Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-08
A WOMAN OBSESSED
BY CAROLYN BEECHER


ways wealthy father cuts him off because
of his elopement with Muriel Dangerfield
before finishing college. Muriel proves to
be not only poor housewife but intense
1y jealous and unsympathetic with the
| fun-loving nature of her husband She
endeavors to prevent a reconciliation
with his father and insults his friends.
! After, the death of their infant she be-
comes more eXacting While walking
| alone late one afternoon Bruce rescues
/ drowning woman and takes her to her
! home in none too reputable district He
says nothing about it to Muriel, fearing
it will aggravate her jealousy. Later he
! and Muriel meet the girl, Lula Ham
mOnd, on the street. They speak, arous-
ing the angry suspicion of Muriel and Of
George Downey, Lulus escort--Now go
on with the story.
CHAPTER XVIII
n r EITHER Muriel nor Bruce ever men
N toned the party. But Bruce could not
- forget and for days he was unusually
quiet. He said more about the house and
helped get ready to move in spiritless way
that worried Murel He mustn't take the at
titude that she had done something wrong
when she hadn't. She had only been annoyed
because he had not consulted her. If he had
she could have said she wished to remain
where she was.
IT will not have him intimate with those
| people, MuTlSl SS1u 10 nSTSSlI. Iney take
him away from me-" She said to him:
"You are sufficient for me. | must be for
you. Your whole duty is to me-" She had
again refused an invitation he longed to &C
cept.
DUTY be hanged want some pleasure
| in my life. l can't for the life of me-
Muriel why mixing with nice people inter
feres with what owe you, what try to give
you Let's have June down for a week, be-
fore her school commences. She will enjoy
| he of rooU ho fCr
you"
| II won't have her, so don't propose it.
can't understand why you think a child of
her age amusing and she is getting too old to
kiss you and make fuss over you as she
does"
''She looks upon me as her brother. Why
shouldn't she?"
You're not her brother! I won't have her
around with her silly actions You're my
husband. And love you and will not divide
your time with her or any one" 49,.
| VERY well, have it your own way!" In
spite of the moving and the packing to be
done, Bruce did not come home that night
but telephoned that he would remain down
town with ''the boys" He was deaf to Mu-
riePs objections.
1t was not so much that he wanted to re-
main away as that he feared they would quar-
rel if he went home His nerves were rubbed
raw. Her reception of the way he had used
his check, her refusal to entertain his friends
on his birthday still ranked. He had to keep
a firm hold upon himself. He had to keep
| from recriminations that he knew from ex-
perience did no good, but otter precipitated
quarrel.
perhaps she will get interested, In fixing
up the new place and be different he tried to
encourage himself, but without much hope:
Ann Mason had sent her some wine jelly
the day after the party. She had taken it at
once to the kitchen and given it to Martha,
saying it was not to appear on the table
She's consistent" Bruce said sarcastically
to himself He could not understand her dis
like for gay, companionabIe Ann, who was
a devoted wife and mother; or for the wives
of the other men he knew who had tried so
! hard to be friendly.
"Ill have to live nay own life," he solilo-
quized, land let her lead hers. Nice out
look!'
A dangerous one for man of his age and
disposition
They had moved, the new rug was on the
floor and the photograph in place. Bruce
would have liked to give a house-warming,
but he said nothing about it. He was rather
proud of the homelike place after they were
settled. Muriel had good taste and the
dainty curtains, the chintz pillows matching
the over-drapes, the new lamp shades-all
things she had made-delighted him.
AS she sewed Muriel said:
LII make it as attractive I can, then
he'll like to stay home" She spent her own
money, too, adding little touches here and
there. Bruce had not allowed her to spend
! the providing. He had even objected to her
using it for the few clothes she bought
aside from the cooking you're cracker
| jack when it comes to making a place home
! like" Bruce said pleasing her and making
her almost happy for the moment
But the fly she feared would dip into their
ointment was on the wing. Tom Mason
dropped in frequently to smoke and talk, oft
en- bringing Ann, Muriel always called them
Mr.. Mason" and Mrs. Mason" and Bruce's
familiar Tom" and "Ann" annoyed her mex
pressibly, especially the "Ann." She was
coldly, distantly polite most of the time, but
showed plainly by her manner, her refusal to
their society. Both of them were sorry for
Bruce and knew by his hearty greetings he
was delighted to have them.
Its mercy to him, Ann" Tom said when
Ann objected to going, feeling she was not
welcome and that Muriel would far rather she
did not come. "The poor chap looks old
old and worn. 1t isn't business, either He's
wonder at that" Others, too had noticed
the change in Bruce. 1t had been gradual.
He was young and the young do not show
their feelings, their unhappiness, in
their faces like older people. But the change
was there. Much of the gay old Bruce had dis
appeared. He was queter, less demonstra-
tive, and did not joke quite so much.
Il am as sorry for him as I can be-" Ann
declared. at would serve her right if he fell
In love with some one-really it would! Tom
looked shocked and hoped it never would
happen.
Continued Thursday. Renew your subscrip-
ton now so as not to miss chapter of this
absorbing story.
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