Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-07-21
A WOMAN OBSESSED
BY CAROLYN BEECHER
Chapter, TX

M so than ever she had been. She was
Il Just as positive Bruce had been with
some girl or woman as when he came in from
his long evening away from her. But who
was it? Elizabeth Longworth's gay little nod
at hm-to Muriel it seemed brazenly init
mate-seemed to point to the girl he had
called "a beauty" Yet she could not dismiss
from her mind Miss Hammond, girl whose
dark loneliness would be attractive to men,
she had to admit.
Bruce again spent the evening downtown,
this time with Tom Mason and others. When
he came in he quietly spoke of where he had
been and how they had spent the evening.
Muriel compared his actions, his looks, his
lack of that elusive something she had noticed
on the previous night adm her suspicious were
confirmed.
Perhaps she had been foolish to refuse to
be friendly with the Longworths. Perhaps
she could have watched the friendship that
evidently existed between Bruce and Eliza
beth-watched and hindered. She had heard
Ann Mason praise Elizabeth Longworth heard
her talk of the girls cleverness, her many
accomplishments and her love of games men
enjoyed Then Ann had added:
Its no wonder she is popular! Beauti-
full, clever, accomplished and what Tom calls
good fellow in the bargain. I admire her
immensely. I wish | had time to do more as
she does. Tom does so enjoy having me join
him at golf and tennis
81 consider such games waste OF time,
Mural had replied
But [ don't agree with you. They
healthful, innocent pleasures. We all need
something outside of the monotony of home
and business life. / always encourage Tom to
take outdoor exercise whether l can or not"
'You are very LIBERAL
Ann called occasionally on Muriel but new
err remained long.
"she freezes me out" she laughingly told
Tom. So it was on this occasion. Ann had
gone soon after her generous praise of Eliza
heath Longworth, never dreaming she had
watered the seeds of dstrust already sprOut-
ing in Muriel's mind.
Muriel never had been impulsive, and now
she turned over and over in her mind the at
titude she would take because of her convic-
ton shat Bruce had deliberately tried to de-
ceive her. She tried to hope, she prayed she
might be mistaken, Historically asking God
not to let it be She had been good wife
always and loved Bruce dearly that 1t
wasn't just to make her suffer.
Bruce was in genial mood during the days
she watched and waited for confirmation of
her fears. Nothing seemed to irritate him.
He was so honestly glad that Lulu had at last
found something to occupy her, glad of the
lifting of the responsibility he had felt for
her, that it overlooked with his thoughts and
found expression in his manner Then, too,
Muriel seemed changed. For several days she
had refrained from annoying questions and
reiterated pleadings. He draws long sigh of
TSllGL 6aCn nlSUL WuGu Su6 quietly LOOh d
book or magazine or without too many ex-
cuses consented to accompany him to some
place of amusement.
Not the slightest hint of her suspicious or
her determined espionage came to him. Hap
PLY he argued that she surely had changed.
Perhaps they would find happiness to-
gether.
But Muriel was far from suspecting the
reason for his genial mood. She was full of
surmises, full of fear. Hardness and angry
f,,oJn bod hunt hop 1oI1o
he had beaten her she would have crept like
a dog to him and kissed his hand-if he said
he loved her. She was proud in a certain
way, but her love outweighed her pride, that
and her selfshness.
In her heart was a constant dull pain, She
told herself that never would she have relief
until she knew positively if he had deceived
her and because of whom.
When alone, brOoding, she felt pain so
nearly physical agony that she pressed her
hands against her heart and sat for hours in
the same position, struggling with her grief
Passionate feelings filled her SOUL unrestrain-
ed desires for revenge on whoever had caused
Bruce's detection and caused him to lie to her
Sometimes her good sense told her that no
man could be deceitful if possessed of Bruce's
open nature She, poor girl never dreamed
that her demands, her chickering's and her
selfish appropriation of every, moment and of
even every thought would drive the most
saintlke to hide from woman things
that would cause such unpleasant hours
had fallen to Bruce.
For month Muriel's misery went and
still she knew nothing, had done nothing to
learn the truth. What could she do? She
asked herself the question dozens of times
day. She Thought of young Wychoff-she
never had seen him since the day she had felt
the lash of Bruce's scorn because she degrad-
ed herself to use the boy spy-But she
hesitated to use him again. Should Bruce find
it out he would despise her-lose some of his
love for her And that she could not endure.
Something will happen so I shall know"
she moaned wringing her hands.
Continued Tuesday. Renew your subscrip-