Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-07-14
A WOMAN O b, ); j !; { :;ji:'is
BY CAROLYN BEECHER
CHAPTER iIVH

| though l can't pretend to understand it."
"And she calls it love-" he added to HIM
self.
! 81 had not meant 20 tell you, father. She
loves to the exclusion of all else, every
other thought. Goodness knows why, l don't
but she suffers terribly and becomes ill., l
| try honestly to be all to her | should, all
| | can. But you see I can't satisfy her with
out giving up everything in life and living
like a hermit. She wants no companions,
| no friends She will not have them because
| she wants only me. She has SO many good
points, father, might be very happy. l
| give in all l can but at times / get angry
| Then she is i'll. Don't let's talk about it any
more. I'm sorry you know, and please don't
| worry. We all have to fight our battles
you know, and being loved shouldn't make
mine hard"
Mr. Conway made no reply as he went
over some business connected with his gift.
But long after Bruce had gone upstairs in
response to repeated calls from Muriel he sat
in the library his face sad. often muttering:
MY poor boy--poor, mistaken girl. What
will be the outcome, how will it end?'
When they left the next morning Bruce
babe both his father and Mrs. Flack an af
fectionate farewell. Muriel simply shook
hands, although MIR Conway pretended not
to notice and kissed her cheek.
On the train she rehashed the whole mat
ter pleading, weeping, as she painted
picture Of home in the country 1t was
a picture that held appeal for Bruce.
She had hurt him cruelty by her treatment
of his father, especially her refusal to show
any gratitude for his generous gift.
1t hard to realize 1t meant nothing
to her, yet knowing her as he did he knew
she was honest in declaring it did not. There
was no pretense in her and no tact. She
| ;oIA
to please his father. Bruce's thoughts were
very bitter as they neared home. He almost
hated the pale, serious woman beside him.
In the days that followed Bruce changed
his tactics. He tried to laugh Muriel out of
her frame of mind instead of arguing with
her. But his wel-meant ridicule only added
to her stubborn reiteration that there was
only one way to be happy-to be all alone
together.
Away from the maddening crowd" he
Iaughingly retorted But no smile came to
her face.
And life crawled on, bad nerves. head
aches tears. He dragged her out occasional
ly by saying he would go without her If she
didn't come But heavyhearted he sat
through the play tempting dinner at
the gayest restaurant in town, trying vainly
to interest her in her surroundings and the
people who greeted him. But the food was
DO''N' N0" -
tasted hers
Muriel tried to overcome her inertia, to
show interest, but she had so hypnotized
herself with her Obsession that it seemed
impossible. 1t was but pitiful, halfheart-
ed effort and Bruce through it.
Il do everything | know how, Muriel, to
make you have pleasant time. We can
now afford these evenings that take us out
of the rut of our eternal after-dinner seances
at home, where you spend so much time
cultivating gloom. | hoped I could wake
you up and help you find some enjoyment
in life. 1t isn't fair, Murie for you to act
all the time If you were being punished
1t isn't fair to me"
I'm sorry; 1 do the best I can. You know
I hate it all and that | only come to please
you"
But Murel, can't you see you're making
us both wretched and spelling all the good
our new fortune might bring us by acting
this way? We might have such jolly times
entertaining and accepting invitations instead
of always refusing them
Cant you see," she retorted, that you are
running my life, my happiness, when you
might make the hapLiest woman in the
world? And only by giving me what [ have
a right to ask"
Yet often after they reached home he woult
yield to a sudden impulse, desire to have
things grow better and draw her into his
arms and say:
I'm sorry l lose my temper, dear. 1 try
not to. I'll try bit harder"
And on his breast she would cry bit tell
him she loved him so dearly and that it
broke her heart that he wouldn't do as she
wanted him to-get that little home in the
country.
The bitter injustice of it all cut into
Bruce's very soul. In all their married life
never had she considered his wishes if in
any way opposed to her almost insane idea
of what she owed him because Of her great
love. He had been humiliated saddened,
angered, and yet she held to her views; held
unswerVingly. At times he felt as if life
held no future for him, that already it lay
about him in fragments And he was not
able to piece them together again into any
semblance of beauty.
He felt he was losing his love for Muriel
and desperately tried to hold to what was
left. But gradually her plea of love for him
lost it's SAVIOR. He almost wished she would
cease to care, to talk about it. He could not
feel any response.
Continued Tuesday. Renew your sub
scriptiOn now not to miss chapter |
of this splendid story.
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