Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-14
Could Not Speak.

His face was deadly white and he
was like a man out of his right mind.
Mary" he said, looking down at
me where | knelt with my hands
crossed on my bosom, when did |
give you permission to introduce a
priest into my house? Isn't it enough
for a man to have a wife who is
Catholic without having the church
and its ministers shunted into his
home without his permission"
| was so taken aback by this
furious assault that at first | could
not speak, but Father Dan interposed
to defend me, saying with beautiful
patience that his visit had been quite
unexpected on my part, and that l
had asked him to stay overnight only
because he was an old man, and had
had a long walk from his parish.
I'm much obliged to your rever-
ence,' said my husband, who was
quivering with fury, but my wife
Is perfectly capable of answering for
herself without your assistance, and
as for your parish you would have
done better to stay there instead of
coming to NEEDLE in this one"
Aren't you measuring me by your
own yard, sir?" said Father Dan, and
at that straight thrust my husband
broke into ungovernable rage.
Everybody knows what a Popish
priest Is" he said. "A meddlesome
busybody who pokes his nose into
other mems secrets. But priest or no
priest, I'll have no man coming to
my house to make mischief between
husband and wife"
Are you sure" said Father Dan.
that some woman isn't in your house
already making mischief between
wife and husband?"
That thrust too went home My
husband looked at me with flashing
eyes and then said;
LAS | thought. You've been sent
to help my wife to make a great to-
do of her imaginary grievances.
You're to stay in the house too, and
before long We'll have you setting
up as master here and giving orders
to my servants! But not if know
it! Your reverence, if you
have any respect for your penitent.
you'll please be good enough to leave
my wife to my protection"
! saw that Father Dan had to gulp
down his gathering anger. but he
only said:
Say no more, my lord. No true
priest ever comes between a man and
the wife whom God has given him.
It's his business to unite people, not
to put them apart. AS for this dear
child, | have loved her since she was
an infant in arms, and never so much
as at the present speaking, so I don't
need to learn my duty from one who
appears to care no more for her than
for the rind of a lemon. I'll go, SIR"
said the old man, drawing himself
up like wounded Hon, but it's not
to your protection I leave her--its to
that Of Gods blessed and holy love
and will"
Troubled Thoughts.
MY husband had gone before the
last words were spoken, but | think
they must have followed him as he
went lunglng down the stairs.
During this humillating scene
hot flush of shame had come to my
cheeks and | wanted to tell Father
Dan not to let 1t grieve him, but
could do nothing but stoop and kiss
his hand.
Meantime. two or three of the serv-
ants had gathered on the landing
at the sound OF my husbands voice,
and among them was the finty house
keeper holding the Fathers little
bag, and she gave it back to him as he
passed her.
Then. all being over, the woman
came into my room, with an express
sion OF victorious mischief in her
eyes and said:
Your ladyship had better have