Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-04
To,DAY'S INsTALLMENT.
Twenty. seventh chapter-continued

lit cigarette, crossed her legs, and
gave us with startling candor her
views OF the marriage bond.
What can you expect, you wom-
en?" she said. You run after the
men for their titles they've very lit
tie else, except debts, Door things
and what is the result? The first
result is that though YOU have bought
them you belong to them. Yes, your
husband owns his beautiful woman,
just as he owns his beautiful horse or
his beautiful dog"
This was so pointed that ] felt my
face growing crimson. but Alma and
the other women only laughed, so the
Countess went on:
Wait then? once in blue moon
each goes his and her own way with
out sin You agree to a sort of part
nership for mutual advantage in which
you live together in chastity under
the same roof. What life. What au
cehouse!"
Again the other women laughed, but
felt myself blushing deeply.
But in the majority of cases it is
quite otherwise. The business par
pose achieved, each is open to other
emotions. The man becomes unfaithful
and the woman, if she has any spirit,
pays him out tit for tat-and why
shouldn't she?"
After that I could bear no more,
and before | knew what | was saying
! blurted out
But | find that wrong and wicked.
Infidelity on the part of the man does
not justify infidelity in the woman
The DraVer- book saws so.
Alma burst out laughing, and the
Countess smiled and continued:
"Once in a hundred years there
comes a great passion-Dante and
Beatrice, Petrarch and Laura. The
woman meets the right man too late
What a tragedy! What a daily and
hourly crucifixion! Unless" said the
Countess, with emphasis, "she is pre-
pared to renounce the law and reject
society and live a life of complete
emancipation. But in a Catholic
country. where there is no divorce,
what woman can afford to do that?
Nobody in the higher class can-espe-
cially if she has to sacrifice her title.
So the wise woman avoids scandals,
keeps her little affair with her lover
and herself. and and that's
marriage, my dears.
came from the other women. but
was quivering with anger and | said:
Then marriage is hypocrisy and
an imposture. If found | loved some
body better than my husband, ! should
go to him In spite of the law, and
society, and title and and
everything"
"Of course, you would, my dear"
said the Countess, smiling al me as
at a child. but that's because you
are such a sweet. simple, innocent
little Irish bambino."
1t must have been a day or two af-
ter this that we were invited to the
Roman Hunt ! had no wish to go,
but Alma. who had begun to use me
In order to save her face" in rela-
ton to my husband induced me to
drive them out in a motor car to the
place in the Campagna where they
were to mount their horses.
Dear, sweet girl" said Alma. How
could we possibly go without you?"
1t was Sunday, and | sat between
Alma in her riding habit and my
husband in his riding breeches, while
we ran through the Porta San Clio
Vanni. and past the osterie where
the pleasure loving Italian people
were play iIlS ullICl LllO pei 5OieAo WIN
their children, until we came to the
meeting ground of the hunt, by the
Trappist monastery of Ire Fontane.
The Young Doctor.
A large company of the Roman
aristocracy were gathered there with
their horses and hounds. and they re-
oeived Alma and my husband with
great cordially. What they thought
of me ! co not know, except that
was a childish and complacent wife;
and when at the sound of the horn
the hunt began, and my husband and
Alma went prancing on with the rest,
without once looking back, / asked
myself IN my shame and distress II
could bear my humiliation much
longer
But then came a moment Of unex-
pected pleasure. A cheerful voice
on the other side of the car said:
Good morning, Lady Raa."
It was the young Irish doctor from
the steamer. His ship had put into
Naples for two days, and, like Mar
tin Conrad before my marriage, he
had run up to look at Rome.
But have you heard the news?
he cried.
About the South Pole Expedition
they're on their way home
$50 soon
yes. they reached New Zealand
on Saturday was q week"
And and and Martin
Conrad?'
He's well, and what's better he
has distinguished himself" 800.
T L. | knew he would"
so did /. The way was never
fearing that If they gave Mart half
g chance he would come out on top!
Do or die-that was his watchword."
81 know ! know"
His eyes were sparkling and so
suppose were mine, while with joy
Gus rush of racy words (unpunctuat-
ed by me with Yes" Yes" "Yes')
he told of long dispatch from the
lieutenant published by one Of the
London papers, in which Martin had
been specially mentioned-how he
had been put in command Of some
difficult and perilous expedition, and
had worked wonders.
How splendid! How glorious, How
perfectly magnificent" said.
Isn't it?" said the doctor, and for
a few moments more we banded
quick questions and replies like chill
dren Then he said.
But I'm after thinking it's mortal
strange I never heard him mention
YOU. There was only one Chum at