Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-04-10
CHAPTER XXIV
Down to Earth

TT was a week before either of them could
| think clearly, make any definite plans.
That week was the happiest in Miriam's
life, the most ecstatic, for it seemed to the
girl that she had never really lived before
During this time she saw Anthony every day
She lunched and dned with him, she went
about her work with her head in the clouds,
and a look of starry brilliance in her eyes
that deceived one. They spent long eve
nings together inpthe little apartment, and
each time they met there that long init
mate look exchanged between them before
she in his arms, held close to him. and
the world outside forgotten.
1t was a week before Anthony spoke any
definite word of marriage, although it was
understood between them that a tacit en-
gagement existed. Miriam could not think
beyond the next day, and Anthony deliber-
ately put off thinking. 1t was enough that
they were together, but after d week had
passed Anthony appeared one evening to
take her out to dinner, and he brought with
him the inevitable small Velvet-lined box,
with the conventional large white diamond
solitaire.
1t seemed to Miriam in thinking of it aft
erward that her engagement ring marked a
definite episode in her life. Not that she
wasn't as happy afterward, but other things
entered into their relationship toward each
other, things that could no longer be
avoided.
In that moment when he slipped the spar
king stone on her slim finger, Anthony
seemed graver somehow, more like the cas-
ual man of the world he had been when she
first met him. For just a moment the ar
dent passionate lover of her dreams was
gone, and another man took his place,
stranger who made Miriam feel suddenly
shy. The next moment his arms were
around her, and the little feeling of doubt
that had sprung up in her heart was forgot
ten. But it returned later when she realized
that she must make room in her heart for
this other Anthony as we'll as the man she
knew only in those moments when they were
alone.
1t was the night Anthony gave her the
ring that he told her about his mother. This
came as little shock to Miriam for she
had not thought at all of his people,
Mother lives down on our Long Island
estate" Anthony told her. ''She never comes
into the city, she belongs to another gener-
alton, and she thinks New York is a regular
den of lnfquity. Modern people find her
rather narrow and intolerant and her atti-
tude toward the progress of women belongs.
OF course, to another generation"
Then, of course, she wouldn't approve
OF my work, Miriam said slowly.
He shook his head Hardly"
Nor of my living alone"
mo, Of course not but it won't be necns-
sary 10 tell her anything about it. You'll be
giving up your work soon, and in the mean
time 1T will be enough to tell her that you're
an orphan with an Independent income. Inst
be yourself when you meet her. and she'll
like you. Do you know that you have quite
an uncommon air of breeding about YOU.
MIRIAM? She'll notice that the first thing
Miriam felt sudden chill in the regions
OF her heart. Anthony hadn't said a word
about whether or not she would like her
mother. Apparently that didn't matter. She
must accept this older wOmans narrow intol-
erance. she must pretend to be someone
other than herself because Anthony wanted
his mother to like her. To a girl of Mir-
n m g Ind 49,, Al
able. She felt like a piece of merchandise
that was to be sent down to Mrs. Breen on
approval.
CHAPTER XIV