Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-07-26

Copyright, 1924.(
careful instructions when she came to answer
the bell.
"Are you going back to London tonight"
David asked; he had taken chair beside
Dora.
She laughed
"Why, of course I am! didn't mean to stay
five minutes only l couldn't resist the tea,
and Miss Varney said you would be in soon.
Why didn't you come to see us last night,
David?"
Her voice was reproachful. Mary moved
away and stood looking out of the window
into the darkening garden.
1t was surprising how acutely sensitive she
was to every word that passed between David
and Dora; though she tried not to listen,
she heard everything they said.
She had never seen Dora Fisher before,
but she had hard NigePs wife speak of her
many times
Dolly had ineIegantly called her dressed
up cat" she had made fun of the way she
did her hair, and the clothes she wore, though
she would dearly have liked to have worn the
same things herself.
In her heart she had known Dora to be
both smartly and extensively dressed; it was
through her jealousy that Nigel had been
obliged to break off all friendly associations
with the Fishers. Mary was recalling all this
vaguely as she stood at the window, and
heard DOra's rather affected voice, and Da
yds deep tones
She knew she was not going to like Dora;
she knew that she resented this visit-that
she resented the fact that Fishers sister
called David by his Christian name. 1t was
an absurd resentment, but none the less real.
The past few weeks at the Red Grange had
spOilt her; she had been made much of for
the first time in her life. She felt out in the
cold and unWanted she stood there alone
in the window, and heard those two friendly,
intimate voices at her back. 1t was Miss
Varney who called to her to come and have
tea. David rose perfunctorily and drew for
ward chair for her; she took it without
looking at him.
She was angry and ashamed because she
resented Dora's presence After ALL David
had right to his friends; it had nothing to
do with her who came to the house.
She eXerted herself to try to join the con-
versation, but it was a poor success, and
presently she sat silent in the firelt room lis
tening to the others.
Dora was very beautiful; it was no wonder
David seemed so attentive to her, she told
herself little bitterly. She did not think
she had ever seen a more beautiful woman
1t seemed an endless time before Dora rose
to go.
Il looked up train when I was at the
station she said in answer to Miss Varney's
inquiries There is fast one at six-fifteen
May telephone to the station for cab?"
Il will drive you down in the car" said
David at once. He rose and went into the
hall THAT is, if you are sure you can not
stay to dinner" he added as he returned
with his big driving coat
Il should love to, but /. mustn't Dora
answered Monty will be wondering where
l am; as it is, he will have to have his dinner
alone tonight, and he hates that"
He is lucky man to have such devoted
sister," said Miss Varney kindly. oh
/ have heard him say how good you are to
him." she insisted, Dora began to protest.
/ Mary was forgotten. She sat in the deep
chair in the freight, silent and little sad.
Miss Varney had followed David and Dora
! into the hall; she heard David order the
car; then their steps and voices died away in
the distance.
Mary sat staring into the fire; after all,
it was she who was the intruder here, and
not Dora-she who had no right there! She
who nothing TO either David or Miss
Varney
/ She heard the sound of returning steps,
and rose to her feet.
David came into the room. She heard him
feel along the wall for the switch with which
10 turn on the light; then he spoke her name,
Mary! Are you there, Mary?"
/ She answered at once.
"Ges-dO you want me?"
He came across to her. he changed his
mind about the light, and left the room in
darkness.
L wondered where you were. Is anything
The matter? Are you tired?"
! She could just his face by the red glow
Of the fire; his eyes seemed to be looking
right down into her heart.
is anything the matter?" he asked gain
There was a little silence then Mary spoke,
and the words seemed forced from her
against all reasoning, against her very will
"Oh, I don't want you to go down to the
station with Miss Fisher" she said child
ishly.
She was terrified as soon as she had
spoken; a wave OF scarlet seemed to envelop
her whole body. She was painfully conscious
. of the sudden tension of David's tall figure.
She tried desperately to laugh. but the sound
trembling.
Tuesday: II Didn't Mean It," Renew