Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-19

wv Dan arrived the bell was
rung and we went to break
fast.
We hreakfasted in the new dining
room, which was now finished and
being used for the first time.
II was gorgeous chamber be
blazoned with large candelabra, huge
mirrors. and pictures In gold frames
resembling the room it was intended
to initiate, yet not resembling II, as a
woman overdressed resembles a we'll
dressed woman.
My father sat at the head OF his
table with the bishop, Lady Margaret
and Aunt Bridget on his right. and
myself, my husband, Betsy Beauty
and Mr.. Eastcliff on his left. The
lawyers and the trustees were mid
way down. Father Dan with Messy
Macleod was at the end. and a large
company Of our friends and neigh
bors, wearing highly colored flowers
on their breasts and in their button
holes sat between
The meal was very long and much
OF the food was very large-large
FISH, large roasts Of venison, veal,
beef and mutton large puddings and
large cheeses. all cut on the table and
served by walters from Blackwater
were TWO lpIlk nidtk ilutS OF
them-a waiter behind the chair of
nearly every other guest
All through the breakfast the
storm ragged outside. More than once
II drowned the voices of the people al
the table, roaring like wild beast in
the throat of the wide chimney, swirl
ing and lashing and leaping at the
outside of the walls like lofty waves
breaking against a breakwater and
sending up a thunderous noise from
the sea itself. where the big bell of
st, Mary's Rock was tolling like a
knerl.
Somebody--it must have been Aunt
Bridget again-said there had been
nothing like IL since the day of my
birth, and II must be fate"
"Chut, womanl" said my father
We're living in the twentieth CEN
fury. Who's moulding with such Guild
wife's wonders now?"
He was intensely excited, and his
excitement betrayed itself, as usual
in reversion to his native speech
Sometimes he surveyed in silence,
with the old masterful lift Of his
eyebrows. his magnificent room and
the great guests who we're gathered
within IL; sometimes he whispered TO
the walters to be smarter with the
serving of the dishes; and sometimes
he pitched his voice above the noises
within and without and shouted, in
country fashion, to his friends at
various points of the table to know
how they were faring.
How are you doing, Mr.. Curphy
slr?"
Doing well. sir. Are you doing
well yourself. Mr.. O'Nelll, sir?"
Iord-a- massy, yes, sir. I'm always
doing well. sir"
Never had anybody in ELAN seen
so strange a mixture of grandeur
and country style My husband seem
ed to be divided between amused con-
tempt for It and sense of being COM
promised by its pretense. More than
once l saw him, with his monocle In
his eye, look round at his friend East
cliff, but he helped himself frequently
from large decanter of brandy and
drank healths with everybody.
There were the usual marriage
pleasantries, facetious compliments
and chaff. in which to my surprise
(the solemnity of the service being
still upon mel the Bishop permitted
himself to Join.
/ was now very nervous, and vet l
kept up a forced gaiety, though my
heart was cold and sick l remember
that | had a preternatural power of
hearing at the same time nearly every
conversation that was going on at
the table, and that ! Joined in near
ly all the laughter.
At a more than unusually loud
burst of wind somebody said It would
be mercy IL the storm did not lift
the roof off.
'Chut. mani" cried my father.
solid oak and wrought iron here.
None of your mouldy old monuments
that have enough to do to keep their
tiles on"
Then nobody" said nay husband
with glance at his friend, need be
afraid of losing his head in your
house. sir?'
Not II he's got one to come in
with, sir"
Betsy Beauty. sitting next to Mr.
Eastcliff, was wondering IL he would