Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-06-14
A WOMAN OBSESSED
BY CAROLYN BEECHER
CHAPTER Xiv

THOR a moment Bruce hesitated. Muriel
/ II was expecting him. But Lulu's black
- eyes flashed longingly, her lips were
parted in a smile and her black hair framed
her piquant face ravishingly.
| Lets go right away. I'm as hungry as a
bear" Lulu declared, pretending not to no
tice his hestancy
Cali right. Come along" Bruce answered.
They ran laughing down the stairs. The slat-
ternly landlady spied upon them from partly
opened door. The dirty children still played
on the steps.
Bruce shuddered bit as they forced their
way through the gaping group. This was
not a nice place for Lulu. She should not live
I in such surroundings They were degrading.
But he said nothing and simply hurried her
along out Of sight of the squalor.
They went to the same restaurant they
had visited before. Wyckoff, the office boy,
was not likely to dine there and Bruce knew
of no other where they would not be in dan
ger of running into someone he knew. He
| flushed at the thought. It was obnoxious to
! him. this necessary secrecy. But he dared not
go where he might see someone who might
say something that would reach Muriel He
| called himself coward but wished she were
different, more of a sport, so he would not be
obliged to hide things from her.
He also resented the fact that because of
her insane jealousy as he called it, she was
making him old, "an old stogy" he called him
self. She would not let him be young, feel
young, as men of his years should feel. At
times he seemed bowed under the weight of
his impotence, as if like Atlas he had the
weight Of the world on his shoulders.
Just walking along with Lulu and listening
to her chatter made him feel younger. She
laughed at his jokes, made jokes of her own,
told amusing stories and sympathized with
him. She was interested In his fads, if his
love Of outdoor sports could be- called fads.
After they were seated he excused himself
and went to the telephone. He called Muriel,
told her he would not be home and flushed
with anger when she replied she had been to
the office and waited nearly an hour hoping
he would return, although she admitted she
had been told he had left for the day.
Where are you now?" she asked.
with some misunderstanding to bust
ness" he added flushing, then hung up before
she could question him further.
He tried to salve his conscience by saying
| 1t was business, that 1t was his duty to help
Lulu In that he had advised her to no
more Of Downcy unless she decided to marry
him. She had said she would rather die than
do that, so really 1t was matter of business,
almost honor, for him to help her. 1t wasn't
his fault he couldn't tell Muriel. She made
it impossible for him to conf1de in her.
Lulu tactful1y refrained from asking ques-
lions, although she surmised his errand. That
was one of her attractions for Bruce, that and
her undisguised interest in all he did to
amuse himself. She was not mercenary-she
never asked about his business. He did not
realize that she extracted all she wished to
know and that he voluntarily told her because
Of her chummy concern in all that pertained
Ito him.
Then there was an intriguing quality in
Lulu that appealed to Bruce her failure to
whine or to tell her hard-luck stories until he
dragged them from her. Now as he returned
ito the table she welcomed him brightly, and
while the waiter was bringing their order she
told him delightfully."- funny story. She was
a real companion, he thought, and If a wish
that Murfel were more like her in that respect
crossed his mind he could not be blamed.
Muriel was totally lacking in hun1or. She
never told amusing stories or was entertain
ing. All she wanted was to sit reading or
telling him how much she loved him or that
his duty was to her. Duty! How he hated
the word!
ga penny for your thoughts" Lulu said
brightly. ''You haven't spoken for five min
utes.'
81 beg your pardon, Lulu My thoughts
aren't worth German mark, let alone pen
ny. Now tell me all your troubles, dear" The
last word slipped out unconsciously and she
affectionate term to her before. ''My Shout
ders are broad" He squared them.
Indeed they are. You are splendidly
built" she fattered. 81 hate to worry you,
yet don't know what else to do, who to talk
to. I am terribly alone-a sort of lost child
with no one to look after me. No one to love
me-" she added in low tone.
Come tell me. You mustn't feel like that,
Lulu. You are very lovable when one knows
you"
Gam II" Naively she asked the question
with pleased look in her dark eyes.
Indeed you are! You are such a good
sport. Now fire away. Tell me just what
you have tried to do. What has happened"
| Lulu rested her cheek on her hand, her
eyes searching his for moment. Then she
dropped her lids and Bruce noticed the long
lashes curling on her cheeks and thought how
lovely she was and what pity life had been
! so hard for her.
Continued Saturday. Renew your subscrip-
ton so as not to miss chapter OF this absorb