Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-03-20
A WOMAN OBSESSED


!
/ way alienates his wealthy father by elop-
ing with Muriel DangerfeId while still in
! college, and the elder Conway writes he
never wants to see his son again. Mu-
/ rieTs father finds Bruce a position in
i WestfeId, where they set up housekeep-
| ing MurieI not only is poor cook but
! is intensely jealous, and doesn't want
! Bruce to leave her to associate with his
| friends. She finds letter addressed to
/ him in feminine handwriting. She opens
/ it. 1t is from her fathers housekeeper
! urging him to come to see his father, and
win back his love In a passion of
! jealousy, Muriel destroys it. The feeling
/ grows in Bruce's mind that GIuriel is nC-
! sympathetic with his hght-hearted ma
| ture.-N0w go on with the story.
CHAPTER VII
xxi MUSTN'T bother SO over things"
| Bruce often said to himself. "Muriel
! IL is q dear and she loves me and love
her" 1t was curious how often he made that
statement to himself now, not quite year
/ after he married her-"I love her" 1t was
| almost as if he had to assure himself that he
did.
! Much Of the spontaneity had gone out of
| his manner when he was with her. He found
himself often considering whether he should
say thing or not. He never could tell how
| she would take the simplest confidence.
Muriel was not well and her mother was to
| come in response to a note from Bruce say
| ing he was worried about her. She would not
eat No wonder she couldn't, Bruce thought.
| He couldn't, either. His cookbook had been
put away unused. Mure had been insulted
! that he had brought it to her as a present
after he had spent gay evening with his
\ friends. Something to keep her in the ktch-
! en-, was her thought.
Bruce had had raise but Muriel seemed
unable or unwilling to find maid He ad-
vertised finally and when he questioned her
| as to applicants, she said.
They were all young. I won't have a
young woman in the house" Foolishly Bruce
| had answered:
"Why? I like pretty faces around me,
| even if I see them only at meals" That set
| tied it. Muriel declared to herself that she
| never would have maid until she found one
old and ugly enough so Bruce wouldn't notice
| her.
The Masons had called and Muriel sat in
| almost frozen silence during their stay. Ann
| Mason was gay, pretty woman of about
| twenty-five, who laughed and talked with
| Bruce until Muriel fairly Squlrmed. Ann had
! a keen sense of humOr and her witty sayings
| delighted Bruce, who took no pains to con-
| ceal his pleasure. Tom Mason was charming
man, not so gay as his wife, but fine So
| ciable fellow He did his best to be enter
| tanning, to draw his hostess out, but in vain.
On their way home he said
| "What do you suppose a bright fellow like
| Conway ever saw in that blonde doll? She
| hasn't an ounce Of brains"
| perhaps she's the quiet kind. I'm such a
chatterboX, you know, that you are no judge.
But she had a queer expression once or twice
almost as if she didn't like my talking to Mr..
| Conway. | don't care much for her, but he S
! bully company"
| After they left, Muriel said
! 81 hope you are satisfied now they have
come-and gone. Please don't ask anyone
else here" Her tone was hard.
But didn't you enjoy them. Muriel? Mrs.
Mason is an awfully' bright little thing. l
think she would be good for you, cheer you
/ up. She's awfully pretty, too. No wonder
! Mason's SO proud of her. Brains and beauty
| don't often go together" he blundered on,
never noticing the cloud on Muriel's face.
81 don't care for her acquaintance. I'm
satisfied to be by ourselves. l never want to
! see her again!" she added passionately. "You
never leaked at me all the time they were
here"
MY Cod, MurieI! Can't talk to a friend S
wife while he talks to you?"
! Il didn't want him to talk to me. I wanted
you to-"
! With a muttered oath then long discour-
aged sigh, Bruce picked up book. III mo-
ment Muriel had snatched it from him and
perched herself on his lap, her arms around
] bis neck
"TeII me you love me? Love me so much
you don't care for anyone else in the world
! just as l do you"
"Of course I love you. But do care for
other people. What's the use of lying about
it,"
| looking at her, your eyes full of admiration.
Say you never will talk to her again! Say it,
| Bruce"
Firmly Bruce undid the clinging arms. He
! held them closely so she could not embrace
him while he said:
"Murel, what ails you? I'm only twenty
one years old and you want me to act as if
J l were fifty. We might well decide this
thing. I don't understand your reasons-if
/ you have any. Tell me why you act as you
| do why YOU seem determined l shall have no
! friends, live like hermit"
! ooh, I'm SO jealous-and it's because |
| love you So she FASTENED to add. You used
to say that my being jealous was sure sign
I loved you and you liked it,
"That was before we were married. I
didn't belong to you then. Don't you trust
me, Mure? Or what is it?''
"Of course, l trust you. But I can't bear
| the thought of your being happy with anyone
but mel can't bear it, Am I not good
wife? I never bother about money. never
complain that don't have things All want
! is you"
yes MurieI, you are good wife. Many
girls. not knowing if / could support them,
would have almost hated me for asking them
| to run away with me- 7 cannot give you many
! if you would find maid. Now run along to
bed"
He kissed her and another long sigh told
/ his perpleNity
81 don't want maid. I want you. Just
YOU" she ran sobbing up the stairs.
Continued Thursday. Renew your subsCrip-
| this absorbing story.
/ fair. I wish you hadn't bought the beads
| for me, I'd be happier if we took them back,