Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-06
A WOMAN OBSESSED
BY CAROLYN BEECHER

~ RUCE bought the Chatham house and
X Muriel was surprised at the quietly eff !
- ficient way Mrs. Flack took all the
cares Of moving and settling from her. she
was not very strong yet and was grateful.
June was to stay on. Muriel had written
her mother and while Mrs. Dangerfeld
missed, June in many ways she consented
with her usual unseIfshness. June had writ
ten her fully, telling of the wonderful change
in Muriel and her mother-heart rejolced
81 told you everything would come out all
right" Mr.. Danger1eld reminded her. But
knowing more nearly how matters had been
between Muriel and Bruca she was almost
as dazed as Bruce and as a!uch ct loss to
account for the change.
Bruce had seen Lulu He explained his
wife's illness and June's visit had made it
impossible for HIM to get away. He had
been as kind as ever out Lulu was not de-
ceived
"I've lost him." she said to herself But
why? Something's happened to make him
want to keep away from me. He didn't
seem to care for gossip--What can it be-"
But Lulu was doing we'll. She had met
her Interest payments to Bruce promptly and =
her business engrossed her. She still loved
Bruce but she had other things to take her
thoughts. And she was wise enough to
make appeal to him and to let him put
their acquaintance back upon the old basis
of simple friendship and his c@SiIe 20 be of
help to her.
she had been. Released from all household
cares, she was leading on outdoor life. She
had learned to play golf and nearly every
day on the links with June and when
business allowed with Bruce. Muriel had
given house warming when they were set
tied. She had invited everyone who had
showed them any courtesies and had COM
PEELED herself to be an agreeable hostess.
She was surprised that it came 50 easy.
This now was the case in many things.
Oh bod 10 in
control of herself. Almost naturally she
fell into ways that Bruce had so long de-
sired. Al times her gayety was bit forced
but she would take herself to task and by
continually thinking how different Bruce was
would be happier each time ebe conquered
her old habits.
Now it was Bruce who felt guilty He
had always deplored the necessity of keeping
anything from Muriel-until she had made
him think and feel he couldn't confide in her
and his friendship with Lulu Hammond
worried him. Suppose some busybody should
tell Muriel of their intimacy, carried on so
openly and so long? 1t would be dreadful
shock to her, might throw her back into her
old gloomy ways. Dared he tell her himself2
He decided he would. So one night when
they were alone he began at the beginning
and without blaming her, not sparing him.
self, told of his friendship with the lovely
black-haired girl He told of that first
night when he rescued her from drowning,
Muriel asked him if he had been with her.
He told of his attentions, their evenings
spent together, and even Of the money he
had given her to go into business. When he
finished Muriel knew more than did the gos-
sips.
Can you forgive me- Muriel? Dear, you
don't know what you have saved me from
by your sweetness in the last few months.
Can you forgive me for my long deceit,
Muriel?"
Forgive him! Her heart was singing for
| joy. He was still hers, always had been.
The gossip those two old servants had re-
peated was false. What counted now those
long lonely evenings her unhappiness! Some
way she realized she never had quite be-
lieved him false. For moment she was
tempted to tell him what she had heard
what she knew before he made his confess
sion Then she shut her lips tightly. Never
should he know she had doubted him, never
hwould she tell him what had wrought the
change in her. He had recognized 1t and old
Bruce had come back to her.
II have nothing to forgive, dear, now that
i-you have told me. l was to blame for al
lowing, my desires to blind me to all else.
We together, Bruce and-happy. At
least [ hope you are happy and"
"Happier than | ever have been in my
life I think, Muriel You are very generous,
dear, to forgive me for l did deceive you,
many times. But are you happy?"
Very, Bruce Turn about face is some-
times a hard thing to do, even when one
knows it is the only thing~tha will bring
happiness. Don't let's talk about it again.
We will forget all you have told me and
start over again just being good chums-so
you won't feel the need of hiding things
from me"
"More than chums, Murel I want my
wife 10 love me as 1 love her Do you know
Murie that since your illness you have
grown young again, and I swear | believe
you are even prettier than when / married
YOU"
(THE ENID