Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-04-01
CHAPTER WI
Strike One for Miriam

n n IRIAM was invited to the dinner, ac-
M cepted and then, at the last minute
found that she could not 60 Chris
tine was disappointed and Anthony furious.
The idea of any woman treating an invitation
of his as though it could be declined at the
last moment was a new experience for him.
Women usually fawned on him. adored the
affairs that he gave broke engagements to
accept one of his, and here was this girl, an
independent working woman at that turning
him down as though any invitation of Antho-
ny Breen was an ordinary thing.
The business of inviting the guests had
been given over to Christine and her mother,
but Anthony decided to take hand in it
himself. Two nights before the affair he
called Miriam up on the telephone. He dis
covered that her reason for not accepting
was due to work, and he then offered to
come himself to get her late in the evening.
you could do that, | suppose" he said,
assuming that, of course, she would, whether
she could or not
Yes, think [ could" she returned evenly.
Her voice was cool-remOte; it evinced no
eagerness whatever, nor any qualification at
the suggestion that he come for her himself,
1T would hardly be necessary for you to
come for me, Mr. Breen,'' she went on. 81
am used to travelling about the city alone"
Il insist upon your having an escort" he
said stiffIy $50 if it will be agreeable to
you III call for you at ten-thirty."
Very WE'LL Her voice was still irritat-
ingly cool. She gave Anthony the impression
Of not caring whether he called for her or
not, and he was not in the best of humors
when he finally slammed the receiver on the
hook
However, on the night of the affair he
found himself thinking all during the dinner
of the moment he would leave the hotel to
call for Miriam Folwell. He had not told
Christine what he had done, and when
shortly after 10 O'Clock he slipped out, hailed
a taxi and was whirled downtown he yielded
to feeling Of pleasurabe excitement. He
did not anayze his feelings. If he had he
would have scOffed at himself but when he
stood outside of her apartment waiting for
her to open the door to him he realized that
The was not in possession of his usual calm,
detached attitude toward things.
He heard her footsteps, quick and decisive,
inside, and then the door was thrown open
and she stood there smiling at him from
under level brows. He was conscious Of the
fact that she looked like a thoroughbred; she
held her head like queen. and that fact
was absurd when she doubtless came from
quite ordinary people. She wore a dress Of
tangerne velvet made very simply. She
looked unusually tall and very very slim.
In addition to that, she quite startIngly
beautiful. 1t wasn't the beauty of regular
features so much as the fact that she gave
the impression of unique personality.
Mr.. Breen, it very kind Of you to
take this trouble for me-" were the first
words and as he followed her into the pleas
ant living room he realized that her manner
was quite perfect. 1t left nothing to be de-
sired. 1t made him feel as if she were con
ferring a favor upon him by accepting his
escort which was rather a new sensation for
Anthony Breen and made it difficult for him
to adopt his usual manner of bored toler-
dnce.
IT he could have seen the Miriam of a
year back the Miriam who shuddered away
from the covert sneers of her tormentors at
the Pine Notch Hotel, he would have Won
dered.