Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-12
THE WOMAN THOU GAVEST ME
The Greatest Story of the Twentieth Century

to share it. Tell the truth. l
was afraid you wouldn't" he added,
with something more about the nuns
and the convent
l wanted to say that I didn't, but
my nervousness was increasing every
moment, and before l could find words
In which to protest he was speaking
to me again.
Our friends in the library seem to
think that you and l could get along
together, and I'm disposed to think
they re right-aren't your
In my ignorance and helplessness,
and with the consciousness of what
was expected to do, l merely looked
at him without speaking.
Then he fixed his monocle afresh,
and, looking back at me in a curious
way, he said:
Il don't think should bore you, my
dear; in fact, l should be rather
proud of having a good-looking wom-
an for my wife, and l fancy I could
give you 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 It settled
thing. then" he asked, and when in
my confusion l still made no reply
(having nothing which l 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 home.
That was all. AS l am truthful
woman. that was everything. Not a
word from me, no, not half a word,
merely q passive act of silent acqui-
essence, and in my youthful and al
most criminal innocence / was COM
mitted to the most momentous Incl
dent of my life.
But if 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, l 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.
so 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?'
We're 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 l think, dis
comfiture.
MI trrI1k L., IL
ter among the men, we all trooped
into the drawing room.
Aunt Bridget in her gold-rimmed
spectacles and new white cap, poured
out the tea from our best silver tea
pot. while Messy Macleod, with a
geranium in her red hair, and Betsy
Beauty, with large red roses in her
bosom, handed round the cups. After
a 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
riage is as good as made"
The Date Fixed.
There was a chorus Of Congratula-
tons for me, and few for his lord
ship, and then my father said again:
"Of course therell be deeds to draw
up. and | want things done correct,
even If it costs me a bit of money.
But we've only one thing more to
g. 70 lnx md o.
the wedding. When is it to come
Off"
An appeal was made to me, but
I felt it was only formal so l 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
it. But at the last moment Tommy
appeared with the dog in his arms
and dropped it into the car, whereup-
on nv intended husband thanked him
effusively.
yes" said Tommy, II thought you
set store by that sir"
At the next moment the car was
gone,
''Weu, you are a lucky girl" said
Betsy Beauty; and Aunt Bridget be-
gan to take credit to herself for all
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 it.
Thus in my youth, my helplessness,
my ignorance, and my inexperience
became engaged to the man who had
been found and courted for me. If
acuuiesced, l had certainly not been
consulted. My father had not con-
suited me. My intended husband had
not consulted me. Nobody consulted
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.