Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-08-30
A WOMAN OBSESSED
BY CAROLYN BEECHER
CHAPTER LXXVU

a s a remembrance came prcking back
y Muriel closed her eyes and the slow
hot tears scalded her cheeks. Bruces
pleadings her mothers warnings, had not
made her see herself, her faults, as had the
gossip of two ignorant old servants. They
were sorry for Bruce because he had married
her She pressed her hands against her
heart as she struggled with her shame and
grief.
She must never let Bruce know she had
heard their chatter. He must never find out
she knew about Lulu Hammond. AS in the
light of her awakening she lived over the
years she had spent with Bruce, they ac-
cused her of sin--sin against the man she
loved.
Yet they were right. She had been "sel-
fish fool' as Martha had called her. If Lulu
Hammond was to Bruce what people thought
it was too late-for Bruce must love her;
dear high principled Bruce. Martha had said
"a woman has to give up her own notions
and be a kind of companion to a man If
she's going to keep him." God knew she
had wanted to keep him, how desperately
He only did know But because she had
tried in selfish way she had lost him.
II wish you would send for June. Bruce,
she said as he sat beside her. He begged her
to have her mother, but she had refused.
"The very thing" he returned "She will
do you all sorts of good. I'll wire at once"
mo, telephone. l want her at once"
Wondering, he obeyed
"She will entertain him and keep him
home until l get around, until L know what
do to-" she said to herself as she listened to
what he said.
She'll come tomorrow" Bruce told her
as he hung up the receiver Now is there
anything more I can do?"
Yes, IL you feel you can, Bruce. Stay
with me tonight lift it isn't asking too
much" Her humility astonished him. Was
oh hon ho thought
"Of course I'll stay" His answer was SO
whole hearted she could scarcely keep the
tears back. Then he set himself to enter
tain her. new feeling of pity stirring his
heart. Poor Muriel, she was having a hard
time.
He read until he feared he would tire her,
then sat and talked while
You must take June out a little, Bruce
She Is almost young lady now and we don't
want her to be bored. She will like to play
tennis, too
ooh, I'll look out for her" His wonder
was growing. Muriel must surely be worse;
perhaps she was going to die. He had heard
of people changing before they passed away.
You will forgive me if l haven't always
made you happy, won't you, Bruce? I've
been thinking of lot of things all the time
have been lying here and [ guess I've been
-awfully foolish about some of them. You
see things differently when you are weak
but guess I haven't made you very hap
py."
She's thinking OF the days 1 talked so
brutally to her." Bruce thought.
"Of course 1 forgive you, Muriel," was
what he replied, and you must forgive me
fl have given way to my anger and hurt
you"
Now l guess can sleep. II you were go.
g-anywhere-"
mo, I'm not going out. I'll sit here
while longer then go down stairs and read.
Call me if you need me-"
After while he stole out of the room,
thinking she was asleep. He told Martha to
listen and keep close watch on Muriel, then
went to the corner and telephoned the doc
tor, quite sure she was worse and almost
persuaded she was going to die.
Asking me to send for June when she
never liked to have her around" he smut
tered And the way she asked me to stay
with her. She asked me to forgive her too.
And she hasn't once told me she loved me,
) not once since she's been sick. It's been
relief but it isn't like her. l wish she would
let me send for her mother"
Murie had absolutely refused to have her
mother Too we'll she knew she could not
hide from her what she had learned about
Bruce. Those keen eyes bad plumbed her
selfshness and she had warned her she
would lose Bruce. And no one, not even her
mother, should ever know that she knew
she had lost him. She would keep him away
from that Hammond girl by June's presence
until she was we'll Then she would try
desperate to win him back.
"Oh, God help me! I've been punished
enough" she moaned and prayed. 1--WE
made him suffer too-Martha said II
hadn't he wouldn't have thought of any
one else. It's 1 who am to blame not Bruce.
Even if what Martha said true 1 drove
him to it. She said did"
When June came Muriel said: "You must
keep Bruce entertained June, until / get
we'll. 1t has been stupid for him." And June,
wondering, said she would. tt
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