Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-16

| it was unfortunate for my interview
| that it came between his food and his
sleep.
The little reception room into
which | was shown was luXuriously,
| not to say gorgeously appointed.
| with easy chairs and sofas, a large
portrait of the Pope, signed by the
Holy Father himself, and a number
of pictures of great people of all
kinds--dukes, marquises, lords, counts
as well as photographs of fashion
able ladies in low dress inscribed in
! several languages to MY dear Faith
er in God the Lord Bishop of ELAN.
The Bishop came to NE after few
minutes, smiling and apparently at
peace with all the world. Except
that he wore a birretta he was dressed
as in Rome-in his long black SOU
| tame with its innumerable buttons,
! his silver buckled shoes, his heavy
gold chain and jeweled cross.
We welcomed me in his smooth and
suave manner, asking if he could
offer me a little refreshment; but
too full of my mission to think of
eating and drinking; | plunged I'M
mediately into the subject of my visit.
'Monsignor," / said, Il am in great
, trouble 1t is about my marriage.
The smile was smitten away from
the Bishops face by this announce
ment.
Il am sorry said, Nothing Sc
rious, | trust?
| told him it was very serious, and
straightforward | began on the splr-
! itual part of my grievance-that my
husband did not love me, that he
loved another woman, that the sacred
sacrament of my marriage
wait" said the Bishop, and ne
rose to close the window, for the
clamor of the crows was deafenlng-a
trial must have been going on in the
trees Returning to his seat he sald
Dear lady, you must understand
that there is one offense, and only
one. which in all Christian countries
and civilized communities IS consld-
cred sufficient to constitute real ana
tangible grievance. rave you any
evidence of that?'
Trying to Be Blind.
l knew what he meant and l felt
myself coloring to the roots OF my
hair. But gulping down my shame
| recounted the story of the scene
! in Paris and gave a report OF my
maids charges and surmises,
"Humph." said the Bishop, and l
sawi a moment that he was going
! to belittle my proofs
! Little or no evidence Of your own
apparently. Chiefly that Of your maid
And ladies' maids are notorious mis-
chefmakers.'
"Rut il is true" I said. My hus-
band will not deny it. He can not.
$50 far as l am able to observe
what passes in the world sad the
Bishop "men in such circumstances
always can and do deny it,
| felt my hands growing moist I'M
der nv gloves. | thought the bishop
was trying to be blind to what he
| old not wish to see. -.-,-.,
But I'm right Pm sure I'm right
l said i'll.
what is it, dear lady, that you WISH
me to do?'
For some minutes I felt like fool,
but I stammered out at length that
| had come for his direction and to
| learn what relief the church could
HIM" said the bishop. and then
crossing one leg over the other and
! fumbling the silver buckle of his shoe,
he said:
The church, dear lady, does indeed
provide alienation is cases OF are
necessity. 1t provides the relief OF
| SeparatOn-alW always utpIolllS tIlO ny
cessity and hoping for ultimate rec
| onciliation. But to sanction the sep
aration of a wife from her husband
because-pardon me, l do not say
This is your case-she finds that he
does not please her, or because
again | do not say this is your case
| she fanCies that somebody else pleases
her better :"
"Mons!gnor,' | said ieellns noI ana
VIZ VIZ an, thinning Of something
much more serious"
Never shall | forget the expression
, Of the bishops face. He looked
| aghast- 49,.
,.it ~ If,,n,,5oi,,
7 Ill ~. loaa must have drouDed
&c ~ Silent assent for in q peremp-
torv and condemnatory manner the
hisbop took me to task, asking if
aid not know that the Catholic
| Church did not recognize divorce
under any circqmstaneesi a, ana a., II + 81.
himself fuointing up to the portraiU
had said 10 me-that when | entered
| INTO inc solen n contract of holy mat
rlnonv was TO do so in the fun con-
eciousness that II could not be broken
INF Nv death
.r,La - l., ,,,hjcb husband and