Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-29
A WOMAN OBSESSED
BY CAROLYN BEECHER

~ RUCE realized Muriel was not satisfied
= with the explanation about Lulu Ham
mond, and 1t worried him. There was
no telling what she would do il her suspi-
cions were once aroused. So he tried to
forget his indignation Of the past few days
and to get her mind off an incident that he
dared not confess-not that there had been
anything wrong, but Muriel wasn't sporting.
Again he had been mortified by an action
of Muriel's Mrs. Longworth and Elizabeth
had called to inquire after her and she had
refused to see them. They had left cards
and expressions of sympathy, then had met
her in the street several hours later. With
out intending to Muriel had admitted this,
but only after Martha had mentioned the
two 'lovely ladies" who called. Muriel had
already said she met them while shopping,
She said it sneeringly She belittled Eliza
beth's beauty, saying she could not see~how
he could call her lovely. .
st must go it alone, regardless of her!"
he said to himself through clenched teeth,
'even if I have to make some sort OF an
explanation to LOngworth." But to Muriel
he made no reply and she fatuously believed
that because he did not he was beginning to
see she was right-that their happiness
meant eliminating all outsiders from their
lives.
Yet she did not forget the black-haired
girl--as Bruce had hoped she would. She
took out the envelope in WHICH she had
hidden the long bit of evidence and tried to
recoIlect the exactNshade of the hair coiled
on the head of the girl she had met coming
out of the store 1t seemed to her she saw
the same glossy blackness. Her mouth was
set in hard unlovely line when she
placed the hair and once more hid it away.
She would find out who that woman was,
find out in spite of Bruce.
HE wouldn't lie to me-" she said, know
ing his hatred of deceit, his habit of truth
fulness even when it meant disagreeable
moments for himself But where did that
hair come from? How could it get on his
coat?
Who was that girl?
Bruce had been showing house very near
the quarter where Lulu lived. He had won
dered If he would see her and could not
quite understand his desire to talk with her
again.
He glanced over at the quarter, but saw
nothing of her, and rather reluctantly turned
his steps away from the vicinity He had
gone but little way when he saw her COM
ing toward him on her way home
"Oh, it's you'll" she said, 81 thought I
never was going to see you again"
81 thought the same about you" he re-
turned with his boyish smile, a smile not so
often on his lips as formerly.
It's your fault!'' was the saucy answer,
her black eyes raised to his
- "Well, here we are! And it's lunch time.
Where shall we go?"
perhaps you ought not go anywhere with
me. l saw your wife the other day and she
gave me the once over for fair
HYou saw-Mrs. Conway" Muriels ques
lions about Lulu flashed into his mind.
Eyes, and believe me, she'll know me next
time she sees me. Shall we go to that same
little restaurant where we had dinner?"
'Yes-I-that will be all right" He
would have withdrawn the invitation if he
decently could So Muriel had remembered
Lulu, had stared at her; then had ques-
toned him.
"Ill have to watch my STEP" he said to
himself as he followed Lulu. 'If she ever
finds out 1 know her-the Lord help me-"
With the thought came a sense of shame, not
for what he had done or was doing except
for the deceit, but that Muriel made it nee
essary for him to be a sneak, to be afraid
to tell her because of her attitude toward
him.
Lulu was clever. realized he was distract
and quickly surmised that the cause was
what she had told him about meeting his
wife. She talked brightly if slangishly, took
him out of himself and soon he was laughing
gayly, youthfully.
Hours up" He looked at his watch.
II never take more than an hour for lunch
con even when with charming lady. When
I'm alone fifteen minutes does me-"
do you often lunch with charming Ia
dies?'" Lulu asked, a shadow On her face.
Bruce Conway, with his unspoiled boyish-
ness had been revelation to her. His un
failing courtesy had won the hardened girls
affections
ITO tell the truth, you are the only lady
who has honored me since came to VEST
field"
happy light came into her eyes, and she
lowered them so he shouldn't see. She was
clever enough to know that any show of love,
anything of the sort, would brighten Bruce
away.
II guess 1 should be proud if that's the
case" she remarked as they rose from the
table. well, so long! I suppose it'll be
weeks again before 1 see you" longing
he did not detect was in her voice.
"Oh I guess not. Well run across each
other occasionally. Thank you for lunching
with me-
HE thanked meme" she said aloud as
she walked in the opposite direction to that
taken by Bruce.