Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-31
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member of the House of Lords, in
which case she would attend all the
race meetings and coronations, and
take tea at the Carlton, where she
would eat meringues glaces every day
and have as many eclairs as she liked.
And sometimes she would tell us
the stories OF the novels which she
bribed one of the washer- women to
smuggle into the convent-stories of
ladies and their lovers, and of intoxi-
eating dreams of kissing and fon-
ding, at which the bigger girls, with
far-off suggestions of sexual myster-
les still UNEMPLOYED. would laugh and
shudder, and then Alma would say:
But hush, girls! Margaret Mary
will be shocked"
Occasionally these conferences
would be interrupted by Mlldred's
voice from the other end of the DOR
mitory, where she would raise her
head from her pillow and say:
Alma Lier. you ought to be
ashamed of yourself-keeping that
child up when she ought to be asleep,
instead of listening to your wicked
stories"
"Helloa, Mother Mildred, Is that
you?" Alma would answer. and then
the girls would laugh, and Mildred
was supposed to be covered with con-
fusion.
A Broken Promise.
one night Sister Angefa's footsteps
were heard on the stairs. and then
the girls flew back to their beds,
where, with the furtive instinct OF
their age and sex, they pretended to
be sleeping soundly when the sister
entered the room But the sister was
not deceived, and, walking UP the aisle
between the beds, she said, in an an
CRY tone:
Alma Lier IL this ever occurs
again lFll step down to the Reverend
Mothet and tell her all about you"
Little as I was saw that between
Alma and Sister Angela there was a
secret feud. which must soon break
into open rupture, but for my part l
was entirely happy, being still proud
of ATma's protection and only feeling
any misgivings when Mildred's mel
ancholy eyes we're looking at me.
Thus week followed week until we
were close upon Christmas, and the
girls who were to be permitted to go
home before the feast began to count
the days to the holidays. counted
them, too, and when anybody talked
of her brother, | thought of Martin
Conrad, though his faithful little
figure was fading away from me. and
when anybody spoke Of her parents
l remembered my mother, for whom
my affection never failed.
But, within a week from the time
for breaking up, the Reverend Moth
er sent for me, and with sinking
.heart | went to her room, knowing
well what she was going TO say.
you are not to go home for the
holidays this time, my child, You
are to remain here, and Sister Angela
Is to stay to take care of you"
She had a letter from Father Dan.
telling her that my mother was still
unwell and for this andother rea-
sons It was considered best that l
should not return at Christmas.
Father Dan had written liter to
me also, beginning, MY dear daugh-
ter in Jesus" and ending Yours in
Xt," saying IL was not his fault that
he could not fulfill his promise. but
my father was much from home
nowadays and Aunt Bridget was
more difficult than ever, so perhaps
should be happier at the convent
A Bitter Blow.
Ii was a bitter blow, though the
biggest part of 1t lay in the fear
that the girls would think I was Of
so little importance to my people
that they did not care to see me.
But the girls were too eager about
their own concerns to care much
about me, and even on the very last
day and at the very lest moment,
when everything was hustle and
JOY. and boxes we're being carried
downstairs. and everybody was kiss
ing everybody else and wishing each
other a happy Christmas. and then
flying away like mad things, and
alone was being left, Alma herself,
before she stepped into a carriage
in which a stout lady wearing furs
and waiting to receive her. only
said
"By-by, Margaret Mary Take care
of Sister Angela"
To Be Continued Monday.