Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-01-16
THE WIFE CHEATER
A New Romance
BY HAZEL DEYO BACHELOR


Dan Stockbridge marries Norman
Wayne in spite Of many warnings from
her friends. She chooses him in pref
erence to Herbert Livingston, who loves
her devOtedly, but who lacks NOrman's
charm Norman is the kind of man who
has never been known to for one
woman more han a few weeks at a
time, and after their marriage, he
makes Joan miserable through his at
tentions to other women. When Edith,
Joans younger sister, comes to visit
them, a filtration develops between Nor
man and her, and it is then that Herbert
Livingston comes TO Joan S rescue. He is
ready to dance attendance on her, and
Joan likes him better than she ever has
before, although his seriousness troubles
her whenever she stops to think about it.
CHAPTER XXXVH
The Lighted Flame
When we reached home that night. Nor
man and Edith were not on the porch. In
fact, they were nowhere to be found and
| Herbert and took up our position in the
cool darkness of the porch, ostensibly to
wait for their return, although both OF lis
were careful not to meLton this fact. dis
| turbing little thought crept into my heart
as we sat there in silence. Herbert with a
cigarette, and l with my fingers twisted
nervously together in my lap.
Suppose Herbert we're being kind to me
because he had noticed Norman's neglect! The
more | thought of it the more certain | was
] that this might be the case, and ii | needed
! anything more to rob me of the last shred
of self-confidence that l possessed this
I thought did it.
| tortured myself because I had not
realized the truth of the situation long ago,
and / was bitterly ashamed because l had
been fool enough to believe that Herbert
still cared.
Suddenly in the darkness I was startled by
the warm touch of Herberts fingers on mine.
Joan, what are you thinking OFF, His
voice was husky.
In desperation I blurted out the truth.
Il was thinking or how kind you have
been to me in the last few weeks and olam-
| ing myself for accepting your pity.
The minute the words had left my mouth
! I was sorry l had spoken them; now, in
deed my last defense was gone, for could
no longer keep up the game Of blum even
with Herbert. But almost before ms MS
thought had occurred to me, Herbert had left
the chair where he had been sitting and had
come over to me. ,
pity" he ground out, still with that
husky note in his voice. MY God, Joan,
you're a woman, don't you know. haven t
Won been able to see the true state Of affairs !?
Pm mad about you, I love you so mucn
that-it's agony to be with you knowing that
you belong to another man. And YET a
rather be with you knowing that you accept
me as a friend, than not to be. aole 10 see
you at all E.;
/ He sat down beside me in the swing, and
before I realized what he intended to do, had
gathered me close in his arms. telt MS
Inns on my hair and again that recklessneSs
that had felt earlier IN the evening swept
over me- It was sweet to be wanted; 1t was
neriIiously sweet to know that l could rouse
the feeling in a man like Herbert, Wnen loI
so long Norman's attitude toward me H. q
heen ANYTHING but that Of an ardent lover
Herbert wanted me, he wanted me terrlDly'
and although I was not in love with hln'
the temDtation came to me to surrender 10
him inst for a.moment. | think L must nave
! been half mad for, as his arm tlgtneneo
around me and he breathed against my HAIR
"Kiss me, Joan. kiss me just once every IN
stinct in me impelled me to do as he asked
| T was a woman eager to give and Norman
! wanted nothing I could give him. Here was
| man liked more than a little; a. man Wpc
! trembIed at the slightest touch OF NINE aho
! ali he asked was a kiss. After all, why not!
| What was a kiss? My brain was splnn1ng
| around wildly as these. thoughts darteo
through it. and then suddenly as feI'
| Herbert's hand under my chin forcing, my
head hack to his shoulders, SICK reVuislon
/ swont over me. I couldn't do 1t, L coulon
| LET Herbert kiss me? What had oeeI
thinking of? Why, I wasn't the sl1ghtes1
: hit in love with him, even though that lac
IN itself would have been small enough
| Justification ,n,. ,,ias ma
| "No. no." I gasped. Don't KISS he
n1ease I couldn't bear it,"
In NV voice was all the sick dlstaste
fa1t at that moment, and he drew back as
| though a strong hand had euuu7niS 'oN'
him away from me.