Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-27

d
down, down to the filth he lives in
himself. and your very soul Is con-
taminated. Is that what the church
asks OF your"
answered no, and tried to tell him
what the Bishop had told me about
separation, but he interrupted me with
shout.
Separation? Did he say that? II
the church has no right to divorce
you, what right has II to separate
your. = Oh, see what it win say
hope of reconciliation. But If you
were separated from your husband,
would you ever go back to him? Never
in this world Then what would your
separation be? Only divorce under
another name"
/ was utterly shaken. Perhaps
wanted to believe what Martin was
saying; perhaps I did not know
enough to answer him, but l could
not help 1t If thought Martins clear
mind was making dust and ashes Of
everything that Father Dan and the
Bishop had said to me.
Then what can / dor" / asked.
/ thought his face quivered at that
question. He got up again and stood
before me for a moment without
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vious effort:
IF your church will not allow you
to divorce your husband, and If you
and can not marry without that,
then"
"Yes?"
II didn't mean to propose 1t :
God knows didn't. but when a wom-
an when a woman has been
forced into a loveless marriage, and it
Is crushing the very soul out of her,
and the iron law Of her church will
not permit her to- escape from It.,
what crime does she commit If she
80
"well?" I asked, though I saw what
he was going to say.
Mary" he said, breathing hard and
fast, you must come to me-"
made sudden cry, though tried
not to.
"oh, know, he said. Its not
what we could wish. But wen be
open about it. Well face it out. Why
shouldn't we? shall, anyway. And
IL your father and the Bishop say
anything to me I'll tell them what
think of the abominable marriage
they forced you into. AS for you, dear
1 know you'll have to bear something
All the conventional canting hypocri-
sies!f Every man who has bought his
wife, and every woman who has sold
herself into concubinage-there are
thousands and thousands of them all
the world over, and they'll try
Perhaps they'll try but let them
try. If they want to trample the life
out of you they'll have to walk over
me first-yes. by God, they Wilt"
But Martin"
'Well?"
do you mean that am
- to to live with you with
out marriage?"
No More to Say.
Its the only thing possible. isn't
it?" he said. And then he tried to
show me that love was everything,
and If people loved each other moth
ing else mattered-religious ceremo-
MES were nothing, the morality of So
ciety was nothing, the world and its
back biting was nothing.
The great moment had come for me
at last, and though l felt torn be-
tween love and pity, had to face it..
Martin, / / can't do It,"
l said.
He looked steadfastly into my face
for a moment, but ! dare not look
back, for knew he was suffering.
You think 1t would be wrong?"
yes"
"A SIM"
tried to say Yes again, but my
reply died in my throat.
There was another moment Of 81
lence and then, In faltering voice
that nearly broke me down, he said:
I'm that case. there is nothing more
to say. There isn't, is
there?"
made an effort to speak, but my
voice would not come.
Il thought as there was