Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-04-19
CHAPTER .NXXII

/
Miriam, this is Miss Oyerton, an old friend
of mine'
Miriam, called over to Mrs. Breen's side
stood face to face with the woman who look
| ed so strangely familiar. The girl found
herself gazing into prominent light blue eyes
set in thin, hatchet-shaped face, and as
she forced a smile and a few graceful words
OF acknowledgment, she tried again to puzzle
out where she had that face before
Miss Oyerton, too, seemed to find Miriam's
face familiar. She was staring intently at
the girl, and finally she said in rather
| harsh, disagreeable voice, Haven't I met YOU
somewhere befOre?"
81 don't think so,' Miriam returned. smil-
ing. Something warned her not to admit her
own beWilderment, and then suddenly as she
and Miss OVertOn stood looking at each other
wave or memory so poignant that it was
like sharp pain rushed over Miriam
In flash there was COnjured up before her
eyes the brightly lighted lobby of a mountain
Inn. She herself crossing this room
with aYerted eyes and a dOWn-bent head she
saw the fat proprietor standing at the desk
ewing her askance and then she was looking
into the face of a thin-lipped woman who
stood nearby. This woman looked at her as
only one woman can look at another and
so sharp was the recollection that Miriam
could even remember her own reaction and
| the way she had sobbing up teh dark
next floor
A black mist rose before the girls eyes;
Tor moment she felt that she would faint
that she simply could not stand there mo,
ment longer enduring the piercing glance of
those cold blue eyes A PRAYER rose I'm i'm
| her heart, prayer that Miss Overt0n cou1d
not remember. IF she does remember"
ran the girls thoughts land tells Mrs
Breen, they'll never believe that I'm limo
| cent never" And the unfairness Of it all
the injustice Of having to suffer again the
numerous SANDER of sossiping, malicious
tongues, made Miriam's hands ctench and her
breath come fast
1t was Miss Overton who first turned
away Il guess I must be mistaken" she
said with wintry smile But vour faco
does look familiar"
Miriam, in the relief of not being recoe-
nNed' smiled radiantly. But even after she
mad escaped she felt Miss Overton's ewes
upon her Wherever she went, and knew in
voluntarily that the woman was studving
hef and trying to connect her with some in
cldent OF the past.
IL was nearly o'clock and most of the
guests had departed when suddenly Miss
oyerton' who ever since her arrived had re-
NAMED close beside Mrs Brenn turned to
her friend with a quick exclamation.
nave 1t. | know where I've seen that
gIrI before. | knew I'd remember if CON
remember perfectly" She spoke with p
! venom so concentrated that Mrs Breen turn
ed toward her in amazement.
''You say you you've met Miriam before?
Well, that's quite possible. She occupies an
important position as designer with Carson
& Holland. -" Mrs. Breen was affecting toll
erance now where before she had looked
down upon her future daughters position as
something shameful and degrading
But Miss OvertOn was shaking her head
IN quick denial. "What do you know about
TINS glrl, Blanche, anything at all? You
say she's going to marry Anthony; well,
upon my word she certainly aims high"
CHAPTER XNXIH
banning a Reputation
GGXXT HAT do you mean, Sara? What
w do you know about Miriam?" In
moment all Of Mrs Breen'
kindly geniality was gone, killed by the re-
turn of her old suspicion
'Know about her" Miss Overton snapped.
WELL | know enough about her to think
it's shameful the way she's imposed upon
you, Why, shat girls an adventures, moth
ing less WhereupOn Miss Sara Oyerton in
covert tones proceeded to tell Anthonys
mother of the incident at the inn.
1T was up in the Berkshires a year ago
last summer. ! was staying over to little
mountain inn for dinner. This girl was
| there with man, she came into the lobby
as l was waiting for the Others and went
on upstairs to her room. A moment before
the man had come in and asked if there were
accommodations to be had for the night.
He said they had missed the last train and
would have to stay over"
And they stayed there, together?"
"Of course. No doubt the man had it
planned from the first, but the girl was easily
persuaded, l have no doubt of that"
For just a moment, Blanche Breen waver-
ed in favor of Miriam For just moment
she doubted the truth of Sara Oyerton's
story, for Just moment because she rather
! liked the girl, she was inclined to be merci-
| full and reserve Judgment, but it was just
! for a moment. Then she stiffened in her
chair
| "Of course, We must question her. We
must find out about this?"
! "Of course, we'll question her" Miss Over
! ton returned eagerly I'D like to have her
try and lie out of it when I face her with
the story. She'll admit it fast enough. YOU
mark my words"
And Miriam. standing across the room
with Anthony and three other persons, sud
denly knew that the two older women We're
talking about her. 4 quick glance in their
direction told her everything. Miss Overton
had remembered, she was telling the story
now to Mrs. Breen, Mrs Breen would tell
Anthony and there would be a frightful
horrible suspicion in their eyes. and even if
she protested her innocence, they would
never believe her the SANDER would follow
her all through life.
MiriamS one thought was escape She
knew that if she fled, they would believe the
worst but she couldn't face il a second time
after having gone through with it in Pine
Notch. This was too much, and as for An
thony, Anthony with his too ready suspicion,
Anthony who didn't quite trust-he anyway,
would he ever believe her? 1t was hope
less to believe that he would.
No, she must set away while there was
time In some way she must slip out of the
house and find her way TO the station. Let
them believe what they wished after she was