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

communication as Father Dan had
described them.
church accept thatg"
What matter whether II would or
Wouldn't Our conaciences would be
clear. There would be no sin, and
what you were saying this morning
would not apply"
"But II left my husband | couldn't
marry you. could ~
Perhaps not"
Then the church would say that |
was q sinful woman living sinful
life, wouldn't it,"
But you wouldn't be"
"Ali the same the church would say
so. and If II did | should be cut out
Of communion, and II ] were cut out
Of communion I should be cast out of
the church, and II were 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? II Is only a case
Of a ceremony And why should a
mere ceremony--even IL we can not
do away with it--darken a woman's
life .forever?e
NY heart was yesrnlng for love, but
my soul was crying out for saliva
tlon; and not being able TO anEweF
him for myself, | told him what
Father Dan had said ] was TO say.
Father Dan is a saint and ! 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. hut
the law Of God has given you TO me
Why should a marriage service stand
between us2"
can't alter It. No, no, dare not
break the law OF the church ! am
weak, wretched girl, but can not
give up my religion"
After that Martin did not speak for
moment Then he said:
You mean that, Nary"
Yes
And then my heart accused me so
terribly of the crime Of resisting him
that ! 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 | dared
not face the thought Of living and
dying without the consolation Of the
church.
Il dare not l dare mott" / said,
Il should be a broken-hearted woman
II | did. and you don't want that, do
you2"
He listened in silence, though the
irregular lines In his face showed the
disordered state OF his soul, and when
had finished a wild look came into
his eyes and he said,
II am disappointed In you, Mary.
thought you were brave and fear.
less, and that when showed YOU a
way out Of your miserable entangle-
ment you would take II in spite of
everything"
Heart Clamored
His voice was growing thick again.
I could scarcely bear TO listen 10 II.
do you suppose | wanted 20 take
UP the position ! proposed to YOU?
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 I could rescue
you from the misery OF your abomi-
nable marriage
Then he broke into a kind Of fierce
laughter, and said;
1T seems ! wasn't wanted, though.
You say In effect that my love Is sin
full and criminal, and that II will linz
peril your soul SO I'm only making
mischief here, and the sooner | get
away the better for everybody"
He threw off my hand, stepped 10
the door 10 the balcony, and, looking
out into the darkness, said, between
choking laughter and sobs;
ELAN, you are no place for me.
can't bear the sight Of you any long
en- used to think you were the
dearest spot on earth, because you
- -
follow me to the ends OF the earth II
wanted her. but | was wrong She
loves me less than a wretched cere-
mony. and would sacrifice my happi-
ness to a miserable bit OF parchment"
My heart was clamoring loud. Never
had ! loved him so much as now.
had to struggle with myself not to
throw myself into his arms.
mo matterl" he said. II should be
a poor spirited fool TO stay where I'm
not wanted. | must get back to my
work. The sooner the better, too.
thought | should be counting the
days down there until / could come
home again, But why should | care
what happens to meg It's all as one
now"
He stepped back from the balcony
with resolute expression on his
gloomy face. and thought for a
moment thalf hoping and half fearing
10 that he was going to lay hold Of
me and tell me / must do what he
wished because belonged to him.
But he only looked at me for a
moment In silence, and then burst
into flood OF tears, ana turned and
ran out OF the house.
Let who will say his tears were
unmanly To me they We're the bitter
cry OF a great heart. and ] wanted TO
follow him and say, take me Do
what you like with me. l am yours
! did not do so. | sat a long time
where he had left me and then
went into my room and locked the
door.
did not cry Unjust and cruel as
his reproaehes had been. | began to
have a strange wild JOY in them l
knew that he would not have insulted
me like that IL he had not loved me
10 the very verge Of madness itself.
liz ers passed. Price came tapping
at my door to ask II she should lock
up the house-meaning the balcony.
answered mo, 80 20 bed"
heard the deadened thud OF Mar
tins footsteps on the lawn passing
to and fro. Sometimes they paused
under my window ana then ! had
feeling, amounting 10 certainty, that
he was listening TO hear II | was
sobbing, and that II I had been he
would have broken down my bedroom
door to get 10 me.
At length I heard him come up the