Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-12-19
THE WIFE lCHEATER
A New Romance
BY HAZEL DEYO BACHELOR

Joan Stockbridge marries Norman
Wayne in spite Of many warnings from 4
her friends Norman is the kind of {
man who has never been known to care s
for one woman more than few weeks 4
at time, and he and Joan lave been
married only short time when Norman
becomes infatuated with Alice Wilson,
mutual friend. Joan suspects the truth
and when Margaret Hunter tets her that
every one knows it, Joan Is driven into :
making an engagement with Herbert
Livingston, an old sutton. Herbert and
Joan go to dinner but Joan discovers
that she is not tn kind of a woman to
carry on a Irritation with another man.
CHAPTER XXI
The Lie
was foolish to cry for it made my eyes
red, and although / bathed them in cold
water for nearly ten minutes, they looked
swollen and inflamed. / used some powder
and rouge and slipped into my most attrac-
tire negligee, for I was determined to wait
up for Norman, but when l heard him let
himself in with his 1atchkey had an impulse
to snap off the lights and jump into bed.
1 forced myself to sit quietly with open
book until l heard t.1 knock, and then, as
casually as 1 could, called out Come in
"Still up?" he remarked, coming across the
were you this afternoon when called up?"
eve been in town all day." l returned.
81 called up the house from the city and
Mary gave me your message
Ibid you stay in town for dinner?" he
asked, cycling me closely and speaking in
surprised tone of voice.
Eyes, l came home on the :53."
He had seated himself in one of my low
basket chairs, and was lighting a cigarette.
But the minute he had extinguished the
match and leaned back comfortably he per-
sisted in his questioning.
''WheEe were you? At your mother's?"
81 shook my head and laughed. why are
you so curious, dear? never ask questions
when you stay in town.
My heart was beating fast. Gould it be
that he cared enough to be jealous? A little
feeling of triumph surged over me and with
a squirting on Of all my energy, forgot
my headache, l forgot to be tired in the
thought that perhaps after all I had done
the right thing. If I showed Norman that
I intended to retalate he might not think 1T
worth his while to go on deceiving me.
"P1l tell you where was, if you are will
ing to do the same" continued in a teasing
tone, but my heart sank as I saw the frown
that spread suddenly over his face.
Instantly all the jealousy that had been
suppressing for days leaped up in my heart
and overflowed. l must know the truth.
couldn't stan1 the suspense any longer, but
with a tremendous effort l crushed back the
words that were rushing to my lips.
II had dinner with Herbert Livingston.
I said calmly. There's no reason why you
shouldn't know" e
TO my amazement Norman threw back his
head and laughed.
Good old Herbert, you didn't think I'd
be jealous, did you, dear?"
"Of course not. My words came out a
little tremuously. "Why should you be jeal-
GUS? And now for your confession; whom
did you take out for dinner?"
There was a moments silence, during
which my heart beat so loud that I was
sure Norman must hear it. Would he, tell
me the truth? Would he make 1t possible
for me to be happy again, for / could be-
happy even with the knowledge that he had
deceived me, If he told me the truth now.
Norman's voice broke the stiffness, and 1t
seemed to me at that moment that my heart
died within me.
"I'm sorry that I haven't anything inter-
esting to tell you / dined alone in solitary
state, and my purpose in staying in town was
merely business I,
He did not meet my eyes as he spoke,
but was busy carefully putting out his ciga-
rette. 1t seemed to me as I looked at him
that I could scream aloud, at the torture Of
that lie he had just flung into my face.
Next-"ShOwdOwn.'' .r
- = 4sis