Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-03-15
A WOMAN OBSESSED
BY CAROLYN BEECHER

BY CAROLIN BEECF1EN
What has gone before-Bruce Con-
way, a careless, happy-go-lucky son of
rich man, elopes with Muriel Dangerfeld
during his last year at college, Bruce
confidently expects his father to find him
a position, but the latter, on hearing the
news, writes a letter, telling him he does
not wish to see the young couple, send
ing his son his allowance for two months.
They go to the brides home, and Mu-
riel's father gets Bruce a position in a
nearby city. Muriel's younger sister,
Jane, insists that Bruce is too good for
his shallow and jealous bride. The cou-
pie begin housekeeping in Westfeld.
MurieI cannot cook we'll and Bruce flares
up finally over the sorry supper, and aft
er a quarrel leaves the house and goes to
a movie.-Now go on with the story.
CHAPTER V
" RUCE had enjoyed the picture hugely
X and laughed heartily at the comics. But
IL as he walked home he began to feel I.
twinge of self-reproach He had been selfish
A good dinner and the picture while MurIel
sat at home crying He would tell her he
was sorry he had been impatient and dis
agreeable-but-he couldn't stand the cook
ing, he just couldn't. They couldn't afford
maid not until he got raise, not then I'M
less it was a substantial one. He'd buy Mu-
riel the best cook book he could find tomor-
row-bring it home as surprise to her. she
was bright enough to follow directions.
"Hello!" he called as he entered the nall
in which dim light was burning. No an
swer came from above. "She's still feeling
badly" he muttered as he went up the stairs
two at a time. But when he switched on
the light she was sleeping. That she had
watched in the dark, dinnerless, until she saw
him coming, then jumped into bed he never
dreamed. With little sigh of thankfulness
he tiptoed around the room, then went to bed,
chuckling in the dark as he thought OF some
thing that had pleased him at the picture
show.
I'm sorry I was such a brute last night
Muriel. But 1 was hungry and that steak
was awful" he blundered.
$50 you said last night.
81 know-but let's kiss and make up" He
bent over her. Her arms went around his
neck and she said:
II love you so! Why do you hurt me?"
If he felt like saying, eff you love me, why
don't you feed me decently?" he gave no sign
but petted her until her pale face shone with
happiness.
"Yot're awful pale Muriel," he said, as
he watched her pour the coffee. He never
looked at his paper until he was in the street
car. The first week of their marriage she
had impressed upon him that she expected
his entire attention at breakfast. ''You don't
get out enough, u6dr, nave any CuduSo VI
fun We must do differently or you will be
SICK
I'm perfectly we'll and I don't want to go
out I go to market almost every day and
to the shops when I need to. I want our eve
nings together. Just we two"
but you used to be sociable. What's come
over you? I'm ashamed to keep telling the
boys [ can do this or that. I'll have to go
out with them occasionally; 1t isn't good
business for me to seem to hold aloof"
i alt, n fNITn uF q
ward he telephoned he would not be home
for dinner.
But why not? Where are you going?"
ooh, out with the boys. Go to bed, [ may
be late
"But, Bruce" she got no further. The
machine clicked as he hung up the receiver.
With tears streaming from her eyes and
convulsive sobs punctuating her broken sem
fences she started to get herself cup of tea
"He doesn't love me or he wouldn't-want
to stay out-and | love him so. I'm not
enough for him any more. I'm glad eloped
with him. l never would have got him-1f
I hadnt-and don't care how suffer IT.
better than to know he's playing around that
college town with those girls. / don't see
why he wants to go out-with the boys
when I'm here" Tears dropped into her
cup. She didn't even try to eat anything.
When he came in she'd tell him she would be
sick if he left her alone-that would keep
him home.
AS she passed through the hall she remem~
bered a letter that had come for him earlier
in the day. She picked it up. 1t looked like
a woman's writing. 1t was! What woman
could be writing to him, and why? For a
few moments she turned the letter over and
over then with quick motion she tore it
open. A wife had the right to read her hus-
bands letters
She was right 1t was from woman, from
his fathers old housekeeper who had been
with them ever since Bruce could remember.
She told him his father was ailing, grlev1ng
for him. Wouldn't he come home and stay a
week-or longer?
'If you were here she wrote, ST am sure
he would forgive you-see you-although he
won't see the woman you married. Don
bring her, it would only harden him against
you. See him alone first. Talk to him. let
him see you love him and then plan to bring
her"
"Let him see you love him" That was the
sentence Muriel read over and over, her heart
hardening she read.
'They're trying to get him away from me,
to steal his love. 1 won't let him go! l won t!
don't care about that old mans money but
he shan't steal Bruce from me. A week
let him leave me for whole week-gO back
home where he knows people-he shan't go!"
With a little jerking movement of her
shoulders she tore the letter into bits, went to
the kitchen and burned them. She was glad
he hadn't come home-glad! Better be out
with the bows than going home and giving the