Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-03-24
A WOMAN OBSESSED
BY CAROLYN BEECHER

What has gone before.-Bruce Con-
ways wealthy father cuts him off be-
cause Of his elopement with Muriel
Dangerfeld before finishing college. The
young couple set up housekeeping in
Westfeld. Muriel not only is a poor
housewife but is intensely jealous. and
is unsympathetic with the light-hearted
nature of her husband. She finds a let
ter addressed in feminine handwriting
to Bruce. She opens it, finds it Is from
his fathers old housekeeper urging the
son to see his father who is i'll and win
back his love. Murel destroys it. Muriel
becomes very moody and insulting to
Bruce's friends. She loses her appetite
and the worried husband wires for her
mother to come. Now go on with the
story.
CHAPTER TX
wv HEN Bruce spoke of his father, told
Wv how he loved him, Mrs. Dangerfield
noticed once again that hard look
on Muriels face. 1t strengthened her re.
solve to speak to her daughter in the morn
ing.
"Muriel, what's wrong with you and
Bruce?" she asked when he had left for his
Office.
Nothing"
Yes, there is, dear. Why did you object
to his going out for a bit last night? You
told me yourself he had not left you since
he knew you were to have child. Is it that
you object to his compartment"
His duty is to me, his place at home
when business hours are over"
Have you no duty to him? He is very
young, Muriel, very boyish and candid. He
Graves young society. And you are young
too. Why don't you have any callers, any
young women friends? I haven't heard you
speak of soul since 1 came"
Il don't want any friends. I want only
Bruce After the baby comes he won't want
to go out. That's why I'm glad it's coming"
But, dear" patient because of her condi-
ton, you will drive him away. He isn't
the kind you can keep under lock and key
as you are trying to do. Give him little
liberty He will love you all the better. |
never dreamed of obiecting when your faith
er wanted to go out or bring his friends
home"
That was your afair-this is mine"
Mrs. Dangerfield sighed Muriel always
had been hard to manage. But she would
not give up. There rang in her ears June's
cry:
He's too good for herr!
rs it that you are jealous of him of his
friends?''
Yes. I am! And won't make it so he
can bring them here. I don't want them.
want only him. love him better than all the
world. He is enough for me. I shall be
enough for him-he will not want to go after
the baby comes"
Her mother was shocked, and plainly
showed it.
"My poor Muriel. How can I make you
see what you are doing? Bruce loves YOU
now, but it will be only question of time
when he will dislike, perhaps hate you, dear.
1t is selhshness. When we love people, real
ly love them, we want them to be happy re-
CARELESS of how it affects us. Bruce isn't hap
ply. He tries to hide his unrest, but l saw it
at once. Muriel, dear, turn over new leaf
before you lose him. He's handsome, gay
Graves pleasure. Have it with him, don't
drive him to seek it with others-without
you"
Muriel made no answer. Her~lips were set
IN thin line, .discouraging to the mother
who so earnestly desired her happinesss
Then, dear" she went on after a bit, 81
think he is grieving little over his father.
He seems to love him dearly-to feel keenly
now that he is older how he hurt him. While
L am here why not urge him to go to him
for few days! Just seeing the boy he loves
might soften his heart toward him and you.
81 don't want his heart softened l don't
want his money. All l want is Bruce. All
his love"
"You don't mean you are jealous of the
love he gives his father?" shocked unbelief in
her voice.
81 mean he has neither love nor time to
give to anyone-anyone. Both belong to me,
are mine, and l shall claim them as long as
live"
Then God help you. dear. no one else can. -
PLEASE don't mention the subject again.
mother"
very well, dear" Mrs Dangerfeld said
going to her room to think over what Muriel
had said.
Jealous of his own father, of the love he
felt for the lonely old man he had so keeny
disappointed. 1t was Obsession wicked
one Perhaps when she had a child things
would be different. Bruce would not always
meekly stand the strain she was putting upon
him, upon his affections. H. would kick over
the braces some day-and in way perhaps
ruin himself as well Muriel. She could
do nothing but pray.
The next day she found maid that Muriel
engaged A woman fifty years old with a
peck marked face. Good naturally Bruce
laughed when he saw her.
You took good care to get one l wouldn't
like to look at didn't you, dear?"
Eyes, I told you I'd have no young girls in
my house"
'She doesn't rate her own attractions very
high when she owns that she might be jeal-
GUS of servant does she, mother" he asked,
laughing
Jealous of servants, too! Mrs. Danger
field made no answer but later said to Muriel:
Never let a man think you jealous. 1t
belittles your attractions just as Bruce
said. My poor child, wish l could make you
see your mistake
Continued Tuesday. Renew Your subscrip-
ton now so as not to miss an installment of
this splendid story.