Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-09-13
CHAPTER IXVIL
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x Mitchell told him, he was the very
~ worst patient she had ever nursed.
"You can't expect to be we'll in a day."
she told him. you've been a very sick
man, really i'll, you know"
Really ill?" Rolf Knocked her, raising
his eyebrows and grinning at her with de-
llghtful impertinence. He liked Miss Mitch
ell. There were times when he almost
yielded to the temptation to ask her about
Gloria, but he hesitated because he couldn't
bear the thought of her pity.
He was sure that Gloria hadn't been near
him. that she hadn't cared whether he lived
or died. And yet it seemed to him that
during his illness he had dreamed about her,
that she had stopped over him and touched
his lips with hers, that she had held his
hand, and that he had heard her voice
speaking.
'"The rawlings of fever" he told himself
scornfulIy. "She doesn't want you; she
never intends to have anything to do with
you. Why not accept the situation and
stop incoming over it instead of behaving
like love-sick fool"
But it wasn't,so easy to do this. He was
still weak, and easily depressed Some
times he almost made up his mind to throw
pride to the winds and send for her. It
would be something just to see her again,
to watch her red lips as she talked, to lie
in his bed drinking in all the sweet charm
of her, for surely she wouldn't refuse to
come and see him. Any woman would feel
enough pity for that.
But each time he crushed it back He
didn't want her pity. He wanted her love-
He wanted his strength and the right to
love her, that was what he wanted and
what he would never have. She hated him.
He might as we'll face the thing. She would
never forgive him for the past He hadn't
chance in the world to win her back, and
that was that.
nj booap 70 orouv euddoo1,,
His appetite grew voracious, and each day
he could feel the blood running faster
through his veins. When he looked in the
glass now he did not smile at the way his
collars fitted, or make disparaging remarks
about himself to Miss Mitchell.
81 must have been a terrible looking OBJ
ject when I was ILL., he once said to her.
L suppose [ wasn't shaved for days"
I'VE weren't concerned about your growth
Of beard" she reminded him.
Being i'll puts at an awful disad-
vantage" he went on.
She smiled. "IlI try to remember Won
as you looked in your last picture" she said
mischieviously
That remark turned Rolf reflective. Pic
lures work-how long it was since he had
thought of anything like that. 1t would be
strange to work again, to mingle with the
old pleasure-living crowd to give gay af-
fairs, and to dash around in his green road
ster The thought did not rouse much en-
thusiasm in him. Somehow he felt older,
less inclined to friyol, and this surprised
him more than anything else
when you've reached a point where it's
a toss-up whether you live or die it makes
you serious he philosophical Gust now
/ feel as if I wanted to cut the nonsense and
settle down. If only" and his thought
flew to Gloria. The little bungalow out at
the edge of town half surrounded by thick
shrubbery rose up before his eyes 1t would
be pleasant to lie there in the garden and
to have Gloria come flying out of the house,
smile on her lips all for him
The next minute he was cursing himself
for a sentimental fool
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