Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-14

1t was sweet, but 1t was also pain
full to stay long in that house of
love, and as soon as | had eaten my
oat-cake and honey l got up to go.
The two good souls saw me to the
door, saying 1 was not to expect
either of them at the Big House
on my wedding day because she was
no woman for smart clothes, and the
doctor, who was growing rheumatic,
had given up his night-calls, and
therefore his gig, so as to keep down
expenses.
Wen be at the church, though"
said Martins mother. And If we
don't see you to speak to, you'll
know we're there and wishing you
happiness in our hearts,"
l could not utter a word when
left them; but after l had walked
little way looked back, intending
to wave my farewell, and there they
were together at the gate still, and
one of her hands was on the doctors
shoulder-the sweet woman who had
chosen love against the world, and
dld not regret it, even now when the
night was falling on her.
had to pass the Presbytery on
my way home, and as I did so, l
saw Father Dan in his study. He
threw up the window sash and
called in a soft voice, asking me
to wait until he came down to me.
He came down hurriedly, just as
he was, in his worn and discolored
cassock, and biretta and walked up
the road by my side, breathing rap
idly and obviously much agitated.
The Bishop is staying with me
over the wedding, and he is in such
fury that Don't worry. 1t will
be all right. But :"
"Yes?"
Did you see young Martin Conrad
while you were in Romeo"
| answered that l did.
And did anything pass between
you about your marriage, |
mean?"
| told him all that I had said to
Martin, and all that Martin had said
to me.
Because he has written long
letter to the bishop denouncing it,
and calling on him to stop It,"
ITO stop it?",
That's so. He says it Is nothing
but trade and barter, and If the
Church is willing to give it's blessing
to such rank commercialism, let it
bless the stock exchange, let it sane
tify the slave market"
'Well?"
"The Bishop threatens to tell your
father. Who is this young man. he
says, who dares to > But il
| thought there was nothing more to
your marriage than If |
imagined that what occurred in the
cases of your dear mother. But
that's not ALL"
Not all?"
No. Martin has written to me, too
saying worse-far worse"
What does he say, Father DAM"
Il don't really know If l ought TO
tell you, 1 really don't. Yet if it's
true If there's anything in
l was trembling, but / begged him
to tell me what Martin had said. He
told me. 1t was about my intended
husband-that he was a man of ir-
regular life, a notorious loose liver,
who kept up a connection with some
body in London, a kind of actress who
was practically his wife already, and
therefore his marriage with me would
be-so Martin had said-nothing but
'1egalized and sanctifled concu-
bnage."
With many breaks and pauses my
dear old priest told me this story, as
if it were something so infamous that
scarcely credit it.
'If l really thought it was true, -
he said, that a man living such a
life could come here to marry my
little But no, God could not
suffer a thing like that. I must ask,
though. I must make sure We live
so far away in this little island that
= But must go back now. The
Bishop will be calling for me-"
Still deeply agitated, Father Dan
left me by the bridge, and at the gate
of our drive I found Tommy the Mate
on ladder, covering, with flowers
from the conservatory, a triumphal
arch which the joiner had hammered
up the day before.
The old man hardly noticed me as /
passed through, and this prompted me
to look up and speak to him.
Tommy" | said "do you know you
are the only one who hasn't said 4
good word to me about my marriage?
Am I, missy?" he answered, with
out looking down. Then maybe
that's because I've had so many bad
ones to say to other people,,
] asked which other people.
"Old Johnny Christopher, for one
I met him last night at the Horse
and Saddle Grand doings at the
Big House they're telling me- says
Johnny. 4 won't say no. I SAYS
It'll be a proud day for the grand
daughter Of Neill the Lord when
she's mistress of Castle Raa,' says
Johnny. Maybe So | says, but It'll
be a prouder day for Castle Raa when
she sets her clane little foot in it