Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-12-05
CHAPTER Nv
Growing Mistrust

tn He days went by slowly and I found
myself under terrific nerve strain.
Every morning I awoke with the hope
that Norman would say something to me,
that there would be a break OF some kind In
the situation between us, but he never men.
toned Alices name and in spite Of myself.
I anguished over it.
I imagined ell kinds of things. Was he
seeing Alice perhaps at times during the day
when he away from me? Wasn't she per-
haps meeting him at lunch time, or for aft
ernoon tea? The thought was agony and T
began to think Of Hilton as a trap to hold me
to the routine of my life. If he had talked
Of her naturally, as he talked of our other
friends I should have lost my suspicion, but
his persistent silence and my own resolution
not to appear jealous and prying made the
situation almost intolerable.
Alice had the advantage of me In so many
ways. For one thing, there was her work.
A woman who gets out into the world and
completes with men seems to have a certain
advantage over the wife who does nothing
that is, if she keeps her feminine charm in
addition to drawing her salary.
Alice did fashion articles for one of the
| big dailles, and made very good money at 1t.
She kept place in town, studio of sorts,
where she had her typewriter and did most
of her work, and this enabled her to serve
[ tea to her friends without putting them to
the trouble of coming out to Hilton, In
fancy L saw Norman there lolling in one Of
her chairs and in my minds eye I could see
Allces little smile OF triumph at the conquest
she had made, and at what she would, of
course consider my stupidity and Ignorance
of the situation.
Before was married there had been more
or less intimacy between Alice and myself
and in those days she had often said that she
considered the average married woman's life
very dull and uninspirng.
T
Keep on with my work I think that every
woman should have something to occupv
her mind outside of her life with her hus-
| band"
L had vaguely agreed, although 7 knew
| even then, that when the time came for ma
| 70 marry, should proceed in the old order OF
| things. l had never been brought I'm IN do
| anything, and Edith, my sister, was being
| educated in the same way 1t isn't every man
| VINO IS willing for his wife to divide her time
| between career and her home. AS for Nor
man, was sure, although we had never dis
| cussed the subject, that he preferred the old.
| lasnloned type of woman for a wife even
| though he might like to play with the affec-
| tlons or woman who was thoroughly indie.
| pendent
All TINS time, although there had existed
an invisible barrier between us, I had made
| an effort to be natural and sweet and tn
| treat MIN as ii nothing had happened TT r
| burned with anxiety he knew nothing of IT,
put was sure that / couldn't go on much
longer and that the breaking point must
come sooner or later. I must get at the true
STATE OF Norman's feelings. I must know
whether or not he was seeing Alice secretly.
L. ~ seemed TO me that I could bear anything
put thls continued suspense, even the knowl-
cage that Norman was deceiving me.
since the country club dance Alice had not
oeen TO the house and when 1 dropped in
on ruth or Margaret they studiousIv avoided
mentioning III her name. Several times tried
~ ling her INTO the conversation and in
each instance I had been sidetracked All
thls added to my suspicion, and had grown
10 oeheVe that both Ruth and Margaret knew
more more ABOUT the situation than they were
willing to tell me- w
(Next-suspicion Realized)
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