Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-28

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described them.
church accept that?"
What matter whether It would or
wouldn't7 Our condolences would be
clear. There would be no sin, and
what you were saying this morning
would not apply"
but II / left my husband couldn't
marry you. could IL"
Perhaps not"
Then the church would say that
was a sinful woman living a sinful
life, wouldn't III"
@Blh you wouldn't be-"
IAN the same the church would say
so, and II 1t did | should be cut out
Of communion, and II I were cut out
OF communion ] should be cast out OF
the church, and II | were cast out OF
the church what W0uld become
Of me them"
But, my dear girl" said Martin,
don't you see that this Is not the
same thing at all? II Is only a case
of q ceremony. And why should a
mere ceremony--even II we can not
do away with it-darken woman's
life forever"
My heart was yearning for love, but
my soul was crying out for saliva
tlon: and not being able to answer
him for myself / told him what
Father Dan had said l was to say.
Father Dan Is q saint and | love
him." he said, But what can he
know-what can any priest know OF
situation like this? The law OF
man has tied you to this brute, but
the law Of God has given you to me.
Why should marriage service stand
between us2"
but II does" / said. And we
can't alter 1t. No, no, dare not
break the law of the church I am
weak, wretched girl, but | can not
give up my religion"
After that Martin did not speak for
moment. Then he said;
You mean that, Mary?"
yes"
And then my heart accused me so
terribly OF the crime Of resisting him
that | took his hand and held his
fingers in a tight lock while told
him what / had never meant to tell
how long and how deeply 7 had
loved him, but nevertheless dared
not face the thought OF living and
dying without the consolation of the
church.
II dare not / dare mott" / said.
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II did, and you don't want that, do
you?"
He listened in silence, though the
irregular lines In his face showed the
disordered state OF his soul, and when
had finished a wild look came into
his eyes and he said.
Il am disappointed in you, Mary.
thought you were brave and fear
less, and that when ! showed you a
way out OF your miserable entangle-
ment you would take it in spite OF
everything
Heart Clamored.
His voice was growing thick again.
4 could scarcely bear to listen TO It..
do you suppose / wanted to take
up the position / proposed to your
Not l. No decent man ever does But
love you so dearly that ! was will
ing TO make that sacrifice and count
it as nothing II only / could rescue
you from the misery Of your abomi-
nable marriage
Then he broke into kind Of fierce
laughter, and said:
1T seems / wasn't wanted, though.
You say In effect that my love Is sim
full and criminal, and that II will inn
peril your soul So I'm only making
mischief here, and the sooner / get
away the better for everybody"
He threw off my hand, stepped TO
the door to the balcony. and, looking
out into the darkness, said, between
choking laughter and sohs;
"Ellan, you are no place for me. |
can't bear the sight OF you any long
err / used to think you were the
dearest spot on earth, because you
were the home OF her who would
follow me to the ends OF the earth II
! wanted her, but ! was wrong. She
loves me less than wretched cere-
mony, and would sacrifice my happi-
ness to a miserable bit of parchment"
My heart was clamorlng loud. Never
had / loved him SO much as now.
had TO struggle with myself not to
throw myself into his arms.
mo matterln he said. Il should be
a poor spirited fool to stay where I'm
not wanted. | must get hack TO my
work. The sooner the better, too.
/ thought | should be counting the
days down there until ] could come
home again. But why should ! care
what happens to me? It's all as one
now"
He stepped back Nfrom the balcony
with resolute expression on his
gloomy face, and / thought for q
moment (half hoping and half fearing
~ that he was going TO lay hold Of
me and tell me / must do what he
wished because / belonged TO him,
But he only looked at me for a
moment in silence, and then burst
into a flood of tears, and turned and
ran out OF the house.
Let who will say his tears were
unmanly. To me they were the bitter
cry OF a great heart. and ! wanted TO
follow him and say, Take me. DO
what you like with me. / am yours.
l did not do So / sat long time
where he had left me and then
went into my room and locked the
door.
/ did not cry. Unjust and cruel as
his reproaches had been, | began To
have q strange wild JOY In them.
knew that he would not have insulted
me like that II he had not loved me
to The very verge Of madness itself.
HcSss passed. Price came tapping
al my door to ask II she should lock
up the house meaning the balcony
answered, "No, so to bed"
heard the deadened thud OF Mar
tins footsteps on the lawn passing
to and FRO Sometimes they paused
under my window and then had q
feeling, amounting to certainty, tina,
he was listening to hear II l was
sohbing. and that II l had been he
would have broken down my bedroom
| door TO get to me
At length I heard him come up the
stone stairway, shut and bolt the