Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-15
A WOMAN OBSESSED
BY CAROLYN BEECHER


fore finishing college. Muriel loves him
mady, but is intensely jealous and I'M
sympathetic with his sociable, tun-lov-
ing nature. She endeavors to prevent y
reconciliation with his father and insults
his friends because she wants him all
to herself. Bruce rescues. a drowning
woman, but-says nothing to Muriel about
it because of her jealousy. Later he and
Muriel meet the girl, Lulu Hammond, on
the street. They speak, arOusing the
angry suspicion of Muriel and George
Downey. the girls escort. After quar-
rel with MurieI over the acceptance OF
an invitation to reception, Bruce leaves
his home in anger. Lulu overtakes him
on the street and asks him 10 take her
to dinner. She proves very attractive
Bruce gives her fifty dollars.-Now go
on with the story.
CHAPTER XXXI
~ RUCE did not return home at once. He
II went down to the lake, flung himself
upon one of the benches and for an
hour sat there almost without stirring.
He had forgotten Lulu. His thoughts were
on Muriel He felt an insufferabe aching
and gnaWing sensation of emptiness as he
thought of her, emptiness in himself, his life.
He had no one to blame but himself. But his
life was spoiled, he was being drawn into
chill, unfamiliar world in which his duty to
her chained him.
God help mel" he murmured as at last he
looking out on the moon-fooded lake. Slow
ly, lingeringly, he turned toward home.
In the room, in the same chair, in the same
dress in exactly the same attitude five
hours before, Muriel was sitting. 1t OBJ
vious she had not moved from the place, had
not eaten dinner, had not stirred all that long
time. Slowly she raised her eyes to his. She
trembled and clutched the arms of her chair.
"You have frightened me dreadfully,' she
said in a low, passionate voice. almost
whisper.
The expression of her face, her lustreless
eyes, reproaChed him.
81 took walk-by the lake. He wanted
to turn and retrace his steps. But instead he
bent and kissed the cold cheek.
"It has been terrible here alone-no dinner
nothing but this" Her gesture embraced
the lonely room.
sit was not necessary for you to go with
out your dinner"
'I-I-couldn't eat You went away an
cry with me-"
Muriel got up and leaning her head against
his breast, whispered
81 couldn't eat-L love you-and you
left me in anger"
AS he made no reply Muriel raised her
head and turned dejectedly away from him.
Il love you'll love you-and you left
mel she repeated.
He went into the kitchen. The maid had
long before gone to bed. In the ice box he
found what he looked for-the untasted din
ner He fixed tray, made tea, and carried
| it to her
Eat something, Muriel. You will be ill
again if you go without your food"
you've had your dinner?" she asked
duly.
*'Yes-early in a little restaurant. Now
eat, then go to bed"
You had your dinner in restaurant"
She gave him a slow, searching look that
| brought the blood to his face.
yes"
He poured her tea and sat down and read
the paper while she ate few mOuthfuls.
Then he took the tray into the kitchen, turn
ed out the lights and followed her upstairs.
In their room she turned swiftly to him
and clutched him with both hands. With her
bosom heaying she said:
1--WE won't go to that reception-we won't!
Say you don't care to go, that you didn't mean
what you said before you left me-that you
would go anywhere you were invited-go
without me-say you didn't mean it."
q did mean it, Muriel. Go with me.
Enjoy yourself-but if you don't, be amiable
about it to please me. l meant what said
you are driving me from you. You will
have to lead your own life as you please and
let me lead mine. I shall go to that re-
ception."
With look, the hardness of which de-
strOyed all her beauty, she turned from him,
went into the guest chamber and closed the
door.
With sigh of mingled fmpatience and
relief, Bruce went to bed. He would neither
call her nor go after her Perhaps by morn
ing she would be more reasonable.
The LongwOrths had two young daughters,
eighteen and twenty years old Mrs. Long
worth and Elizabeth, the older girl had
called upon Muriel, but she had not returned
their call. Bruce knew nothing Of this. She
had kept the Longworths visit from him.
knowing he would want her to return it.
'If l don't go they will let us alone"
MureI had argued to herself, and she twas
genuinely surprised when she received the
would have destroyed had Bruce not caught
mined not to go-and to compel Bruce to
main away also.
81 can't let him go aIone!" she said to
herself in the guest room. II can't. He'll
see lot of people and dance and laugh with
them. I'll have to go much as I hate it
unless-would he stay home if l were too
i'll to go? I-oh, why does he want to be
with any one but me when love him SOP"
Il consider no one" she went on, talking
to herself "No one or nothing-why should
he? He was cruel tonight, talking to me as
he did and then taking his dinner in res
taurant. But he was sorry-he loves me. He
made me eat because he didn't want me to
be i'll. OF course he loves me-Im his wife
but he is careless, headstrong. I shall be
firm. When he sees that l am he will be
content to do as 1 wish"
Continued Thursday. Renew your 4
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