Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-16
THE WOMAN THOU GAVEST ME
The Greatest Story of the Twentieth Century

crows seemed to be holding a sort of
general congress
The Bishop was then at his lunch
con, and after luncheon $50 his liv-
cried servant told meJ he usually
took siesta. ! have always thought
It was unfortunate for my interview
that II came between his food and his
sleep.
The little reception room into
which / was shown was luXuriously,
not to say gorgeously. appointed
with easy chairs and sofas, large
portrait OF the Pope, signed by the
Holy Father himself and a number
OF pictures OF great people OF all
kinds-dukes, marquises. lords, counts
as well as photographs of fashion
able ladies' in low dress inscribed In
several languages to MY dear Faith
er In God the Lord Bishop OF ELAN"
The Bishop came to me after a few
minutes, smiling and apparently at
peace with all the world Except
that he wore birretta he was dressed
as In Rome-in his long black SOU
tame with It's innumerable buttons,
his silver buckled shoes, his heavy
gold chain and jeWeied cross.
We welcomed me in his smooth and
suave manner, asking If he could
offer me a little refreshment; but
too full OF my mission to think of
eating and drinking; | plunged i'm
media tely into the subject of my visit.
"Monsignor," said, Il am in great
trouble 1t is about my marriage
The smile was smltten away from
the Bishops face by this announce
mcnt
Il am sorry" said Nothing Sc
rious, ! trust
told him 1t was very serious, and
STRAIGHTFORWARD | began on the spir-
itual part of my grievance-that my
husband did not love me, that he
loved another woman, that the sacred
sacrament of my marriage
Wait" said the Bishop, and ne
rose to close the window, for the
clamor Of the crows was deafening-a
trial must have been going on in the
trees Returning to his seat he said
Dear lady, you must understand
that there is one offense, and only
one. which in all Christian countries
and civilized communities is consid-
cred sufficient to constitute a real and
tangible grievance Have YOU any
evidence OF that
Trying to Be Blind,
| knew what he meant and felt
myself coloring to the roots OF my
hair. But gulping down my shame
recounted the story OF the scene
In Paris and gave report OF my
maids charges and surmises
"Humph!" said the Bishop, and
saw n a moment that he was going
to belttle my proofs,
Little or no evidence of your own
apparently. Chiefly that of your mald'
And ladies' maids are notorious ms
chiefmakers."
"But il is true" said MY hus-
band viii not deny &C. He can not
so far as ! am able to observe
what passes In the world, said the
Bishop, men in such circumstances
always can and do deny II.
felt my hands growing moist ul-
der my gloves. thought the blshop
was trying to be blind to what ne
old not wish to see. ,..
| said,
well, assuming you are right.
what Is H. dear lady, that YOU Wish
me to do?''
For some minutes | felt like fool,
but | stammered out at length that
/ had come for his direction and TO
learn what relief the church could
give me.
'Hml' said the bishop, and then
crossing one leg over the other, and
fumbnng the silver buckle of his shoe,
he said
THE church, dear lady, does indeed
provide alienation is cases or are
necessity Ii provides the relief or
separation-a always deploring the ne
cesslty and hoping for ultimate rec
onciliation. But To sanction the sep
because pardon me, | do not say
this is your case-she finds that he
does not please her. or because
again do not say this is your case
she fancies that somebody else pleases
her better.
"Monsignor." l said, feeling hot and
dizzy, I'VE need not discuss separa
ton. | am thinking OF something
much more serious"
Never shall | forget the expression
of the bishops face Tie looked
aghast
My good lady, surely You are not
thinking Of divorce"
/ think my head must have dropped
as in silent assent, for in peremp-
tory and Condemnatory manner the
bishop took me to task, asking II !
did not know that the catholic
Church did not recognize divorce
under any circumstances. and II
had forgotten what the Holy Father
himself pointing up 70 the poTtraiO
had said TO me--that when ! entered
into the solemn contract Of holy mat
rmony | was to do SO in the full con
seriousness that il could not be broken
but by death
The love in which husband and
wife contract TO hold each other in
holy wedluch is typitied by the love
OF Christ for His church, and as the
one can never be broken, neither can
the other
But my husband does not love me,
/ said Neither do | love him. and
therefore the contract between MS is
broken already
The bishop was very severe with
me FOR this. telling me that as a good
child OF the church | must never,
never say that again, for though mar
riage was contract, il differed from
all other contracts whatsoever.
When you married your husband,
dear lady YOU were bound To him not
~ year act alone, hat nN a mysteri-
Gus power from which neither Of you
can ever free yourself The power
that united YOU was God, and whom
God has Joined together no man may
put asunder'
1t Was Cruel.
felt my hand dropping The bishop