Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-06-26
A WOMAN OBSESSED
BY CAROLYN BEECHER
CHAPTER XIX

|
| to call at the office at the noon hour He was
out No one could tell her justswhere he had
gone she would have followed him, she told
| Bruce later That same evening she came
again. He put aside his papers at once and
went with her. He could not run the risk of
more joking ait his expense. AS he went out
he caught look of something akin to pity
on the faces of one or two of the men. 1t
CALLED him and he swore under his breath
What did you say?" Muriel asked.
! "Nothing!" gruffly he replied.
Yes you did. What was it,"
~ said damn if you must know
''You never used to swear, Bruce 1t is the
bad influence of those men in the office"
"Those men. you call them had nothing
whateyersto do with it! Look here, Muriel. 1t
won't do for you to keep coming to the office.
won't have you called 'nurse-maid He
thought in this way to awaken her pride.
''It would be like them to insult lady,
was all he got for his tact. "They were awfully
short with me when asked where you had
gone this noon. They acted as if I had no right
to know, your wife!"
"a mans office is no place for woman
unless she is employed there. It is the last
place in the world for his wife. That is I'M
less she wishes to humiliate him."
After this remark he closed his lips tight
ly. He would not quarrel again. 1t took too
much out of him But they had gone but a
little distance when young Wychoff turned
the corner coming toward them. Bruce had
office and now his fingers itched to get at the
young rascal and give him good wallop. But
with Muriel at his side he could not and was
about to pass without noticing him when
Wyckoff put his finger to his nose and called
shrilly:
81 told the missus, l did, You'll get me
fired, will you, and think I won't get even!
How's the blackhaired sweetheart you lunch
with?'
Forgetful of MureI, of everything save his
wish TO punish Wyckoff, Bruce made grab
for him. But the boy slipped from under his
hand and ran nimbly out of the way.
Bruce, you shan't hurt him! l won't let
you!" Muriel cried, hanging onto his sleeve
and preventing him from pursuing the boy.
Livid, Bruce shrugged and again walked to-
ward home. He had scarcely taken in what
the boy had said except that his suspicious
had been proved right. It was Wychoff who
had told Muriel about Lulu. But now as he
walked along the insulting query came back to
him. "How's the black haired sweetheart you
lunch WITH" He glanced at Muriel. Her lips
were set in the thin, straight line he had
learned to dread, but she did not speak until
they reached home. Then she said:
"Do you love me, Bruce?"
"Of course do. Don't be silly
"Then let's leave this town at once! I can't
live where L am subjected to such insults be-
cause of your actions. [ love you so l don
care how little you earn, how simply we live,
If we can be alone"
"See, here. Murel get this thing straight.
If you hadn't come running to the office
Wyckoff would not have called you my nurse
maid or would not have lost his job. Then
when he wants revenge, although 1t was one
of the others, not who told LongwOrth, he
comes to you and you lower yourself and me
by listening to him. The damn little black
mailer"
HE isn't blackmailer! He said he thought
I ought to know. And I ought paid him out
of my own money a month wages because
he said it was through you he lost his job
NJ 1nid nnl
believe he had heard Alright perhaps you
paid him to keep you informed of my where
abOuts when I'm not asleep
Her blush showed his sarcastic remark had
truth in it, He took her roughly by the arm.
did you?" he demanded.
did WHAT"
Did you ask, encourage. that young rascal
to bring reports about me?"
"If you do nothing wrong and Intend to be
as want you to be you won't care II he does
watch you" was her non-committal answer.
F'I see! Well, I'll see that he has something
to report. never fear!" Bruce grabbed his hat
and strobe out of the house, not even hearing
Muriel's calls to came back and not leave her
alone when she loved him so much.
Almost blind with rage he unconsciously
went toward the park He dropped on a bencs
and covered his face with his hands. What Il |
life! What horrible mess he had made Of
things! How could he go on through the ysars
which stretched Unfortunately before him |
go with Muriel? 1t was more than human |
nature could sandman nature. He groaned |
aloud. Watched by that boy who was paid by |
Muriel Wyckoff was smart Il he was ras- !
cal and ; probably had taken Muriels money |
expectin= TO earn it by shadowing him and |
reporting to her instead of as reimbursement
for his lost position, lost because Of him.
Continued Thursday. Renew your subScrip- |
ton now so as not to miss chapter of this |
absorbing story.
POINTED PARAGRAPHS
Can you love your neighbor in spite of his !
spite fence?
Small talk is responsible for the use of
many big words.
Many young mans gems of thought are
mere paste.
Even wise man relishes the silly prattle
OF pretty woman.
We all have money coming, but it seldom
arrives 60 scheduled time.