Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-03-18
CHAPTER "
Rack tn tho Past

n n IRIAM FOLWELL spent herr childhood
NJ in a small town near Buffalo, N. Y.
Her mother died when she was eight,
her father when she was still younger, and
she lived with her uncle and aunt until she
was eighteen, when she had come to the city
to win her way. Her aunt had always spoken
of her as strange child, and certainly Mi
riam was not at all like the stolid tow-head-
ed children who her cousins and true
children of their parents.
She was dreamy and ina gnative. She
liked being alone, and she was always self
conscious and strange with children of her
own age. Her aunt, Mrs. HobsOn, was kind,
but she felt uncomfortable with Miriam. She
looked forward to the time when the girl
would marry and have a home of her own,
but it wasn't long before she realized that
there was one in the town that Miriam
would condescend to notice.
Della Hobson, who was two years younger
than Miriam, was what her mother called
normal girl. She had no "hgh-falutin'
IDEAS" and when Ezra Clark, the drug clerk,
showed a disposition to call, Della was SEN
sibly responsive and gave every indication
OF marrying young and having two or three
babies before she was twenty-five.
Miriam was different. It wasn't that she
was snobbish she VS. pleasant enough with
every one, but there was an air of quiet re-
serve about her, there was an even look in
her eyes when they rested on man that
She was not beautiful but she was exqui-
sftely made. Her feet and hands were long
and slim, her ankles were small-boned and
delicate, and she carried her slender body so
well 1t she seemed to sway rather than
walk.
Della, like her mother, was large and
capable and stolid. Miriam was like a
princess, the simplest clothes gave her dis
tinction, and she was happiest when she was
cutting into material and making dress for
herself.
When she was eighteen she had a serious
talk with her uncle and aunt. She wanted to
go to the city and study dress designing. If
they would advance five hundred dollars she
would pay it back with interest just as soon
as she was self-supporting
This sounded like wild scheme to Luke
Hobson. Five hundred dollars was a lot of
money and how could he be sure that Miriam
would make good? He shook his head he
used every argument he could think of to
persuade the girl to remain in Burnside, but
there was quiet purpose about Miriam, and
a great deal of logic in what she had to say.
Here she could do nothing. She would prob
ably never marry, and she would be burden
to them always. But in the city she could
make good, she was sure of it, and she would
never ask them for another penny
"But if you shouldn't make good, If you
used up all your money, what them" Mrs.
Hobson asked tearfuuy. II couldn't sleep
nights thinking Of it. Would you come back
if you found you couldn't make go of it,"
Miriam leaDed over and took her aunt S
tOil-WOrn fingers in hers. 'Of course would,
but it won't be necessary. You wait and see.
I'll make good and I'll pay back every cent of
the money you lend me-"
And so it was that Luke Hobson, against
his own judgment, gave Miriam the five hun
dred dollars, and in spite of herself, although
she called herself a wicked woman, Mrs. Hob
relief Miriam
left.
I've done my best for EtheIs child, any
way" she said tearfully to her husband, "but
somehow she never was one of us. l couldn't
get close to her. and perhaps it's all for the
best that things have come out this way"