Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-14
To,DAY'S INSTALLMENT.
Fifty.seventh chapter-cOntinued,

Father Dan was ureduIullN as
tressed More than once while / was
speaking he crossed himself and said,
Lord and His Holy Mother love us;
and when | came TO an end he began
to reproach himself for everything,
saying that he ought to have known
that our lad (meaning MARTINI did
not write those terrible letters with
out being certain they were true. and
that from he first day my husband
came to our parish the sun had been
darkened by his shadow.
But take care" he said, I've told
NOBODY about the compact we made
with your husband nobody but our
Blessed Lady herself-and you
mustn't think Of that as way out
of your marriage. No, nor of any
other way, no matter what which the
world, and the children of the world,
may talk about"
But | can't bear it; can't bear
it," ! cried.
Hush! Hush Don't say that
my daughter Think of it as one of
the misfortunes of life which we all
have to suffer. How many poor wom-
en- have to bear the sickness and pow
erty, not to speak OF the drunken
ness and death, of their husbands!
Do they think they have a right to
run away from all that-tO break the
sacred vows of their marriage on ac-
count of it? No, my child, no, and,
neither must you. Some day it will
all come right. You'll see it will.
And meantime by the memory of your
mother-that blessed saint whom the
Lord has made one of His
own.
"Then what can | dor
Pray my child, pray for strength
to bear your trials and to resist all
temptation. Say rosary for the
Blessed Virgin every morning before
breaking your fast. I'll say a rosary,
too. You'll see yet this is only Gods
love for you, and you'll welcome His
holy will"
While my dear father and friend
was counseling me so | heard my
husband speaking in his loud, grating
tones on the landing outside. and be-
fore ! could rise from my knees he
had burst open the door and entered
the room.
Could Not Speak.
His face was deadly white and he
was like a man out of his right mind.
Mary he said, looking down at
me where I knelt with my hands
crossed on my bosom. when did
give you permission to introduce a
priest into my house? Isn't it enough
for a man to have a wife who is a
Catholic without having the church
and its ministers shunted into his
home without his permission"
/ was so taken aback by this
furious assault that at first | could
not speak, but Father Dan interpOsed
20 defend me, saying with beautiful
patience that his visit had been quite
unexpected on my part, and that
had asked him to stay overnight only
because he was an old man, and had
had long walk from his parish.
I'm much obliged to your rever-
ence." said my husband, who was
quiVering with fury, but my wife
is perfectly capable of answering for
herself without your assistance. and
as for your parish you would have
done better to stay there instead OF
coming to NEEDLE in this one
Aren't you measuring me by your
own yard, sir?" said Father Dan. and
at that straight thrust my husband
broke into ungoVernable rage.
Everybody knows what a Popish
priest is" he said "A meddlesome
busybody who pokes his nose into
other mems secrets But priest or nc
priest, I'll have no man coming to
my house to make mischief between
husband and wife"
Are you sure" said Father Dan
that some woman isn't in your house
already making mischief between
wife and husband"
That thrust too went home My
husband looked at me with flashing
eyes and then said:
LAS | thought, You've been sent
to help my wife to make a great to-
do of her imaginary grievances
You're to stay in the house too. and
before long Wen have you setting
up as master here and giving orders
TO my servants! But not il know
it! Your reverence, if you
have any respect for your penitent
you'll please be good enough to leave
my wife to my protection
/ saw that Father Dan had to gulr
down his gathering anger, but he
only said
Say no more, my lord. No true
priest ever comes between a man and
the wife whom God has given him
It's his business to unite people, not
to put them apart. As for this dear
child. | have loved her since she was
an infant in arms, and never so much
as at the present speaking, so | don't
! need to learn my duty from one who
appears to care no more for her than
for the rind of a lemon. I'll go, sir
said the old man, drawing himself
up like a wounded lion. t"but it's not
to your protection leave her--it's to
that of Gods blessed and holy love
| and will"
Troubled Thoughts.
My husband had gone before the
last words were spoken, but l think
they must have followed him as he
/ a