble herself,
for she had always been arrogant, naughty,
followed around by a number of men and
unwilling to choose among them. But now
she leaned forward impulsively and put her
hand on Harriets arm.
Don't look like that, dear; please don't!
You see 1 didn't realize, I don't think city
girl ever does. But you shall come with me
to New York, you must pack up your things
tomorrow and go back with me- I'll see
that you meet men, and the right kind too!
I'll give you the most wonderful time in the
world"
Whatever conscience Fay had was trou-
bling her and she was eager to atone
through Harriet. Eagerly, as she had talked
to George she laid before Harriet the joys
of New York. Her voice went on and on,
and as she talked Harriet gradually forgot
her intense pity for Gail. Visions of the
gay life she would lead as Fay's guest rose
before her, anticipations shone in her eyes.
This was what she had planned for, this was
w CHI hoH drno ri froT, +I,0J To
had come to Dalesburg.
And yet, after Fay had slipped away to
bed, Harriet lay for long time in the dark
ness thinking about Gail. and hating herself
for accepting Fay's invitation.
Il must go" she told herself ferceIy,
"staylng here wouldn't help Gail and after
all, she loves George; she may take him
back after all this has blown over"
But in her heart of hearts she knew that
Gail would never surrender Gail was
proud, and although the gossiping tongues
OF Dalesburg would hurt and wound her al
most beyond endurance, she would stand
firm hold her head high and suffer as only
Gail could.
The gray light of dawn was beginning to
steal into the windows before Harriet finally
dropped asleep In the next room Fay was
slumbering peacefully. She had salved her
conscience and dismissed the whole thing
from her mind. After all, why should she
worry about the love affair of a country
yokel and his conveyed sweetheart But
dawn found George Hartley still driving
aimlessly around the country. He was hard
ly conscious of what he was doing Once
during the night he had stopped the car and,
dropping her head on the steering wheel
had broken down and sobbed aloud. A fren-
zy of hate burned in him and he longed for
revenge, but in spite of this feeling he was
still bound by his infatuation.
Fay's green, long-lashod eyes still drew
him, passion Scr her still thrnbhod I,
heart He wanted her, he wanted her, and
even the singing memory of her scorn was
not proof against his feeling. But he was
poWerless to do anything. He had no posi-
ton, no money, nothing that he could possibly
use as weapon against her. OF Gail he did
not think once she did not enter his mind
even for moment
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