Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-03-22
A WOMAN OBSESSED
BY CAROLYN BEECHER

what has gone De1Ore.-BruCG COH-
ways wealthy father cuts him off be-
cause of his elopement with Muriel Dan
gerfield before finishing college. The
young couple set up Housekeeping IN
Westield. Muriel not only is poor
housewife but is intensely jealous and .
unsympathetic with the light-hearted ma
ture of her husband. She finds letter
addressed in feminine handwriting to
Bruce. She opens it. tinds.i is from his
fathers old housekeeper urging Bruce to
see his father, who is i'll, and win back
his love. Muriel destroys it. Murel be-
comes very moody and insulting to
Bruce's friends. She loses her appetite
and the worried husband wires for her
mother to come.-NOw go on with the
story.
~ FRS DANGERFIELD had written she
! M would come and on what train. Bruce
AS met her and as the kindly, sensible
woman kissed him, he said:
I'm so glad you came, mother" 1t was
the first time he had called her by that name
and she was delighted, answering:
II was glad to come, my son. How is
Mure?"
Gust the same. The doctor says there's
nothing wrong, except she hasn't any appe-
tite. I want her to have a maid, but so far
she hasn't found one to suit her. He said
nothing of the bad cooking. Mrs. Dapgerfield
would find that out for herself.
Muriel was really glad to see her mother
and when Bruce left them together, he went
to the office whistling. What nice woman
she was. He was glad he had called her
mother" 1t pleased her. He didn't remem-
Der his own mother, but mothers were rather
Jolly things to have.
It had been nearly dinner time when she
came so he hurried right back. If he was
late even ten minutes, it upset Muriel.
Mrs Dangerfeld had been unpacking, so
had not offered to assist with the dinner. In
the morning she would get up and help Muriei
with the breakfast. The chops were burned
as usual, the vegetable underdone or watery,
the pudding heavy.
"No wonder you can't eat, Muriel," she
said Haven't You learned anything about
cooking YETI"
at do the best I can"
'Well, Bruce is right. You must have a
smart young maid who can cook and also
look after you Well hunt one the first
thing"
81 won't have young woman in the house.
mother, so you may as we'll understand it."
Her mother looked at her in amazement
But Muriel, a young girl is so much more
apt to be willing to do anything that's need
ed than an older person." Then seeing the
look on her daughters face, added: but you
must have someone, even if she is as Old as
Methuselah."
Before the first dinner was finished Mrs.
Dangerfield knew there was something wrong.
Neither MurieI Bruce was as happy as
she had hoped. Bruce acted as if under a
strain and Muriel seemed inclined to resent
everything he said, unless it were addressed
to her or in praise of her.
After two three days she was convinced
of trouble, yet just what it was she couldnt
quite make out. Bruce uttered no word OF
complaint When she tried to sound Mur1el
she refused to talk.
The third day after her arrival Bruce said
at dinner:
Now that mother is here to keep you COM
pany I told the boys I'd come down tonight.
He had scarcely left her side since he knew
they were to have child He had been ten
der patient, loving.
81 don't want you to go and leave me.
But, Muriel," said Mrs. Dangerfeld said,
you mustn't be selfish, dear, Bruce needs
little recreation Why object as long as you
won't be alone?"
81 do object, mother"
"All right, dear, I'll stay Suppose we play
three-handed bridge?" Bruce said lightly
then after moment hurried to the telephone,
Mrs. DangerfeId noticed that Muriel listen
ed intently.
Hello, Mason!" Bruce called. 81 won't
/ be able to join you fellows ton1ghtIyes; m
What could that hard, angry look on Mu-
rels face mean? Mrs. Dangerfeld wondered
Could this Mason, the man to whom Bruce
was telephoning" be an undesirable compan-
ion? Bruce was dreadfully young, so boylsh
that he might easily be led astray. Yet he
seemed to have such good principles, was so
open in all he said and did. Save for the
matter of the elopement-and might not Mu-
riel have been as much to blame for that as
ihe-she had seen nothing in his conduct to
find fault with He had worked hard, done
we'll. He had told her of his raise, OF the
kindness of his superiors.
She made Muriel go into the living room
with him while she cleared away the dinner
things. 1t had been a good dinner she had
cooked it. AS yet no maid had been engaged
tMuriel objected to all who had applied.
AS she crossed the hall to join them she
heard Muriel say:
when my baby comes you won't want 10
go out
Bruce made no answer and hearing Mrs
Dangerfeld, rose in his usual polite manner
drew up chair for her, and set UP the caro-
table. But she had seen his lace, the ioo@
of disbursement.
81 must do something-I can't let her ruin
both their lives" the mother thought They
had a pleasant evening. Muriel seemed for
once to exert herself to be pleasant until just
before they separated for the night. Then a
question about Bruce'S father brought again
! that look the mother could not understand.
'Have you heard from your father, Bruce!
! Mrs. Dangerfeld had asked
| mo, and am anxious. I wrote him | was
making good, that I didn't mind bit not
! having the money, but that I'loved him and
wanted to be friends"
when did you write?'
"OnIy few days ago--after my last raise.
! He's an awful good scout. I must have hurt
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