Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-12-23
CHAPTER XVII
The Incident in the Garden

L lie lHtIucuJ III the UdTNeH
Ut WAS after 3 o'clock and Lyra
alone in her room, found herself
almost too tired to get ready for
bed. All her eXhilaration had dropped
from her; it was as if a lamp had
suddenly been eXtinguished within
her, and her spirit was dead.
But behind her physical lassitude
there was a mental depression set
Ting over her that was vaguely
alarming. She had no idea why she
should feel this way; she never had
before. Nothing had ever troubled
her, and she wondered now if the
quarrel she had had with Peter dur
ing the evening weren't responsible
for her feelings.
1t had happened during the dane
ing. Peter had been Waiting with
her, and after the dance they had
gone down to the grotto to stroll.
Peter lighted a cigaret for her and
for time they had not spoken. 1t
was lovely in the garden and the
wall of the orchestra came to them
from the opened windows. Lyra had
mot felt like talking and they had
walked up and down for a while,
arm in arm. Then suddenly out of
a clear sky Peter threw away his
cigaret and turned toward her. Be
fore she had any clear idea Of what
he intended to do she was in his
arms.
A wave of revulsion swept over
her, and even at the time she had
been amazed at herself. Why should
she feel that way toward Peter, the
man she was going to marry? Was
it because he had never seized her
that way before; was it because he
had never shown that side Of himself
to her?
"Lyra," he had murmured huski-
ly, you drive me wild There is
something about you tonight that
turns my head dizzy" And then he
had kissed her, hot, heavy kisses.
There was a faint odor of wine on
his breath. and with all her strength
Lyra had pushed him away from
her.
Don't touch me-" she had storm
ed. Il don't want you to touch me-
that way" And she had shivered
uncOntrollably.
He had stared at her blankly, and
then his face had taken on sullen
lines.
well, like that. You've been
flirting with me all evening; you've
deliberately led me on in a way you
never have before, and when I kiss
you, you act as though l were doing
something contemplate. "
She forced a laugh. 1t was absurd
that she and Peter should be quar-
NJ hnn1,yco H. h. j 1t j
her. She had never before objected
to his kisses; in fact, she had always
liked his love making, and yet-and
yet
Don't pay any attention to me,
Peter" she had said lightly. I'm
tired, 4 guess. Too much flying
around and living on my
nerves. I won't get. up until II
o'clock tomorrow, and then III be
myself again, you'll see"
But moment later she had sug-
gested that they go back to the
house. She was afraid that Peter
might seize her in his arms again
and she couldn't bear that.
Thinking it over as she sat before
her dressing table, Lyra tried to
bring some order out of the chaos
Oh nef thoughts. What was the mat
ter with her? Why should she feel
that way toward Peter? Even now
she could not bear the thought of
his touching her, and as the reaIiza-
ton of this swept over her, she re-
membered suddenly the scene in the
drawing room before dinner when
Tex Hunter had seized her in his
arms.
Il hate him, I hate him. she muir
INJURED half aloud. He was to blame
for the way [ treated Peter. [ can
see that now"
And yet, although she was hardly
aware of it, she was breathing un-
evenly. The color had rushed into
her cheeks, and her lips were softly
parted. She hated Tex Hunter. and
yet there was something about him.
something big and primitive and sim.
pie that made it impossible for her
to think of his impulsive act as an
insult. She wanted to think of it
that way, but somehow she couldn't.
and, besides, the whole thing had
been largely her own fault.
CTOmorrOW-Cynthia Tells Lyra)