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 flicking the seeding heads off
the dying thistes with his walking
stick, and then ruckling it through the
witheFed 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 | could have been con-
tent to stay so long at the convent. and
limiting at a rumor which had reached
him that l had actually wished to stay
there altogether.
was still too nervous and embar-
raised 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 it's 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 Ca 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 rustic
seat which stands there. and then. to
my still deeper embarrassment, 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 library"
As well as l could for the nervous
| ness that was sitting me, | answered
that knew
He stroked his dog with one hand,
prodded his cane into the gravel with
the other and said:
Well l don't know what your views
about marriage are. Mine, I may say,
are liberal"
listened without attempting to re-
ply.
Il think nine-tenths of the trouble
that attends married Iife-the break
| downs and what not-come of an ir-
rational effort to tighten the marriage
knot"
Still 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 I 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?"
| l must have stammered some kind of
answer don't know what--for l re-
member that he said next: quite so.
| That's my view OF matrimony and I'm
| glad to see you appear to share ii.
| YOU wouldn't" he added with some
| thing more about the nuns and the con-
vent.
| | wanted 10 say that l didn't, but my
nervousness was increasing every mo-
ment and before | 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 get along
together, and I'm disposed to think
they're right-aren't your"
In my ignorance and helplessness.
and with the seriousness of what |
| was expected to do. | merely looked at
him without speaking.
Then he fixed his monocle afresh and,