Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-17
ByCarolyn
BeeCher
ONE WOMAN'S
STORY
CHAPTER LVI.

-
Robert about seeing him riding with
- Phyllis Lawson that day in the park
| don't know. I certainly thought often
about it, II may be that the fact of
Harper Carleton being with me kept me
silent although 1 did not consciously
admit it. Robert at this time was so
busy, was at home so little, that we
really had very little to say to each
other. Often for days at a time he would
leave Immediately after breakfast. and
only return after / had gone to bed.
We'll. that's overt" he remarked one
night as he came in to dinner.
What's over?" L asked.
The Lawson case" he replied shortly.
Did she get her divorce?" / queried,
knowing he would tell me nothing unless
1 asked.
"Of course"
WAS it heard before a referee?"
A gain l wished he would voluntarily tell
me something of this case in which he
apparently took so much interest.
YES" he answered. Please talk of
something else, Margaret. 1t isn't pleas
ant to hear the same things at home
which I am hearing all day"
Before I could give expression to the
angry reply which trembled on my lips.
Bruce, Jr., came rushing in and begged
for a romp with daddy
"All right, my boy" Robert said heart
lily. what shall we play?"
"Horsie, daddy" Bruce replied gayly,
and the fun began
1t really was ridfculousIy funny to see
Robert down on his hands and knees
with the reins under his arms caper1ng
over the floor while Bruce drove him
delightedly around the room. I laughed
with them and the angry retort was for
l., y NJ
times the tension between Robert and
me was strained almost to the breaking
point. when a quarrel seemed imminent.
one or the other of the children would
be the means of preventing it.
7 do not think I was actively unhappy
at this time, although often lonely and
miserable. 1 had my precious children,
comfortable home. and had made some
very good friends in town in spite of my
declaration that l cared for none of the
townspeople. Then, too, l had consider
able poise for one so young, and often
controlled my emotions which would
have offended Robert, as we'll as my tenn
per, which Disguised him.
At times | had tried in a futile way
to readjust circumstances over which,
In view of what had been in the past,
might have known / could not pos
sibly have control. But l was young, ro-
mantle. with my own ideas of what life
married life-should be. When i wax
ed up from my dream to find that Rob-
ert regarded me simply as a home maker
and mother for his children, ] rebelled.
was willing to be both of these things,
but / wanted to be more. l wanted to be
his cOnfidante and companion. / wanted
to go out with him; to have him remain
at home with me. In all these things /
was keenly disappointed.
IL was not my nature to be Quiescent
even under conditions seemingly beyond
my power. 1 rebelled against the condi-
lions that made my loneliness. the neg
lect. possible. In some way / felt that
society. the social conditions governing
men and women were to blame. / did
not understand the feeling which occa-
sionally overcame me. l now know IL
was the urge of what / imagined belong
ed to me by right; what ! had striven
for ever since my marriage. and what
had failed to receive.
l had kept up my friendship with
Lenore Dorian, and when she was in
town saw as much of her as posi-
BILE. She encouraged me to work with
my music, and recommended a singing
teacher from a neighboring town. Robert
made no objections when / spoke to him
Of my desire to take lessons. nor when
I told him that this teacher was expen-
sive. While | never knew what Robert
earned. | could judge of his financial
success by his ever-increasing gener-
osity.
was also becoming interested in the
woman's movement. suffrage. etc. but
not actively So Robert opposed strenu-
ously anything OF the sort.
Women aren't what they used to be-"
he would say, whenever l expressed in
hxy in g
movement. They are becoming too In
dependent losing their womanliness and
neglecting their homes"
Meaning their husbands" / once re-
piled.
Perhaps" he had answered crypt
cally.
Well you can't say I neglect your
retorted. 81 am always at home at
tending to things! I'm the one who
is neglected in this family!'
THAT is as you look at it," Robert
answered quietly, a surprised look cross
ing his face.
Strange as II may appear in view
of my discomfort. we seldom quarrelled
or said harsh things to one another. 1t
was not due to any restraint on my
part particularly. but that Robert was
always so cool so detached in his man.
ner. it was almost impossible to quarrel
with him. The more excited I became
the cooler he. and as it takes two to
disagree with any amount of satisfac-
ton to either, we seldom had any seri-
Gus differences.
Sometimes / used to wish we would
Anything rather than being ignored.
That hurt my pride.
J Cb;lJxoo R,,xnoJ -