Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-01-22
CHAPTER XVH
Mrs. Martin TntprVcncS

|
~ ALL finally succeeded in persuading
7 her mother to give her some help in
| getting away. Mrs. Martin did not
| approve, but Calls feverish pleading moved
| her so that she could not refuse. The at
| tempt, however, was a failure. Henry Mar
tin had never been free with money. He
parted with it grudgingly, even when it was
| spent on necessities and he stared at his
wife in amazement when she explained what
had happened and made her request.
Are you crazy Mary? Have you lost
your senses entirely?"
But she's so unhappy Henry, and after
all, she's right, a girl in small town hasn't
chance in situation like this"
Gail isn't the only girl in Dalesburg, is
she? And she isn't the only girl by long
shot who's had unhappy love affair She'll
get over this, but the amazing thing is that
you would come to me with such a request.
L wouldn't have a daughter of mine living in
the city alone. Do you think l want to send
the girl to perdition? DO you think I want
to see her with such airs and graces as this
Morrison girl who seems to have turned
Dalesburg upside down? Tell Gail to have
little pride. I'll talk to her and tell her what
think about such an idea"
But Mrs. Martin interrunted here
Il don't want you to say a thing to Gail.
She's in the mood right now where she's apt
to do something desperate. You don't want
her to run away, do you? Promise me, Hen
ry, not to say anything to her"
moment, but you see that she comes to her
senses. You had no right to fall in with her
plans in the first place, and you know it."
That night at dinner, Buddy exploded
bomb in their midst Gail had sat silent
during the meal. Her spirits were at the
lowest ebb. Just before dinner, her mother
and father had gone into the living room and
closed the door behind them Gail had had
no chance to speak to her mother since then,
but she was already conscious that the at
dys shrilI voice had startled her and she
lifted her eyes from her plate to find his
hard blue eyes fixed upon her.
Say, d'ja hear the latest about George
Hartey?"
"Now, Buddy" Mrs. Martin began.
"Weu, it's all around town. Gail might
as well know. He's gone daffy about that
Morrison girl who's visiting Harriet Will
lians He spent all his money on a swell car
to take her around in, and now she's gone
Off and left him and Harriet's gone with
her"
Buddy, what are you talking about?"
Calls voice was sharp.
tits true; a gang Of us fellows were down
at the station and saw them take the train.
Gee, you should a heard that Morrison girl
bOssing Sam Andrews about her trunks. She
had about five of them, and Harriet was all
dressed up and trying to put on airs because
she's going to the city for visit"
There was a tense silence around the table,
broken finally by the irrepressibe Buddy.
"Say, every ones talking about you and
George. They say he gave you the gate"
Gail flushed scarlet and the quick tears
sprang to her eyes. In a moment she had
sprung to her feet pushed back her chair
and was flying out Of the room. Her moth
er's voice followed her. demonstrating with
Buddy, telling him that he must never speak
to his sister about this matter again. Was
she never to be free from the ugly fact that
she had been Tilted? Would she never be
able to live it down? Certainly. it didn't
seem so if she had to remain in Dalesburg
She would go where there were positions,
that was the only way open to her.
CHAPTER XV1H
Violet Spreads Some Gossip
Y r Buddy's crude remarks had failed to con-
vince Gail Of what had happened Violet
Fow1er's appearance the next morning
left her in no doubt whatever. Violet was,
as usual bursting with the news of the town.
Her blue eyes sparkled with excitement, and
her scandal-ovng heart was full of JOY at
the thought Of regaling Gail with the latest
facts.
1T serves him right, and everyone is
tickIed to DEATH" she said maliciously. OF
course, I knew all along that she was playing
with him. A girl like that wouldn't marry
a man without money"
81 suppose not" Calls voice was pitched
very low
"And now I suppose he'll be coming back
to you" Violet went on. She was eager to
pry into the recesses of Calls heart, she
wanted to know what Calls reactions we're
ana what she would do should such a thing
happen.
Calls head went up suddenly, and her
dark eyes blazed with such an intensity of
passion that Violet shrank before her.
Coming back to me-, she said quickly.
81 don't think you know what you are say
ing do you, Violet? George was here night
before last, and I gave him his freedom.
There is nothing between us now and there
never could be again. even if he had such
an idea in his head, and, Of course, he
hasn't"
"but surely, Gail. if he came to his senses
and asked you to forgive him, you'd take him
back. wouldn't your"
"Never! How can you suggest such a
| thing?"
because every day things like that are
| happening Men lose their heads for time
and women forgive them. If you don't take
| George some one else will. You know how
| it is in Dalesburg."
George is at liberty to marry any one he
| chooses" Gail returned proudly, but long
| after Violet had some she pondered over the
situation from beginning to end, 1t seemed
to Gail that every barb Violet had flung in
her direction had reached the mark Violet's
visit had not been prompted by any desire
! to be friendly; she had come with the delib-
| crate intention of prying. Gail knew her
/ through and through; she knew the shallow
| ness of her nature, but now for the first time
! she did not blame Violet so much as she
| blamed Dalesburg. 1t was the smalltOwn
! life that had warped Violets nature; gossip
was what she thrOve on. merely because
! there nothing else here to turn her
: nh 0UC h+S into normal channels