Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-01-01
CHAPTER XXXVIII

CHAPTER XXXVIU
II ETER, like Nell Blackwel, tnousnt ~
- Kenneth More cared for Althea, at
least that he admired her immensely
This troubled him not at all. But the
thought that Althea might return MS love,
learn to care for Kenneth, was his constant
fear He did not minimize Moore aItrac-
TONS his good looks. Indeed ne Rather ca
aggerated them both Then ms certainty
that AIthea did not love him added to MS
fears.
She was young, pretty gay. What more
natural than that she should ike SONS
attractive man so long as he had no hold
on her affections? He never doubted her
faitbfulness; he would as soon have doubt
ed himself But often the thought that ne
was wronging her came to him-he was
cheating her of the right belonging to
every woman, to love.
81 can't give her up" he said when
such thoughts assailed him. 81 can't!
Yet when he saw her impressive face when
with him, her animation when with Moore
and others-especial with Moore-he telt
guilty. He taking her youth, her best
years; taking them because he loved her;
knowing she had love in return.
And laundering man that he was, he
would apply himself still more closely to
his work, keeping away from her, never
dreaming how she onged for him, for an
expression of the love he felt for her
But often as he left her Altheas eyes fol-
lowed him with look of yearning sad
ness. Sometimes a sigh that was almost
a. sob escaped her. He didn't love her
what right had she to intrude herself upon
him? Why add to her own unhappiness by
being with him, knowing this to be true?
The joy Of seeing him, talking to him,
always led to nothing but further misery
and regret. Why did he dislike her-at
least, not love her?
She would ciench her hands with the
pain of her longing-a dream that never
could be fulfilled. She, reserved to fastid-
iousness, could not understand the same
reserve in him. She often reproached her.
self for marrying him.
Il should have known BETTER" she said.
Yet knew while saying it she was glad
she had. Even without his love she was
happier than She could have been without
him.
Sometimes the thought came to her that
Peter was in some way suffering. His eyes
held wound. Then she grew frightened
and confused, never questioning. She would
not try to understand the problem he SEEM
ed to present. For four years she tried,
tried to understand, to make him love
her.
That where she thought she had failed
she lad succeeded, that those four years
had SO chained Peter to her that he never
would be free again, she was absolutely
unaware
Then there was her jealousy to contend
with. sort of resenting jealousy of Mabel
Howard that she his nurse, should dare to
raise her eyes to Peter; the poignant womans
jealousy she felt about Mrs. Williams, the
lovely high-bred patient Both these emo
tions hurting the more because she must
hide them 50 carefully. To be jealous of a
husband who cared nothing for her would
only make her ridiculous in his eyes.
And that she would not be. So her Dig
nifty took on a GOODNESS foreign to her
ture; silence when with him that he at
tributed to dislike.
In story she read she came across the
sentence: Love begets love-"
"Never" she said passionateIy, cor Peter
would have loved me long ago." Then smiled
cynically to think how little people who
write knew of others emotions
Miss Towards mother and little lame
sister arrived today" Peter said to Althea.
"Yes?"
81 shall Look the child over tomorrow
he went on, wondering little as he always
Of what had passed that day in the office
when, driven to the wall, Miss Howard had
declared she cared for him, Miss Howard Is
very anxious" s8
priced a surgeon you have become?" asked
Althea, not conscious how much vitriol was
in her voice.
"They are very poor. But shall do the
best l can for the child; the money will
make no difference"
"You weren't always so Indifferent to
money"
mo, couldn't be-" he replied, both think
ing of Miss Crosbys legacy-but in what a
different way. Althea thathe married her to
get it. He of how necessary he had felt it
TO work so she wouldn't fail to reap person.
ally all the benefits she had married to pro-
cure-the legacy, intact.
They are staying at boarding house,
He was now making conversation. eff there
is any hope for the child I shall have her
taken to the hospital"
I'm a private room, I suppose"
Yes. Such involved cases cannot be cared
for in a ward"
Miss Howard is very lucky" Althea said
rising. mot many girls in her position are
SO fortunate"
Continued Thursday Renew your subscrip.