Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-11-20
CHAPTER XII
The Latch Kew


The Latch Key
" cry soon after dinner Matthew left
" the house. He felt restless, and he,
knew that if he remained at home he
would sooner or later seek out Julie and
tell her that he knew the situation existing
between Bradford and herself. He did not
want to do this-yet He wanted time to
think things over, to plan, and tonight he
felt strangely restless, entirely unlike him.
self. Matthew the type of man who
hated lack of system. He wanted his life
we'll ordered regulated, and he attributed
his restlessness to the trouble that doomed
ahead and not to any personal feeling he
might have at the thought of losing Julie.
Julie heard him go, and sick little feel
ing of depression settled around her heart.
He had not even taken the trouble to tell
her where he was going, nor to say good
by Actually she was nothing in his
life, and yet she loved him, and she had
tried so hard to make herself into the kind
of woman he wanted.
Slowly and surely during the last two
months, Julie had been making a place for
herself in Brompton Manor. Gradually peo-
pie had taken her up; she was being in
vited here and there, although she had not
as yet been asked to the Marriott's to make
fourth at bridge. She had accepted tenta-
lively as she accepted all her invitations,
but now the thought of being alone all eve-
ming was more than she could bear and
she decided to go. She was just about to
the front door open and close. Her heart
leaped up in her throat. Could that be
Matthew returning so soon? 1t must be
Matthew. No one else possessed a key to
the front door since Matthew had taken
Claudias away.
Soft footsteps sounded in the hail. and
then some one began the ascent of the
stairs. In moment Julie was at the door
of the library
els that you, Matthew"
A ILL +l,o-,
ing.
'It's I, julie
! There was something strange about the
girls voice, something breathless and sur
prised, and the usual insolence was missing
from it. Acting on impulse, Julie, went up
the stairs to her stepdaughter.
On the upper landing they faced each
other
II thought you were spending the week.
end with the Rivingtons, Claudia
81 was, but the party bored me, and
decided not to stay" The girls eyes were
very bright and her cheeks were flushed.
Again Julie noticed that breathless sound in
her voice, as though she were speaking un-
der stress, and again, acting on impulse,
Julie put out her arm and touched Caudia's
arm.
"Claudiaj is anything wrong? Can I help
you?"
Instantly Claudia drew back. Don't be
absurd, julie what could be wrong?"
L uOu i KNOW, out somehow OIL late I've
felt that you weren't happy. I thought per-
haps I could help you if you were troubled
about anything"
"How could you help me?" Claudia's
emphasis on the two pronouns was unms-
taxable, but Julie did not finch. Claudia
could not hurt her she had in the past.
Il suppose it's natural that you should
feel that way, and l know there's not
great deal of difference between our ages.
: But | happen to be here and it does help to
oil o1c
kind"
you're mistaken. have no trouble. But
it's decent of you to be interested: that is,
unless you're merely curious"
"You don't trust me at all; do you,
Claudia?"
81 don't trust any one, when it comes to
that" the girl returned sharply. Then she
picked UP her small travelling bag, and went
down the corridor to her room.
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