Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-06
EIGHTEENTH CHAPTER.

EIGHTEENTH CHAPTER.
4 FTER my mothers death there
n was no place left for me in
my fathers house.
Betsy Beauty (who was now calleu
Miss eBtsy and gave herself moe
than ever the airs OF the daughte
of the family occupied half her days
with the governess who had been en-
gagged to teach her, and the othel
half IN driving, dressed in beautiful
clothes to the houses Of the gentry
round8 bout.
Messy Macleod, called the YOUNG
mistress. had become my father
secretary, and spent most of her tine
In mis- private room priNlle2e
which enlarged her pride withoN,
improving her manners
Martin Conrad ! did not see, for la
reward for some success at schoo
the doctor had allowed him 10 spens
his Easter HOLIDAYS in London H.
order to look at Nansen's ship, vs.
Fran, which had Just then arrive
In the Thames
Hence i: happened that though
home made a certain tug at me
with its familiar sights and SCUM Is
and more than once I turned with
tiuid steps toward my fathers bus
room. intending 10 say, Pleas
father. don't send me back e
school ! made no dernur when, six
or seven DAYS after the funeral. Aunt
Bridget began to prepare for my De
parture
There's odds Of women" said
Tommy the Mate when ] went into
the garden to say good-by to him
They're like Sleeps broth. IS WON
men II there's head and a heart in
them they're good and If there isn't
yoL might as we'll be supping no.
water our Big Woman is hot water
but she'll die for all
Within a fortnight I was back at
the Convent. and there the Reverend
Mother atoned TO me for every neg
lsot
II knew YOU would come back -
r5e," she said. and from that hour
on ward she seemed 10 he trying 70
make up to me for the mother l had
lost.
became deeply devoted to her.
As a consequences her spirit became
my spirit. and. little by little. the
religious side OF the life Of the Con
vent took complete possession OF me.
Years Go By.
Al arst loved the church and us
services because the Reverend Mother
loved them. and perhaps also for tire
sake of the music. the incense, the
flowers and the lights on the alta.
but after I had taken my communion,
the mysteries Of our religion took
hold of me-the Confessional with its
sense OF cleansing and the unutter-
able sweetness OF the Mass.
For a long time there was nothing
to disturb this religious side Of my
mind Nv father never sent for iSe.
and as often as the holidays came
round the Reverend Mother took me
with her 70 her country home At
Nemi
That was a beautiful place-a sweet
white cottage, some twenty kllome-
ers from Rome, AT the foot of Monte
~aVo. in the middle Of the remains
II a medieval village which contained
A castle and a monastery, and had q
.ule blue lake lying like an emerald
siuonE the green and red of the grass
and poppies in the valley below.
In the hot months of summer The
place was Ike Paradise to me, with
its roses growing Wild by the way
side; its green lizards running on the
rocks; its brown faced boys in vel
vet. and its Eleesome girls in smart
red pet .iCoats and gorgeous outsid,
stays. its shrines and its blazing sun
sets. which seemed to girdle the heaN-
ems With qulvering bands of purple
and gold.
Years went by without me being
aware of their going. for after while
| became entirely happy.
heard frequently from home. DC
casioual}v il was from Betsy Beauty
who had not much to say beyond sto-
ries Of balls at Government House
where she had danced with the young
| ord Raa. and of hunts at which she
! had ridden with him, More rarely Il
| was from Aunt Bridget, who usually
| began by complaining of the ever-in
| yreasiue cost Of my convent clothes
| aud ended with accounts of he'
| daughters last new costume and how
well she looked in il
From Messy Macleod and my faith
or | never heard AT all, but Father
| Dan was my constant correspondent
and he told me everything.
First of my father himself-that he
! had carried out many Of his great en-
| terpriseS, his marine works, electric
| railways. drinking ana dancing pal
acea which had brought tens of thou.
| sands of visitors and hundreds o.
| thousands of pounds TO ELAN. though
| he good Father doubted the advan'
ttgc of such innovations and lament
cd the decline OF piety which had fol-
| lowed on the lust for wealth.
| Next NJ Aunt Bridget-that she was
| bringing up her daughter in the ways
! Of worldly vanity and cherishing 6
serpent m her bosom tmeaning Messy
| Macleod who would poison hel
| heart some day
Letter From Home.
Next OF Tommy the Mate-that n,
sent his best respec's" to the "lr
! missy" hut thought she vas well out
! 81 the Nay Of the Big Woman whc