Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-12-02
The Second Mrs. Strong
BY HAZEL DEYD BACHELOR
CHAPTER LII
Facing the Truth

Y ULIE was conscious that her mouth felt
dry and that her heart was pounding
~ so that it seemed to interfere with her
breathing. She wanted to scream out, to
tell Bradford not to come any nearer, but
somehow she couldn't, the words stuck in
her throat, she could not bring forth any
artculate sound, and the sensation was hor-
rible.
Julie" he was saying in hoarse voice,
a voice she would never have recognized as
belonging to Bradford. my God, Julie,
surely you must know how things are with
me! I worship you, I want you so much,
that being with you has become constant
torture with me. Until today have looked
upon you something remote as the stars,
something forever unattainable. But today
you have been different. Something about
you has challenged me. [ may be wrong,
and if I am you must tell me. But, Julie,
little sweetheart do you realize how WONDER
full you are?"
He was bending toward her, and again
Julie opened her mouth to speak the words
that still would not come. She seemed en-
quilted in wave upon wave of hot shame.
1t was true what he was saying. She had
encouraged him, she had deliberately firted
with him. In order to allay her own suffer-
1ngs, she had tried to bring herself to the
point OF caring for this man who had never
been anything but fine in the friendship that
had existed between them
How desplcable she was, how she hated
herself! For now if never before she knew
HON impossible it was to force her emotions
She liked Bradford, she more than liked
him, she felt true affection for him. But
| loYe-loye was something different. Love
meant the pounding Of surf on a wide-hung
beach, the quiet spread Of stars, an dMat-
theW's arms around her. Love was hot
gusty emotion, singing of the blood in
ones ears an intensity of pleasure akin to
pain. Love was Matthew to her Matthew
and everything about him, even his conde-
scending treatment of her. Let him humili.
ate her, and she would still love him. Let
him confess his love for Margaret Daven-
port, and she would still love him. No mat
ter what he did she could not tear the
image of him out of her heart, she would go
on loving him always, and life was this way
whether one wanted it or not.
She must tell Bradford So she must speak
the truth if only she could find it possible to
do She must not let him believe things,
think that she cared. 1t was so manifestly
unfair to treat him like this when he had
always been so self1ess and so splendid.
Brad" At last she had brought out his
name. Brad and then she faltered and
for moment he misunderstood.
FJulie my darling!"
He was reaching eager arms toward her.
In a moment she would have been crushed
against him. And then suddenly she raised
her face to his, a desperate appeal in her
eyes and instantly he drew back.
She did not have to speak; it was unneces-
sary for her to tell him the truth, for he
read it in every line of her face, in every
gesture of her body. She had WINGED at the
thought of his touching her, her eyes had
mrrored only one emotion-fear! Instantly
/ Bradford stepped back.
Julie, I'm sorry. I should have known
better" And in that moment the torpor
that had settled over Julie lifted and she
could speak.
"It was my fault, and I'm so ashamed 0,
Brad why don't You blame me instead Of
yourself? You knew what l was doing you
knew. And I wanted to care for you, |
, wanted to love you because it would make
everything right"
The tears were running down her cheeks,
and in her eagerness her wish to make him
understand, she flung out her hands and
grasped his arms. It was at that moment
that Matthew's voice interrupted them.
"Forgive me if l intrude upon so touch
ing scene, but perhaps am entitled to an
explanation"
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