Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-12-02

who at time wanted to marry ner- u
Joan tries to make Norman jealous and z
fails because he is too sure of her. a
Weakness
CHAPTER XIV
G<YYT ELL, did you have good timer"
wv Normans voice behind me broke
in upon my thoughts as stood
befre my dressing table brushing my hair.
I was undressed and slipped into rose
cOlOred negligee, but he was still in his eve
ming clothes, and he threw himself into an
easy chair, and lighted a cigarette.
1 Immediately put down my brush and
curled up on the couch at the foot of my
bed.
"I think I'll smoke" said, ignoring his
question. will you light one for me like a
good boy?"
He looked at me in surprise L rarely If
ever smoked but 1 knew that Alice smoked
necessarily. She used long jade holder, and
was an adept at blowing smoke rings. 1t
was fascinating to watch her tilt her head
back and narrow her eyes, and had sudden
impulse to try the thing myself.
You don't want to smoke" Norman said
quickly. II hate to see your type of woman
with a cigarette between her fingers
L threw back my head and laughed mer-
rily. "Why, Norman, I never knew you were
so od-fashioned All my friends smoke, Mar
garet and Ruth always have a cigarette
after dinner in the evening, and as for Alice,
know what you mean by my type of woman"
You're simply not the type to enjoy that
kind of thing" he persisted. when you
smoke it looks as if you were simply aping
fad"
us it because I'm the typical wfe?". I
asked mockingly. For the life of me / could
not keep the bitterness out of my voice.
He rose instantly and came over to the
couch. Seating himself on the edge of it,
he gathered my hands in his and forced me
fo OOIr I,
being the typical wife?" he asked very Sc
riously. But 1 refused to be serious
Not if [ were married to a typical hus-
band" [ returned lightly. l did not with
draw my hands lest he think that 1 was re-
sentful for anything that had happened that
evening, but neither did l respond to their
pressure. [ simply let them rest passively in
his, and he put them down after moment,
rose to his feet and strolled over to the win
dow.
There was a long moment of silence, and
lay watching him. forcing myself to remain
where l was. How l wanted to go to him,
to feel his arms tight around me, but I must
not yield, could not be so pitiably weak"
Finally he turned around. IT guess you're
right" he said, slowly. I'm not very
good husband. 1t came to me tonight when
1 saw you with Herbert Livingston: he would
have made you happy"
My heart leaped. Was he jealous of Her.
| bert after all? Had l succeeded in rousing
the possessive instinct in him? But his next
words dashed my hopes to the ground.
Good old Herbert!' he said, a satisfied
smile crossing his face. HE might make
good husband, but think he'd bore you to
death, Joan. It's just as wei! you didn't try
it. Herbert will never set the world on fire
with his charm, will he? I'll wager you were
bored to death with him tonight. Come on
now, tell the truth"
I sat up quickly. "Of course I wasn't
bored with him" I returned Indignantly
Herbert is the kndest man / know and
the most considerate You are not fair to
him, Norman; he's not nearly as stupid as
you think"
| But you'd rather be married to me
wouldn't your" he said, coming over to me
| swiftly and gathering me up in his arms.
| The shock of it rendered me suddenly weak.
forgot the fact that there had been no
mention of Alice, no attempt to explain his
behavior of that evening. I forgot every
thing but the fact that l loved him and in
voluntarily my arms went up around his
neck.
Next-GrOwing Mistrust