Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-12-07
THE WIFE CHEATER
!.
A New Romance
BY HAZEL DEYO BACHELOR
CHAPTER XVI
Suspicion Realized

Suspicion keal1zed =
One morning I ran over to see Margaret
after I had done my marketing for the day.
I found her upstairs with a big basket OF
mending near her and noticed with little
shock that in the clear sunlight that hooded
the room Margaret looked little faded.
She must have noticed my searching
glance. for she flushed a little and said.
alphabetically: !,
please don't look at me too closely I've
been terribly busy this morning and haven't
had chance to look in the glass since
dressed for breakfast. -
Margaret's hair, which was her chief claim
to good looks, was screwed back from her
face in an unbecoming knot and her nose,
was gultless of powder. Norman mao never
seen me when I was not da1nt1ly dressed.
and it came to me as shock tnat perhaps
when had been married as long as Margaret,
had and had two children, L mlgnt grow
careless of my appearance.
Remember, Joan, you're still In the
honeymoon i. STAGE" Margaret continued
when you have two children ana only
one maid to do the work. 1t won't be so
easy that is, unless you have more money
than we have ever had to spend She
spoke a little bitterly as though she env1ed
my fresh appearance, but my thoughts new
suddenly to the safe reliability OF Jim, ana
felt at that moment that I would have given,
anything for the knowledge that was sure
of my husband, and that, in spite OF my UNI
attractive appearance, he loved me and only
me.
Margaret threaded her. needle while I
maintained a discreet silence. Then when she
had drawn her thread through large hole
in one of Juniors socks she looked up att
me suddenly.
''How is Norman"
Fine said quickly, instantly on my.
guard
There was another silence, and then she
remarked evenly, Joan, I suppose you
know that Alice and Norman are having
a filtration of sortss Jim told me not to tell
you, but I don't think it's fair not to have
you know
1t seemed to me as though my heart stop
ped beating for q moment. [ had been
prepared all along for the shock OF know;
ing this sooner or later, but now that the
blow had fallen I realized that I had been.
buoying myself up with the hope that it.
wasn't true. 81
tried to speak, but my lips felt stiff and
could not form the words no matter
how hard I tried. e
had one desperate moment of trying
to hold on to the shreds of my pride, and
then suddenly l was crying, and Margaret's
comforting arms were around me holding me
close.
''You poor child" she was grooming over
and over as though she were comforting one
of the children. Listen, dear; you mustn't
take it like this 1t isn't serious y
Il know, sobbed tits just the strain
of suspecting things and not knowing for
sure. Oh, I'm ashamed of myself, Margaret.
thought was SO brave, and I was sure
could manage the situation by myself
She did not answer, just held me close.
until my sobs grew less, and then when I
had stopped crying sNe went back to her
chair and took up her sewing again. Her
very calmness went far toward bringing me
back to my senses and when she began ia
speak listened in silence .'r
Let me tell you something about Norman
Joan. We all tried to tell you before you
married him, only you resented the inter-
ference. He can't resist women. In this case
it happens to be Alice, and, of course, she is
responsible for the whole thing. knew Nor
man long before you met him and / hoped
he would never marry, least of all woman
like you. But he met you, and you repre-
sented to him home and the things of life
that really matter, He wants you with all
the best there is in him, but you'll have to-
fight to hold him, and you haven't the
weapons that Alice Wilson has"
Margaret's words hurt, but / recognized
the justice of them. Even while writhed
under them mentally was gathering my
forces for the battle ahead, and 1t was my
intention to fight to the bitter end no matter
what the odds were against me.
Next-A Sudden Idea