Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-20

Q
before and since. The story l am tell
ing you. Mildred, was told me once
by my father and once by my mother
/ am not going into all the details,
but am telling you enough so that
you can thoroughly understand
things.
Plans for Redemption.
This dark spot in my fathers life
lasted nearly three months My moth
er was in constant fear that some
thing dreadful would happen. 1t was
necessary to take drastic measures.
She sent for my Uncle Andrew. He
was shocked at the story she told
him. A cablegram was dispatched to
my Uncle Peter in London and seven
| days later he arrived in New York
| There was a family consultation, in
which my father, who by forcible
means had not been allowed to touch
/ liquor for nearly a week, took part.
My mother and my two uncles were
the others that distressed the serious
problem before them
My father, who was the kindest
most courteous and most considerate
man that ever lived, except for the
brief period of which I am telling
you, was his old self at this family
conference. He freely acknowledged
his terrible mistakes and begged for
giveness of his wife and brothers.
When it came to a question of what
should be done, it was my father who
made the suggestion that was prompt
ly carried out. My mother jumped
at it. What my father believed would
| be a great sacrifice on her part she
/ gladly assumed.
MY fathers plan was this: As he
( believed 1t would simply be counting
destruction for him to remain in New
York, or any other city where the
temptation Of strong drink was al
/ ways at hand (for in that terrible
! period he found himself unable to re-
! stst it,, he proposed to take him Self
away from the haunts of men: to
: build himself a place away from
everybody and live there for the re-
mainder of his days. 1t was a dras-
tic remedy, but the only thing to be
done. There was nothing that need
keep him in New York. He had been
brought up and educated to live a
life Of ease.
When my mother told me the
story she said she cried for joy when
my father unfolded his plan to her
and his brothers. The plan was adopt-
ed theE and there and not a moments
time was lost in carrying it out That
very night emissaries were dispatch
ed to II South. One went to the
mountains of Virginia, one to North
Carolina and one farther South
Within a week reports began to come
in and within a month this site was
selected.
Wife Never Left Him.
Tn the meantime my father did
not leave his house. My mother never
left him for an instant They be-
came so wrapped up in their project
that all other thoughts were banished
from their minds. My father began
drawing plans before the site was
selected. The moment the deeds
were passed, horses, teams several
camping outfits and all manner of
supplies were loaded on a train. Six
men and a foreman went along. NV
parents. with two servants, followed.
They pitched camp on the banks of
this brook and from that beginning
you see the result ali around Won.
From that day, Mildred. neither
my father nor my mother ever left
this place. They were perfectly hap
Ply and Contented. They disappeared.
as it were, and it was Thought they
were living abroad. My unCles and
their families used to come down
from New York occasionally, and at
rare intervals some very close friend
of my parents would come for a quiet
visit. My mother never left nv faith
er's side for an instant, day or night"
why was that, Gordon?" asked
Mildred in a low tone
1t was at my fathers request. It
was his wish. Strange as it NAV seem
in one otherwise so normal and
healthy in every way, he was pos
sessed of the fear that someone. in
some way, would offer him a temp
tation he could not resist"
How strange" said Mildred.
Strange. but prophetic have tn
tell you the rest, Mildred"
Don't unless you wish to. dearest
but l can hear it; I can sympathize,
You would tell me something.
wouldn't you?"
Perhaps it is best that I tell Won
now. In the midst of our happiness
and Contentment for none of us had
the slightest desire to go to Chatta-
noOga, which is less than fifty miles
from ] rein the midst of our Quiet
pleasures, my mother was taken
away. 1t was quite sudden: three
years ago next November. Almost
the last words she said to me were
contained in a request that I take
her place at my fathers side and
never leave him for an ms mt She
seemed to have some foreboding."
A Great Change.
Gordon's voice was hardly above a /
whisper. He was silent for time
and then continued:
1T made a great change here.
Nothing seemed the same. NV faith /
er seemed to lose interest n all that [
had interested him. He aged rapidly. /
though far from being an old man, /