Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-04
A WOMAN OBSESSED
BY CAROLYN BEECHER
CHAPTER LXXIX


- Muriel received his announcement
calmly, making no objections Suddenly size
said:
'Is Mrs. Flack still in the house?"
Eyes. You remember 1 told you she had
no other home, and I told her to stay until
disposed of it. have had a good offer and
think 1 shall let it CO..
Bring her back with you. Tell her she
can try it with us. Well keep Martha and
also get young girl to wait"
Bruce could not speak He could oily
look The metamorphosis was too great 1or
him to grasp. Had the doctor been right?
Had Muriel received shock of some kind?
Or had her illness, her weakness, brought
on by her lonely life, her refusal to eat
properly when he was absent, and her tears
and wakefulness brought on a sort of am
nesia? She had seemingly forgotten her old
ways and disikes.
"That will be fine, MuTiel,'' he said at
last. "She will be a great help to you, Ind
feel responsibility for her. She is the
only mother I ever knew until you married
me and gave me another"
He went happily on his errand, although
still puzzled After he left Muriel, locked in
her room, struggled with herself
"Can | endure it? Can l have that woman
he loves where he can see her every day?
Can I watch him show affection and not OBJ
ject? Exhausted by her emotion, she sank
into chair, making the same answer she
now did to all questions pertaining to Bruce
II will must!"
Muriel knew well that nothing she had
done, perhaps nothing she could do, would
please Bruce as much as to give her con-
sent that Mrs Flack live with them. She had
spoken impulsiVely to Bruce. She had feel
ing that he desired this thing strongly, put
would not ask it after her declaration that
Mrs. Flack never should set foot in her
house.
She was making it cruelty hard for her
self. Her punishment was almost more THAI
she could bear. Yet when few days after
ward Bruce wrote for her and Juns to come
on and help select anything they wished to
keep, as he had sold the house, she greeted
Mrs. F'lack pleasantly, and said she hoped
she had decided to come to them. -
Bruce feels he needs mother as well
as wife" she said. Bruce felt as # he
wanted to pinch himself to see if he were
really alive and hearing rightly.
II shall be very happy to come, Mrs.
Conway But we will say nothing about the
future. I'll help look after you both for a
time
You'll stay if we have to tie you,' Bruce
burst out boyishly
II think she will, Bruce. Well try to
make her happy" Muriel said, then began
talking of other things. If they only knew
could know-hoW it hurt. She didn't want
was only doing it for Bruce, because she
loved him and must win him back to his al
legiance to her, even if she did not regain
his love.
They went through the house, Bruce Sc
1ecting a few keepsakes among them his
fathers library, and some family pictures.
All the rest he left to Muriel She was to
take what she liked.
you'll have to buy a larger ho2se.
Bruce June laughingly said. "Muriel wont,
be able to find room for all The stuff she is
taking. She's even taken some of your toys,
big express wagon, and other things.
what in the world is she taking. them
for?" he asked then sobered Could it be she
was still grieving for the boy she had lost?
"She said that kid of the Masons could
have them to play with when he came over
'tWill wonders never cease?' Bruce asked
himself dazedly. But he said nothing to
Muriel.
"We1l buy that house of Chatbams," he
said later. you know it, Muriel, the one on
the corner with the big lawn and the old
trees. 1t is almost like country place it is
so detached. We can easily afford it, and
will need it now that we are to have Mrs.
Flack and another maid or two. 1t is in the
market and for less than l am getting for
this one"
"You bloated millionaires' June tcased.
II suppose your country sister will soon be
ignored"
Don't worry, June. Bruce is as fond of
you as if you were really his sister" No one
knew what such little speeches cost Muriel.
"You bet I am Bruce conceded eff
bad a sister she might not have been half
so nice" He was rapidly, almost uncon-
sciousy falling into his old honest way of
expressing himself-saying just what he
thought.
Concluded Thursday