Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-26

10 Iu6 lOIC6 VI q Aiul4iNoAANs
The last Of the withered leaves
of the trees in the drive had fallen
and the bare branches were beating
together like bundles of rods The
sea was louder than ever, and the bell
on st. Mary's Rock, mile away from
the shore. was tolling like a knell
under the surging Of the waves.
Sometimes the clashing of the rain
against the window-pa was like
the wash of pillows over the port
holes of a ship at sea.
pity the poor folk with their fire.
works" said Father Dan.
They'll eat their suppers for all
that" said my father.
1t was now dark, but my father
would not allow the lamps to be light
ed. There was therefore no light in
his gaunt room except a sullen glow
from the fire of peat and logs. Some
times, in a momentary lull of the
storm, an intermittent moan would
come from the room above, followed
by dull hum of voices.
A Clash of Wills
Guess it can't be long now" my
father would say.
Praise the Lord" Father Dan would
answer.
By 7 the storm was at its height
The roaring of the wind in the wide
chimney was as loud as thunder.
Save for this the thunderous noise Of
the sea served to drown all sounds on
the land. Nevertheless, in the midst
of the ciamor a loud rapping was
heard at the front door. One of the
maidservants would have answered it,
but my father called her back and,
taking up lantern, went to the door
himself. AS quietly as he could for
the rush of wind without, he opened
it, and, pulling 1t after him, he step
ped into the porch.
A man in livery was there on horse
back, with another saddled horse be-
side him. He was drenched through,
but steaming with sweat as If he had
ridden long and hard. Shouting above
the roar of the storm, he said
Doctor Conrad is here, is he?"
He is-what of it?" said my father.
Tell him he's wanted and must
come away with me at once"
who says he must?"
Lord Raa His Lordship is dan
gerously i'll. He wishes to see the
doctor Immediately"
1 think my father must then have
gone through a moment of fierce con-
f1ict between his desire to keep the
old Lord alive and his hope of the
immediate birth OF his offspring. But
his choice was quickly made"
Tell the Lord" he cried, that
woman is here in childbirth, and until
she delivers the doctor can not come
to him"
But i've brought a horse, and the
doctor is to go back with me"
"Give the Lord my message and say
it is Daniel O'Neil who sends it,"
But his Lordship is dying and UNI
less the doctor is there to tap him, he
may not live till morning"
unless the doctor is here to de-
liver my wife, my child may be dead
before midnight"
What is the birth of your child to
the death of his Lordship?" cried the
man; but, before the words were well
out of his mouth, my father lin his
great strength, had laid hold of the
reins and swung both horse and rider
round about
Get yourself to the other side OF
my gate, or I'll fling you into the
road" he cried; and then, returning to
the porch, he re-entered the house
and clashed the door behind him.
Father Dan used to say that for
some moments more the groom from
Castle Raa could be heard shouting
the name of the doctor to the lighted
windows of my mothers room. But
his voice was swirled away in the
whistling OF the wind, and after a