Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-01-31
CHAPTER XIV
THO EirSt Doubt

| n n RS. MARTINS last remonstrance with
| M Gail was in vain. 1t was the night
| = ~ before the girl was to leave, and
Gail was packing the last Of her things in
floor when her mother came into the room,
and Gail saw at a glance that she had been
| crying.
"GaI?"
Eyes, mother dear"
won't you listen to me and do as
say?"
Il don't know" Gail spoke guardedIy
II thought" Mrs Martin began, her voice
trembling, IF you would make some little
concession to your fathers ideas he might
not feel so hard toward you. 1 really think
If you went to him and asked his advice
about the money, if you promised to spend
just so much every week.
"Mother!" There was a hard tone in
Calls voice. "What good would that do
me? might just well stay in Dalesbdrg
if that's all the good I'm to get out of my
money. No, I've made up my mind. I'm
gong to take a chance on happiness.
want life and love and excitement and l
don't want to be an onlooker 1 want to
be part of 1t all"
And suppose after you have spent every
thing you find you've made a mistake
what them"
'That8 the chance I must take" Calls
voice was very low. She had turned little
pale, for only yesterday Violet Fowler had
said the same thing, and her confidence had
been little shaken. OF course Violet was
jealous, and in a way Gail was sorry for
her, sorry that she had to stay in DaIes-
burg. She kept reminding herself that it
was natural for Violet to say the things she
had, yet Gail was fair and she could not
bring herself to believe that Violet had
been catty. There had been a sincerity
about her. an unmistakabl3 genuineness
very unlike Violet's usual fippancy, and til
was Why Gail had not been able to forget
her words of warning. Now her mother
was saying virtually the same thing, and
with such seriousness that Gail was vaguely
frightened.
Then you intend to go on with this wild
scheme of yours?"
Gail nodded. She had returned to her
packing, lest her mother surprise the tell
tale look of fear that had sprung into her
eyes.
even if it means that you may never
see any Of us AGAIN." Mrs. Martins trem-
bling voice had broken into sob, and in
stantly Gail was on her knees at her
mothers side, her strong young arms flung
around her.
Please, mother, please don't feel like
TINS she cro0ned gently. "Why won't YOU
be little joyful? Why won't you help me
TO go away happy? But Mrs. Martin did
not respond to the close pressure of Calls
embrace. She drew away, looked at Gail
Tor moment out of tear-fIIed eyes and
then without another word rose to her feet
and left the room.
Gail resumed her packing, but the wild
eXnllaratlon that had been hers during the
early part of the evening was gone. She felt
oppressed, unhappy the future Ioomed up be-
lore her dark with menacing Clouds and all
the rosy glamour of her experiment had van
lshed like a dream. She could have cried
with Yexation and disappointment, but try as
she YOU'D, she could not disDel the gloom
That had settled down upon her.
After time she rose to her feet and began
hastily to undresS But after she was in bed
sleep would not come to her, and her nervous
ness increased to such an extent that finally
she began to cry. She was bawildered at this
change in her attitude toward everything At
that moment she wished with all her heart
she had not made up her mind so quickly
ana she looked forward with dread to the
morrow.
CHAPTER WV