Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-10
Twenty-third Chapter.

a r breakfast next morning my
~ father told me that something
unexpected had occurred to re-
uuire that we should return home i'm
mediately, and therefore he had sent
over to Cooks for seats by the noon
express.
l was deeply disappointed, but l
knew my father too we'll to demur, so
| slipped away to my room and sent
letter to Martin, explaining the
change in our plans and saying good
bye to him.
When we reached the station, how
ever, | found Martin waiting on the
platform in front of the compartment
that was labeled with our name
Thought my father was even more
brusque with him than before, and
the Bishop, who was to travel with
US was curt almost to rudeness. But
Martin did not seem to mind that
this morning, for his lower lip had
the stiff setting which | had seen in
1t when he was a boy, and after |
stepped into the carriage he stepped
in after me, leaving the two men on
the platform.
Shall you be long away?" l asked.
"Too long, unfortunately. Six
months, nine-perhaps twelve, worse
luck! Wish I hadn't to go at all, y
he answered.
whereupon he stammered some ex-
cuse and then said abruptly:
'I suppose you'll not be married
for some time at all events?"
I told him that I did not know,
everything depending on my father.
Anyhow, you'll see and hear for
yourself when you reach home, and
then perhaps you'll s. y"
answered that l should have to
do what my father desired, being a
girl. and therefore
But surely, a girl has some rights
of her own" he said and then | was
silent and a little ashamed having a
sense of female helplessness which /
had never felt before and could find
no words for.
'T'll write to your father" he said,
and just at that moment the bell
rang, and my father came into the
compartment, saying:
NOW then, young man, If you don't
want to be taken up to the North
Pole instead of going down to the
South one 80
nat . di Il6Il, OH I(Oil yOd
trouble about me, l can take care of
myself" said Martin.
A Farewell.
Something in his tone must have
said more than his words to my
father and the Bishop for 1 saw that
they looked at each other with sur
prise.
Then the bell rang again, the en-
CINE throbbed, and Martin said
Good bye! Good bye!"
While the train moved out of the
station, he stood bareheaded on the
platform with such a woebegone face
that looking back at him my throat
began to hurt me as it used to do
when l was a child.
was very glad that day as we
travelled north. My adopted country
had become dear to me during my
ten years exile from home, and /
thought l was seeing the last Of my
beautiful Italy, crowned with sum
shine and decked with flowers.
But there was another cause of
my Sadness, and that was the
thought of Martins uneasiness about
my marriage and the feeling that he
had anything to say to my father he
ought to have said 1t then.
And there was yet another cause
of which l was quite unconscious
that like every other girl before love
dawns on her, half of my nature was
still asleep, the half that makes life
lovely and the world dear.
To think that Martin Conrad was
the one person who could have
awakened my sleeping heart! That a
word, look, a smile from him that
day could have changed the whole
current of my life, and that
But no, will not reproach him.
Have I rot known since the day on
St. Mary's Rock that above all else
he is a born gentleman?
And yet And yet =. e. ..
To Be Continued To- morraw.