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

i l.
my nervousness was increasing every
moment. and before | could find words
in which to protest he was speaking
to me again.
Our friends in the library seem to
think that you and ! 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 !
was expected to do, I merely looked
at him without speaking.
Then he fixed his monocle afresh,
and, looking back at me In curious
way, he said:
~ don't think should bore you, my
dear; in fact, | should be rather
proud of having a good looking wom-
an for my wife. and ! fancy ! could
give you a 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 it
off his knee.
Shall we consider 1t a 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 at luncheon about my silence
and shyness and then rising to his
feet he put my arm through his own.
and turned our faces toward hGme.
That was all. AS ! am a truthful
woman. that was everything. Not
word from me. no, not half word,
merely a passive act of silent acqui-
escence, and in my youthful and al
most criminal innocence | vas COM
mtted 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.
Good" said my father, and he
slapped his lordship sharply on the
back, to his surprise, and | think, dis
comflture.
Then with caekie of Hight laugh
ter among the men, we all trooped
into the drawing room.
Aunt Bridget in her gold trimmed
spectacles and new white cap. poured
out the tea from our best silver tea
pot. while Messy Macleod, with a
geranlum in her red hair, and Betsy
Beauty, with large red roses in her
bosom, handed round the cups. After
8 moment. my father, with radiant
face, standing back to the fire, said
in a loud voice:
Friends all, | have something TO
tell you"
Everybody except myself looked up
and listened. though everybody knew
what was coming.
We've had a stiff tussle in the
library this afternoon, but everything
is settled satisfactory-and the mar
rage is as good as made"
The Date Fixed.
There was a chorus of congratula-
tons for rue, and few for his lord
ship. and then my father said again:
"Of course thereH be deeds to draw
IN and I want things done correct,
even If it costs me bit OF money.
But we've only one thing more 70
| Fix up to-day. and then we're through
the wedding When is ii 10 come
Off"
An appeal was made to me, but
| | felt il was only formal so | glanced
| across to Lord Raa without speaking.
Come now" said my father, look
| ing from one to the other THE clean
cut is the short cut, you know, and
what do you say to this day next
month";"
bowed and my intended husband
| in his languid way, said:
Agreed! :"
A few minutes afterward the
motor was ordered round, and the
| gentlemen prepared to go, Then the
| silver haired terrier was missed. and
| for the first time that day his lord
! ship betrayed a vivid interest telling
us it's price and pedigree and how
much he would give rather than lose
II. But at the last moment Tommy
appeared with the dog in his arms
and dropped II into the car, whereup-
on my intended husband thanked him
| effusiVely.
yes" said Tommy, 81 thought YOU
| set store by that, sir
At the next moment the car was
| gone
We'll. you are a lucky girl" said
Betsy Beauty; and Aunt Bridget be
gan to take credit to herself for al
| that had come to pass and to indi-
cate the methods by which she meant
to manage Castle Raa as soon as ever
| became mistress of il.
Thus in my youth, my helplessness
my ignorance and my ineNperienCe
became engaged to the man who had
been found and courted for me. II
acqulesced. | had certainly not beer
consulted Ny father had not con
suited me. My intended husband had
not consulted me. Nobody consultec
me. am not even sure that thought
| ANYBODY was under obligation To con-
| suit me. Love had not spoken TO me
sex was still asleep in me, and my
! marriage was arranged before my
deeper nature knew what was being
done
Twenty sixth Chapter.
TINE next weeks were full OF hur-
~ hubbub and perturbation