San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-04
Chapter LXIII.

By CAROLYN HEECHER

Are YOU asleep, Bruce?" Murie
asked when after a bit she went up
stairs.
NO"
"Do you love me!'
'Of course. Better get to bed. Its
late
lid you get that Hammond woman
NO" Bruce sighed thankfully. This
at least was an honest answer.
Where does she work.
in some millinery store, / believe.
Now if you are through questioning
me I'll go to sleep"
What millinery store!'
Il don't know" Again he could an
ask Lulu.
You are sure you love me? / love
yau 80 dear" She leaned over and
SAsed him.
do stop worrying and get to bed.
I'll Lever get to sleep if you don't
turn out that light he said i'm
patiently as he returned her kiss.
Muriel said no more. but she was
far from being satisfied.
If my baby had lived l never would
have had cause TO doubt him." she
whispered to herself. He would have
loved us both so much no one could
influence him."
She loved Bruce with painful long
ing which forced tears from her eyes !;
a longing TO possess him utterly: his
every thought. He could not seem to
realize the strength of her love; the
intensity of her desire. She was
shaken by sobs. sobs she muffled in
the bedclothes. She asked so little
just all of him as she gave all of her
self Why could she not make him
understand it was for their happiness
to give her what she asked?
Again at breakfast Muriel spoke OF
Lulu Hammond, this time in a casual
way. blaming Ann Mason for talking
of this girl to Bruce. He said little,
but the talk of Lulu aroused a desire
to see her, TO be with her. He thought
of the warm, kindly heart. She had
strength for devotion and sacrifice,
this girl whom the world had buff
feted. He thought of her clear skin.
her wonderful black eyes, her softly
curving, laughing lips-and she had so
little to laugh about. His longing TO
toward the office. He argued with
himself and declared it was a silly
within. But what harm could there be
in seeing her, talking to her? If
Muriel only were different. like Ann
Mason for instance. he could talk of
Lulu and perhaps interest Muriel in
her. Poor girl, she must be lonely
without friends to help her.
If only Muriel would have one mo-
ment of forgetfulness of self. If only
one act was. not determined because
of her own selfish desires? He would
love her then, love her as he did when
he married her, with that love she had
SO soon thrust back upon itself be-
-'.s-ssse of her insistence that he give up
everything and every one to devote
himself to her. He was tired of this
continual demand. demand he knew
be never could satisfy.
He threw himself with zest into his
work at the office. He had a very nat
ural pride in his success. and a great
ambition TO do even better. Perhaps
before long Mr.. Longworth might al
low him 10 buy into the firm. His
fathers generosity made this possible |
and the business was growing con-
stantly. The greetings OF the men in |
the office cheered him up. Work, |
after all, was the best thing in life |
1T gave certain happiness: it made
one forget unhappiness. And Muricl
thought he would give up this pana-
cea? Not he
And Muriel.
Bruce had scarcely arrived at the
office before she hurried to keep a ;