Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-12

ing his silver haired terrier on his
lap. he said:
"Of course, you know what the
business is which the gentlemen are
discussing in the library2"
As well as could for the nervous
ness that was sitting me. l an
swered that I knew.
He stroked the dog with one hand
prodded his stick into the gravel with
the other, and said:
We'll, l don't know what your
views about marriage are. Mine, /
may say, are liberal"
! listened without attempting to
reply
Il think nlne-tenths Of the trouble
that attends marriage life-the break
downs and what not-come Of an ir-
rational effort to tighten the mar
riage knot"
still / said nothing.
ITO imagine that two independent
human beings can be tied together
like a couple Of Siamese twins. nei-
Their 10 move without the other, living
precisely the same life year in, year
out why, it's silly, positively
silly"
In my ignorance I could find moth
ing TO say, and after another moment
my intended husband swished the
loosened gravel with his stick and
said:
Il believe in married people leaving
each other free-each going his and
her own way-what do you think?'
/ must have stammered some kind
OF answer don't know what-for
remember that he said next:
quite so, that's my view OF matri-
mony, and I'm glad to see you appear
to share it. Tell the truth,
was afraid you wouldn't" he added
with something more about the nuns
and the convent.
| wanted 10 say that / didn't. but
my nervousness was increasing avery
moment. and before I could find words
in which to protest he was speaking
to me again.
Our friends in the library seem to
think that you and I could get along
together and I'm disposed to think
they re right-aren't you?"
In my ignorance and helplessness,
and with the consciousness OF what l
was expected to do, | merely locked
at him without speaking.
Then he fixed his monocle afresh,
and, looking back at me In a curious
way, he said:
81 don't think I should bore you. my
dear: In fact, I should be rather
proud of having good looking wom-
an for my wife and l fancy | could
give YOU good time. In any case
this with a certain condescension--
my name might be OF some use to
you"
A sort of shame was creeping over
me. The dog was yawning in my
face My intended husband threw 1t
off his knee
shall we consider It settled
! thing, then" he asked, and when IN
my confusion | still made no reply
| (having nothing which ] felt myself
entitled to say. he said something
about Aunt Bridget and what she had
| told him a luncheon about my silence
and shyness, and then rising to his
| feet he put my arm through his own.
and turned our faces toward home.
That was all. As l am a truthful
woman. that was everything. Not a
word from me, no, not half a word.
merely passive act of silent acqui-
escence, and in my youthful and al
most criminal innocence | was com
mltted to the most momentous Incl
dent of my life
But il there was no love making, no
fondling, no kissing. no courtship OF
any kind, and none of the delirious
rapture which used to be described in
Alma's novels. | was really grateful
to find that, and immensely relieved
to find that matters could be COM
pleted without them.
What we reached the house, the bell
was ringing for tea, and my father
was coming out of the library fol-
lowed by the lawyers.
80 that's all right, gentlemen" he
was saying,
Yes, that's all right. sir" they were
answering; and then, seeing us as we
| entered, my father said to Lord Raa:
And what about you two?"
Were all right also" said his lord
| ship in his drawing voice.