Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-10

proves TO be not only poor housewife,
but intensely jealous and unsympathetic
with the fun-lovlng nature of her hus-
band She endeavors to prevent a recon
citation with his father and insults his
friends. After the death of their infant
she becomes more exacting While
walking alone late afternoon Bruce
rescues a drowning woman and takes
her to her home in none too reputable
district. He says nothing about 1t to
Muriel, fearing 1t will aggravate her
| jealousy. Later he and Muriel meet the
girl, Lulu Hammond, on the street.
! They speak, arousing the angry suspicion
of Muriel and of George Downey. Lulu's
escort.-Now go with the story.
CHAPTER xxx
THO MAKE up ones mind to a joyless life\
| is hard, especially to one of Bruce's
disposition. Opportunity is all-power-
| full, and to forget ones self utterly because of
duty, either real or imagined, is impossible.
Bruce craved beauty, sympathy, warmth and
| light. He longed for the happy life as he
saw it lived by Ann and Tom Mason. He
could not understand such love as Muriel
claimed was hers, the selfish love that denied
its object every pleasure.
OF course Muriel had her good qualities.
She was economical, careful of his money,
! and never urged him to be ambitious to make
more so she might have Injuries. He knew
| some women made slaves of their husbands
| 6T,
went on, he wondered If that made men as
| unhappy as MuriePs attitude was making
! him. She never seemed to see another man.
All wives weren't even that. He had known
| some who were gossiped about because OF
! their free and easy manner with other men.
| MurieI was not like that.
That Bruce tried so hard to be fair was
| only proof Of how desperately he chung to
his ideals. He had thought himself deeply in
love with Muriel and he tried to convince
himself he never had ceased to love her in
! the same way AS an honest and straight
forward man he realized the force of obliga-
ton, the sacredness of duty, and was asham-
ed of any double dealing with himself. He
reproached himself without mercy.
"Muriel Is my wife. She has my faith and
my honor. We are bound together for life
and Cannot-must not-be separated in mind
and thought 1 must do my duty If 1 die
for it!'
These thoughts surged in his mind as
| Bruce opened the door with his latchkey
| He made no noise and came upon Muriel with
sheet of paper crumpled in her hand, the
hard look he so dreaded on her face.
What is 1t, dear?" he asked, surmsing at
once that something had displeased her.
"Why can't people let us alone! We don't
want anything of them! We won't go! That's
decided"
GO where?" he asked mystifed
1.-THE Longworths are giving q big recep-
! ton evidently-see for yourself-and expect
us to come" She handed him the crushed
| invitation.
'Of course we'H go! 1t would never do to
refuse Besides, We'll have jolly time"
James Longworth was the head of the firm
that employed Bruce A clever, m1ddle-aged
man who occupied one of the finest houses
IN town and was deservedly popular.
"Of course we shall not go!' Muriel de-
clared vehemently. "You do your work and
are paid for it. Your time away from the
office does not belong to him. 1t belongs to
me-"
"Do be sensible, Muriel," Bruce said impa-
tfently, his good resolutions almost forgotten
Il can't afford to offend the Longworths
! Going is a matter of business-if it were
nothing else. But they will have every one
worth knowing, and I am sure 1t will be
delightful affair."
II shall not go'
Then 1 shall go without you!" Bruce said
| wh1te-l1pped and angry. cit is time we came
to showdown, Muriel. I will lead my life.
You can lead yours. Be hermit If you like
[ shall not interfere. But 1 shall accept all
the invitations get and shall 60 everywhere
I'm sick Of the life lead, dead sick!'
"Oh, Bruce!" She clasped her hands with
a conVulsive motion. Il won't let you talk
to me like that. love you I love you so
l can't bear to have you spend moment with
others!' Don't be angry with me, dearest it's
because love you so! never have a thought
ABOUT any one but you-never! Why should
you care for any one but me?"
Bruces heart was in a turmoil. Muriel
chung close to him, pleading, declaring her
love, her determination to keep him all to
herself, until, almost desperate for a way to
convince her she was wrong, was wronging
him in the attitude she took toward society
he broke from her and without a word
dashed out of the house.
I'm a coward" he said between set teeth
"A man should be master in his own house!
But what can a man do with q woman like
Mur1el who hides her selfshness behind the
name of love-love for me?"
Its a sign of old age to talk to ones
SELF" hooking voice at his elbow declared.
He turned and Lulu Hammond, her dark,
piquant face close to his
81 am old-old as Methuselah" he re-
turned gloomily.
"Can you tell me what's troubling your"
| Sympathy was expressed in her voice
"No-it's just life-living-that's ALL"
! Enough should say, and, judging from
your expression, it isn't easy
It's damn hard! Excuse me. I don't
often let go before lady"
'Oh, that's all right. Go as far as you
like! 1t may relieve your feelings. I say
damn myself probably oftener than you do"
They walked along side by side, Bruce say
ing nothing, Lulu chattering in a way, in
| consequential way, trying to make him for
get his Crouch" she thought it. Finally
she said:
Where were you going when met you?"
Nowhere"
Then come and buy me a dinner. I'm
| hungry. There's a very good place near
| here-One your friends never visit, so you
| won't be SEEM
Continued Saturday. Renew your sub
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