Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-09-27
CHAPTER V
The Entering Wedge

~ ATTHEW appeared at the Hotel Mara
M nae that evening wearing the same
Va clothes he had worn to the office. In
stinct told him not to dress, and when Julie
rose from her chair in Flamingo Alley and
advanced to meet him Matthew felt thrill of
pleasureable anticipation.
Who and what this girl, his
thoughts as a few moments later they sat
facing each other small secluded
table. Had he been too impulsive in asking
her to dine With him? Would he be disap-
pointed in her? And what on earth had led
him to do such thing anyway?
The waiter appeared and stood lowering
over them expectantly, and as Matthew took
the menu in his hand he realized that Julie
was nervous, illat-ease. The thought struck
him that girl of her class might never be-
fore have eaten in large hotel dining room,
and he was quick to appreciate her nervous
ness and to take the burden of ordering upon
himself
Julie drew long breath when at last the
waiter disappeared, and it was then that Mat
thew remarked with a laugh, Il suppose
you're wondering bit at all this"
you mean having dinner with you, like
this?'
He nodded
well" she began. And then suddenly
they both laughed. and Matthew went on
speaking.
you see, got to thinking about how we'll
you managed my business affairs, Miss Ben
ton, and I began to wonder what kind of a
girl you were, what you thought about life
and so forth. There isn't any real reason why
we shouldn't be friends, is there, even though
this must seem very strange and unconven-
tional to your?
Julie was silent for moment, and then
she answered his question rather thought
fully. Il suppose there isn't any real reason
only that you're sure to be disappointed in
me. | have no ideas about life. | haven't
had any opportunity to think about such
things She spoke slowly choosing her
words very carefully. She was suddenly pas
sionately eager to hide her ignorance to APP
pear well in his eyes. And yet she was sure
that he must see through her, and she was
painfully conscious of her clothes and the
fact that she did not dare take off her coat
because the lining was torn.
She forgot all about this, however, as Mat
thew went on talking. He drew her on to
speak of herself to tell him something of her
life and of her dreams and aspirations, and
as the dinner progressed he realized that he
was interested more interested than he had
been in a long time. He compared this girl
with Claudia, who had always had everything
Did Claudia have dreams beyond those of hav-
ing a good time? Was his own daughter as
fine intrinsically as this woman who had
never had anything? The thought was illu-
mnating
Since that morning when he had Welded
to the impulse to ask this girl to dinner
Matthew's long-repressed imagination had
expanded Now as he sat studying Julie, he
began to wonder idly how much birth and
breeding really counted. If Julie, were
dressed properly she would look very little
different from any of the women in his own
set 10 be sure, she was nervous and mex
perienced, but environment would do away
with all that. And he liked the way she
deferred to him, the eagerness with which
she listened to what he had to say
After dinner he suggested that they go to
the theater, but Julie declined She must
go home, they would be expecting her. Mat
thew suggested taking her home in a taxi
but she shook her head. Not for the world
would she have spoiled this fairy-tae eve
ming by giving him glimpse of the terrible
street on which she lived. and Matthew was
forced to take leave of her at the subway
entrance.