Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-03-13
A WOMAN OBSESSED
BY CAROLYN BEECHER

BY CAROLYN BEECHER
What has gone befOre-Bruce Con-
way careless, happy-go-lucky son of
a rich man, elopes with Muriel Danger
field during his last year at college.
Bruce confidently expects his father to
find him position, but the latter, on
hearing the news, writes letter. telling
him he does not wish to see the young
couple, sending his son his allowance for
two months. They go to the brides home,
and Muriels father gets Bruce position
in nearby city. Muriels younger sister,
June insists that Bruce is too good for
his shallow and jealous bride. Now go on
with the story.
CHAPTER "
~ RUCE found a small house on the out
X skirts of Westfield. After using most
49, of the check his father had given him
to buy the most needed furniture, he and Mu-
riel took possession. Muriel was very neat,
kept the house in perfect order, but could not
cook. At home she made such a fuss when
sent into the kitchen that her mother had al
lowed her to do her share of the household
duties by caring for the living rooms and
chambers and, they could not afford a
servant, doing the cooking herself.
But what man as much in love as was
Bruce cares at first that his steak is burned,
his vegetables underdone? SO everything
good one, with prospects if he made good.
Bruce fretted over the break with his
father, and often spoke of the poor lonesome
beggar." This always brought a frown to
Muriel's face which he didn't notice. If he
had, he would not have guessed the cause
One night he spoke of the date, "the COVER
nor's birthday he said, then went on telling
of his fathers goodness, his chumminess with
him when he was little fellow, and how he
had always "come up to the scratch when
he got into boyish scrapes at college.
Finally Murel could stand it no longer. She
fared out:
81 do wish you would stop talking about
him! [ believe you love him better than you
do me! I don't talk about my father. I'm
satisfied with just you-I don't want any one
else"
"Why-Muriel-I- he stopped "You
know L love you, dearest, but L love father,
too"
'I give you all my love, and I want all of
yours. You can't love me as I want you to
and keep talking about him, loving him, all
the time
After this outburst Bruce seldom spoke of
his father But his silence hurt. His was
confidential, sociable nature. He liked to
talk things over. But if it hurt Muriel-why
he could keep still. He would. He mustn't
do anything to hurt his darling.
Even with Murel's little income of $50
month, it was hard to make ends meet. She
knew as little of marketing as she did of
cooking, and their bills seemed enormous con-
sidering what they had. Bruce spoke of it:
We'll have to cut them down some way
L.
We've used every cent, and if the governor
hadn't sent me all my old clothes, 1 should
have had to buy suit. You haven't had any
clothes, either"
81 don't care as long as l have you"
"But you must care, dear. Wei want to go
out now that [ am acquainted in the office
Some dandy fellows they are, too, and | want
to join the tennis club-wives play free
But don't want to play tennis and [ don't
want to go out. am happy just here alone
with you
I'm happy with you, too Muriel but we
are young. We can live but once" he said
with his engaging smile Lets not settle
down into couple of old stogers before we've
commenced to live. 1 promised the fellows
I'd join.
"But you can tell them you've changed your
mind, that you don't want to join the club"
but I do And I've given my word
They took my name this afternoon
Murlel said no more, but when she called
him to dinner he saw she had been crying. He
felt impatient with her for the first time.
Does she expect me to give up everybody
and everything just because I'm married." he
asked himself as he put soggy potato on his
plate.
But as usual he was contrite, not for what
he had done, but because he had made her I'M
happy So he told her a couple of amusing
stories one of the men in the office had told
him. She failed to see the humor Of them
and they fell fiat, although he and the others
had laughed uproariously when they heard
hem.
They spent the evening reading aloud to
each other and playing rum This they had
done every night almost without exception
since they came to Westield. Even with one
you love 1t is bOresome never to have a
change, especially to healthy young animal
like Bruce Conway, who had lived an active
life and had been devoted to athletics
"MurieI, I can't eat this stuff" Bruce said
as he pushed away the plate on which was a
piece Of blackened steak. Cant you cook
things without burning them?"
II do the best I can. / told you I didn't
know how to cook"
We'll we'll both be sick If we eat such
trash" His tone was inpatient Cant you
learn to cook? Aren't there books and things
that tell You how? Get your buds and
We'll go to restaurant and get something
We can eat
She rose at once and went upstairs. After