Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-28

described them.
"But Martin" I said. would the
church accept that?"
What matter whether 1t would or
wouldn't? Our conscienees would be
clear. There would be no sin, and
what you we're saying this morning
would not apply"
But If left my husband ! couldn't
marry you. could ~
Perhaps not"
Then the church would say that l
was a sinful woman living a sinful
life. wouldn't it?'
"But you wouldn't be-"
All the same the church would say
so, and IL Il did ! should be cut out
Of communion, and IL / were cut out
OF communion should be cast out Of
the church, and II we're cast out Of
the church what would become
OF me them"
But, my dear girl said Martin,
don't you see that this is not the
same thing at all? It is only a case
Of ceremony. And why should a
mere cerenlony---even IL we can not
do away with it--darken a woman's
life foreverT'
NV heart was yearning for love- but
my soul was crying out for saliva
ton; and not being able to answer
him for myself, ! told him what
Father Dan had said ! was to say.
Father Dan is a saint end love
him." he said. But what can he
know what can any priest know OF
situation like this? The law of
man has tied you to this brute, but
the law OF God has given you TO me.
Why should marriage service stand
between us?"
@But It does" said. "And we
can't alter it, No. no, dare not
break hhe law OF the church. | am
weak, wretehed girl, but l can not
give up my religion"
After that Martin did not speak for
a moment. Then he said:
You mean that, Mary?H
Yes"
And then my heart accused me so
terribly or the crime Of resisting him
that l took his hand and held his
fingers in a tight lock while / told
him--what / had never meant TO tell
how long and how deeply / had
loved him. but nevertheless I dared
not face the thought of living and
dying without the consolation Of the
church
Il dare not! / dare notl" I said.
Il should be a broiSen-hearted woman
II did. and you don't want that do
your"
He listened in silence, though the
Irregular lines in his face showed the
disordered state OF his soul, and when
had finished q wild look came into
his eyes and he said
Il am disappointed In you, Mary.
thought you were brave and fear
less. and that when | showed YOU q
way out of your miserable entangle-
ment you would take il in spite OF
everything"
Heart CIamored.
His voice was growing thick again.
/ could scarcely bear to listen to II.
DO you suppose l wanted to take
up the position ! proposed to your
Not /. No-decent man ever does. But
love you so dearly that | was will
ing to make that sacrifice and count
II as nothing II only ! could rescue
you from the misery Of your abomi-
nable marriage.
Then he broke into a kind OF fierce
laughter, and said:
1T seems 4 wasn't wanted. though,
You say In effect that my love Is sim
full and criminal, and that It will inn
peril your soul. So I'm only making
NiAHiuANA ISAN8 anu AnG H0oANa y GNt
away the better for everybody"
He threw off my hand, stepped to
the door to the balcony, and, looking
out into the darkness. said, between
choking laughter and sobs:
"Ellans you are no place for me.
can't bear the sight Of you any long
er. / used to think YOU were the
dearest spot on earth, because you
we're the home Of her who would
follow me to the ends Of the earth II
/ wanted her, but l was wrong, She
loves me less than a wretched cere-
mony, and would sacrifice my happi-
ness to miserable bit of parchment
My heart was 'clamoring loud. Never
had | loved him so much as now.
had to struggle with myself not Ia
throw myself into his arms.
mo niatteri" he said II should be
spirited fool 70 stay where I'm
not wanted. / must get back to my
work The sooner the better too
thought I should be counting this
days down there until / could come
home again. But why should | care
what happens to me? It's all as one
now"
He stepped back from the balcony
with a resolute expression on his
gloomy face and l thought for 8
moment (half hoping and half fearing
| 10 that he was going to lay hold Of
me and tell me ] must do what hS
wished because belonged 20 him.
! But he only looked at me for q
\ moment In silence, and then burs
/ into a flood OF tears, and turned ant
ran out Of the house.
Let who will say his tears were
unmanly To me they were the bittel
cry of a great heart, and l wanted <
| follow him and say Take me. ID
what you like with me. | am yours,
l l did not do so. l sat a long tint
where he had left me and then
went into my room and locked tn,
/ door.
| / did not cry. Unjust and cruel al
\ his reproaches had been, | began I,
have a strange wild Joy in them.
/ knew that be would not have insulteC
me like that II he had not loved m,
to the very verge Of madness itself.
/ Hcers passed. Price came tappinl
al my door to ask II she should loci
up the house -meaning the balcony
l answered, mo, so to bed
l heard the deadened thud OF Mar
tins footsteps on the lawn passing
20 and fro. Sometimes they paused
under my window and then had
| feeling, amounting to certainty tina
he was listening 10 hear II wal
| sobbing, and that II l had been h,
would have broken down my bedroom
door to get % me.
At length I heard him come up tn
stone stairway, shut and bolt IN,
balcony door and walk heavily across