Atlanta Georgian., 1914-02-19

y
XHyHEN the bishop and Father
wv Dan arrived the bell was
rung and we went 10 break
fast
We breakfasted in the new dining
room, which was now finished and
being used for the first time.
Ii was a gorgeous chamber be-
blazoned with large candelabro. huge
mirrors. and pictures In gold frames
resembling the room it was intended
10 initiate, vet not resembling it, as
woman overdressed resembles a we'll
dressed woman.
Ny father sat at the head OF his
table with the bishop. Lady Margaret
and Aunt Bridget on his right, and
myself my husband, Betsy Beauty
and Mr.. Eastcliff on his left. The
lawyers and the trustees were mid
way down, Father Dan with Messy
Macleod was at the end, and a large
company of our friends and neigh
bors, wearing highly colored flowers
on their breasts and In their button
holes, sat between.
The meal was very long and much
Of the food was very large-large
Ash, large roasts OF venison. veal,
beef and mutton. large puddings and
large cheeses. all cut on the table and
served by walters from Blackwater.
There were two long black lines OF
them-a waiter behind the chair Of
nearly every other guest
All through the breakfast the
storm ragged outside. More than once
1t drowned the voices of the people al
the table. roaring like a wild beast in
the throat of the wide chimney, swirl
ing and lashing and leaping at the
outside of the walls like lofty waves
breaking against a breakwater. and
sending UP a thunderous noise from
the sea itself where the big bell of
ST. Mary's Rock was tolling like a
knell.
Somebody-it must have been Aunt
Bridget agahl-sad there had been
nothing like IT since the day of my
birth. and II must be fate"
'Chut woman!" said my father
Were living In the twentieth CEN
tury. Who's houlding with such ould
wife's wonders now?"
He was intensely excited. and his
excitement betrayed itself, as usual,
In reversion to his native speech.
Sometimes he surveyed in silence,
with the old masterful lift OF his
eyebrows, his magnificent room and
the great guests who were gathered
within IL, sometimes he whispered to
the walters to be smarter with the
serving of the dishes. and sometimes
he pitched his voice above the noises
within and without and shouted, in
country fashion. to his friends at
various points of the table to know
how they were farlng.
How are you doing, Mr.. Curphy,
sIr2o
"Doing well. sir Are you doing
well yourself. Mr.. O'Neill. sir?"
Lord "a -massy, yes, sir I'm always
doing well, sir"
Never had anybody in ELAN seen
so strange a mixture of grandeur
and country style. My husband SEEM
ed to be divided between amused con-
tempt for it and sense of being COM
promised by its pretense. More than
once | saw him. with his monocle in
his eye, look round at his friend East
cliff, but he helped himself frequently
from a large decanter of brandy and
drank healths with everybody.
There were the usual marriage
pleasantries. facetlous compliments
and chaff. in which to my surprise
lthe solemnity of the service being
still upon mel the Bishop permitted
himself to join.
4 was now verv nervous, and yet I
: kept up forced gaiety, though my
heart was cold and sick l remember
that | had a preternatural power of
hearing at the same time nearly every
conversation that was going on at
the table, and that | Joined In near
ly all the laughter.
At a more than unusually loud
burst of wind somebody said II would
be a mercy If the storm did not lift
the roof off
.'Chut. mani" cried my father.
ssSolid oak and wrought iron here.
None of your mouldy old monuments
that have enough to do TO keep their
tiles on"
.'Then nobody" said my husband
with a glance at his friend, need be
afraid of losing his head in your
house, sir?"
Not II he's got one to come in
with. sir"
Betsy Beauty. sitting next To Mr..
E.astcliff, was wondering If he would