Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-02-11

glen was dry, and the air under the
shadow Of the thinning trees was full of
the soft light of the late autumn.
"Ah. this is better" said his lordship
He lit cigar and walked for some
time by my side without speaking
merely Ticking the seeding heads off
the dying thistles with his walking
stick, and then rucl1ling it through the
withered leaves with which the path
was strewn.
But hale way up the glen he began to
look aslant at me through his monocle,
and then talk about my life in Rome,
wondering how l could have been con-
tent to stay so long at the convent. and
limiting at a rumor which had reached
him that had actually wished to stay
there altogether.
| was still too nervous and embar-
rassed to make much protest so he
went on to tell me with what difficulty
he supported the boredom of his own
life In London, with its clubs, its race
meetings, its Dances the theaters and
music halls, and the amusement to be
got out of some of the ladies of society,
not to speak of certain well known pro-
fessional beauties
One of his great friendships name
was Eastcliff-was going to marry the
most famous of the latter class Ga for
eign dancer at the Empire), and since
he was rich and could afford to please
himself why shouldn't he?
When we reached the waterfall at
the top of the glen we sat on a rustic
seat which stands there, and then, to
my still deeper embarra ssment, his
lordship's conversation came to closer
quarters.
Throwing away his cigar and taking
the terrier on his lap, he said: "Of
course you know what the business is
which the gentlemen are discussing in
the ltbrary?"
As well as l could for the nervous
ness that was sitting me. l answered
that knew.
He stroked his dog with one hand,
prodded his cane into the gravel with
the other, and said;
We'll don't know what your views
about marriage are. Mine, l may say,
are liberal"
l listened without attempting to re-
ply
'I think nine -tenths of the trouble
that attends married life-the break
downs and what not-come of an ir-
rational effort to tighten the marriage
knot"
Still I said nothing
"To imagine that two independent
human beings can be led together like a
couple of Siamese twins. neither to
move without the other. living precise
ly the same life, year In. year out
why, it's silly, positively silly"
In my ignorance l could find nothing
to say, and after another moment my
intended husband swished the loosened
gravel with his cane and said: Il be-
lieve in married people leaving each
other free-each going his or her own
way, What do you Think"
must have stammered some kind Of
answer don't know what-for 1 re-
member that he said next: quite so.
That's my view Of matrimony and I'm
glad to see you appear to share it.
Tell the truth, I was afraid
you wouldn't" he added. with some
thing more about the nuns and the con-
vent.
l wanted to say that / DIDN'T, but my
nervousness was increasing every mo-
ment, and before I could find words in
which to protest he was speaking to me
again.
A Settled Thing.
Our friends in the library seem to
think that you and I could set along
together, and I'm disposed to think
they're right--aren't you?"
In my ignorance and helplessness.
and with the consciousness of what |
was expected To do, | merely looked at
him without speaking.
Then he fixed mis- mOnoclo afresh and,