Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-01-23
THE WIFE CHEATER
A NeW Romance
BY HAZEL DEYO BACHELOR

Wayne In spite OF many warnings from
her friends. She chooses him in prefer
ence to Herbert Livingston, who loves
her devotedly, but who lacks Norman's
charm. Norman has never been known
to care for one woman for more than
few weeks at a time, but Joan is conf
dent of holding him. After marriage,
however. she finds it difficult and he
makes her miserable through his atten-
lions to other women. When Edith,
Joan's younger sister, comes to visit
them, Norman carries on filtration
with her, and in desperation, Joan turns
to Herbert Livingston, who still loves
her Joan's recklessness In the face of
Norman's neglect frightens her, for she
realizes that she is playing with fire in
leading Herbert on.
CHAPTER XLHI
The Crisis
After my break with Margaret and Ruth,
I began to depend more and more on
Herbert's society. We took to going in
town to concerts and the theater and I no
longer consulted Norman's plans, aside from
having his meals ready for him when he
and Edith deigned to eat at home Some
times when I let myself think about it,
wondered that Norman made no comment
on the fact that 1 was with Herbert so
constantly. And it did not make me any
the less bitter to realize that Norman was
only too glad to have me off his hands so
that he might play with Edith much as
he liked.
Perhaps If 1t had been any man but
Herbert, Norman might have felt in
different. But he did not realize how much
oh L. ~ 1ZYNv
that my being with Herbert so much was
tanning the flame Of his emotion for me,
for now that autumn had set in we had
reached point where 1 had to parry with
Herbert constantly.
No doubt Norman still thought of
Herbert as good old fellow, some one he
! could quite safely intrust with wife, and
that thought stirred up all the recklessness
in my nature.
Mother was still west nursing my grand
mother. She had set no definite date for
return, thinking, of course, that Edith was
safe with me, and my letters to her did not
mention the stae of affairs in Hilton. had
never, even as child, confded in mother,
and certainly could do nothing now that
would add to her worries in any way.
If Ihad not been so engrossed in trying
to think, I might have noticed during this
time that things were rapidly approaching
climax with all four of u.s. Certainly
matters could not go on as they were for
ever, and was rapidly approaching a state
where peace of mind was the only thing
to be desired in all the world. My heart
was so sore toward Norman that I had
reached a point where I was sure I could
never forgive him. Even If this affair
with Edith proved not to be serious, life
with Norman would never bring me happi-
ness. If it were not Edith, it would be
some one else, and the love that had once
thought worth taking at all costs now
seemed to me too feverish thing to care
about holding.
And then came the day when Herbert
Livingston asked me to run away with
him. 1t happened in the living room of nv
own little house, the little home that had
once been so happy in during those early
days when I had been confident of the
future.
1t was Saturday in late October, and
Norman and Edith had gone to football
game, Herbert and I had been having tea
together and afterward a silence had fallen
between us, a silence broken only by the
swapping Of the logs burning in the open
fireplace, and then suddenly Herbert leaned
forward and said very quietly:
Joan, we can't go on like this forever"
One time I would have shrunk away from
facing the issue, but now although my
heart beat fast, I was somehow not sur
prised. I did not even feel any strong
emotion, and I raised my eyes and met Her
bets gaze quite frankly
Don't you suppose I know you're not
happy" he went on quickly, "and you de-
serve to be the happiest Of women Won't
you let me try to bring you some happiness
won't you give me chance, dear?"
He did not speak passionately, and was
grateful for that fact. AS it was a great
longing came over me to give in to him, to
rest on his strength and to let him help me
forget that I had ever loved Norman with
the maddest love woman ever gave a man.
What do you want me to do?" I asked
simply.
II want you to come away with me. 7
want you to trust me to arrange things and
as soon as Norman frees you, want you
to be my wife"
He had my hands in his and was pressing
his bowed head, l asked myself why not?
Why struggle any longer against thing
that was hopeless? In that moment I made
up my mind.
CHAPTER Xiv