Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-06-05
Carolyn
BeeCher
ONE WOMAN'S
STORY

, love would both follow and endure aLleT
marriage more often If we weren't so
misguided as to try to ape our more
prosperous acquaintances.
AS we were discussing some tribe con-
nected with my visit the door bell rang
and Matilda called Robert.
who was it'll asked when he re-
turned, a frown contracting his fore
head.
1T was business he responded.
But can't you tell me who 1t was?'
[ asked peevishly.
Peter Lawson he replied, then rose,
fingered moment az if undecided
whether to go or stay: slowly Lighted
his cigar, then with compressed lips
went down the steps and out into the
warm spring sunshine. 1 knew he had
been about 70 say something, and had
changed his mind. 7 wished he wasn't
so secretiye I would have liked 1T If
he had talked his business with me; told
me OF his clients, how much he made
from certain cases, etc. But that was
one thing he never did. He shaved at
his office with never a days vacation,
and ] knew nothing of the result of his
Shaving save that we lived a bit better,
and l had help with my work.
never ran in debt these days. Now
gave Robert all the monthly bills and
he wished I would take charge Of them,
that 1t would teach me business as we'll
as helping him, and / had told him
It was too much bother. He had never
mentioned 1t again, but often begged me
to try and keep the household expenses
down.
I had seen Tod Freeman and told him
row angry ] was, and that I had an I'M
deserved scolding from Bruce because of
=
asked him not to. I told him that under
no circum stances would 1 ever see him
alone again, and instead of becoming
angry or peeved. he only laughed and
promised not to do it again-'until next
time!"
The night before I was to leave Rob
ert proposed that We let the extra maid
go and Matilda do for him while I was
away. 7 demurred at first as I knew
how difficult it was to secure a general
maid for what we could pay. But when
he declared that if kept her he would
be unable to send me scarcely any spend
ing money, / agreed she better go.
I have heard and read that husbands
should confide their business affairs,
the amount of money they made to their
wives so that they could plan to live
within their means / was always hurt
that Robert refused to do this, yet
now know that had he 1 should have
spent more than we could afford, should
have been more extrayagant than 1 then
was. 1t depends entfTAly on the kind of
a wife a man has whether he will tell
her his business.
"Oh. dearr' I grumbled. "I don't see
why we have to be everlastingly econos
MIXING. I hate it,"
so do I hate it-for you" Robert re-
piled. And so ! shall have to work
the harder that you may not always
have to econonize."
According to you, you do nothing
but work as it Isl" / grumbled. Other
men give their families more. and aren't
away from them all the time either. /
always supposed a college man could get
along faster than a man who had no
education to speak Of, but it seems l am
wrong"
Robert might have retorted that he
supposed a girl educated in the most
expensive schools in the country could
at least manage her own home, but he
didn't When 1 spoke I was thinking of
Tim Mulhany. Mrs Mulhany had been
ailing and he had taken her away for a
change. I had missed my occasional
talks with her, more than l would have
dreamed possible. They would be back
before 1 returned and 1 felt a thrill OF
pleasure as l thought Of her tender well
come.
"You are wrong in some instances,
Margaret" Robert said quietly. But in
the end the educated man usually wins.
That Is in all ways save sometimes the
piling up of money. Frequently 1 admit
he is outdistanced in that"
whats the use of anything if one
has no money!" l peevishly queried.
There are other things which are
worth more, much more than money. A
contented mind for one thing; the re-
alzation of ones ambitions for another"
But l want to live! now 1 only
exist"
"You shall live as you want to some
day, Margaret" Robert YEARLY returned.
but 1 was not convinced.