Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-28

was almost like being flung in fraiI boat out
Of a tempestuous sea into quiet harbor.
l seemed to hear myself saying: MY child
shall not die. Poverty shall not kill her.
going to take her into the country she
will recover No. no, II is not Martin.
Martin is dead . But his eyes
don't you see his eyes . . . Let me 60"
Then all the confused sense OF nightmare
seemed to be carried away as by some mighty
torrent, and there came a great calm, a kind
of morning sweetness, with the sun shining
through my closed eyelids. and not a sound in
my ears but the thin carolling OF a bird.
When opened my eyes l was IN bed IN
room that was strange to me. II was a little
like the Reverend Mothers room in Rome
having pictures OF the Saints on the walls and
a large figure Of the Sacred Heart over the
mantelpiece; but there was a small gas fire.
and canary singing In a gilded cage that
hung in front OF the window.
| was trying to collect my senses in order TO
realize where l was when Sister Mildred's
kind face, in her white wimple and gorget
leaned over me, and she said with a tender
smile, you are awake. now. my child?"
Then memory rushing back and
though the immediate past was still like a
stormy dream / seemed to remember every.
thing.
rs II true that saw
Yes" said Mildred
Then he was not shipwrecked?"
That was false report. Within a month
or two the newspapers had contradlcted IT,"
pillow ny
"HushI Lie quiet. You are not to excite
Yourself. / must call the doctor"
Mildred was about to leave the room, but I
could not let her go.
waltz ] must ask you something mora
Not now, my child. Lie down.
But ! must. Dear Sister must There is
somebody else"
voice. -"
Yes"
"she has been found and taken TO me conn.
try, and is getting better rapidly. SO lie down
and be quiet" said Mildred and with a long
breath OF happiness obeyed
After moment Mildred came 70 ask me IN
whisper II was quite sure that could con.
troI myself. ana though my heart was thump.
Ing against my breast | answered yes
Then called for a hend-glass and rnada NV
halr shade heater. and after that | closed
my eyes and waited.
There was moment of silence. dead silence.
and then-then / opened my eyes and saw,
him standing In the open doorway
His big, strong. bronZed face-strunRer than
ever now and marked with a certain change
from the struggles he had gone through-was
utterly broken up. For some moments he did
not speak, but | could see that he saw the
change that life had made in me also Then
In low voice, so low that Il was like the
breath OF his soul. he said: Forgive me!
nOIsN6 mel
And stepping forward he dropped To HIS
knees by the side OF my bed and kissed the
arms and hands | was stretching out 10 him
That was more than | could bear and the
next thing heard was my darlngs great voice
crying: Sister, Sister! Some brandy! Quick!
She has fainted!"
But my poor little Mt OF Mysteries was soon
at an end, and though Martin was not per,
mltted to stay more than a moment longer
a mighty wave OF happiness flowed over me
such as | had never known before and NAV
never know again
Sometimes he talked about baby-he called
her "Girlie"-telling a funny story OF how he
had carried her off from Iford where the
bricklayer had suddenly conceived such a sur.
prlsing ahection for my child C''what he might
60 so far. as to call a fatherly feenng0 that
he had been unwilling to part with her until
soothed down by few sovereigns-not TO saw
frightened by a grasp Of Martins iron hand
which had nearly broken his wrist
She's all right as a trivet now. though q"
said Martin, and I'll run down to Chevenipg
every other day to see how she's getting on "
My darling was In great demand from the
first, but when he could not be with me In the
flesh he was with me in the spirit, by means
OF the newspapers which Mildred brought up
In armfuls
Three months had gone by this time. the
Spring was coming, and I was beginning TO