Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-06-17
MY WIFE AND |
BY CAROLYN BEECHER
CHAPTER XXVH

ed herself. | heartily wished her moth
er would follow her example. She
talked constantly of Natalie's sensitiveness,
of my duty to her. Yet I knew she had no
idea why Natalie was acting as she was, that
nothing had been said to her of my refusal
to pay her bills.
| was with Uncle Robert when the office
boy announced that Mr.. Brooks was wait
ing to see me. l returned to my own office,
telling the boy to send him in. To my sur
prise it was Natalie's brother. The name
had made no impression on me. had seen
him only two or three times, but tried to
hide my surprise and welcomed him cordial
ly The thought came that Natalie had sent
him. He soon dsilusioned me.
Il have come to you on private matter.
Bruce" he said, twisting his hat and acting
embarrassed.
What can I do for your" I asked, won
dering if he and his wife in trouble.
Natalie had told me they didn't hit it off. very
well.
az need some money for short time-say
two or three months. I'll pay six per cent
or even more for the accommo dation."
"How much do you want?"
"a thousand dollars"
"Have you any security?" I asked, Sitting
the inclination to whistle my surprise at the
amount.
"No-and don't think it would be neces-
sary, you being of the family. I will abb
solutey pay it back in three months with in.
terest."
AS I have said I am soft. Then he was
Natalies brother. The very fact that Natalie
was angry with me made me feel more like
doing sOmthing for him. | had refused her
for sufficient cause. II her brother really
needed the money it was not strange that he
had come TO me, his brother-in-law. I made
out a check for a thousand dollars, then said:
"Be sure, Kirk, you have the money in
three months. l can't spare it longer and
would have refused it to anyone but you" I
gave him the three months note to sign, feel
ing that with man of his type it made tho
transaction more binding.
He asked after Natalie, said he had seen
her about week before and thought she
never looked better He informed me his
mother would visit him before she returned
home, thanked me again and was gone.
II expect l have been an ass" l said aloud.
dined with Uncle Robert and it was late
when L reached home. The apartment dark.
Natalie was not in room. I went to bed
at once, making no effort to find out if she
was at home, if she was still keeping up the
farce of being ILL., I also left the next morn
ing without seeing her, and again l made
no inquiries. She had no right to treat me
as she was doing because refused to burden
myself with extravagances for her mother.
When returned at dinner time the apart
ment was brilliantly lighted and Natalie and
her mother were chatting gaily in the living
room.
you're feeling better, rent your" T
asked as I kissed Natalie.
Never felt better" she said carelessly,
not returning my kiss.
Shall we go to the theater if we can get
tickets?" l asked certain that she had fixed
things with her mother in some way and
therefore was willing to be friends with me.
I had no intention of playing the despot
and was only too glad to give her what I
could. I called up the theater and secured
The play was amusing and 1 enjoyed it
hugely. | had been more depressed than I
realized by Natalie's conduct and the re-
bound was welcome After the theater we
had bite of supper.
When we reached home I was delighted
when Natalie threw off her wrap in our
room. Another sign she had settled matters
in some manner.
Her mother left us almost Immediately.
pleading slight headache.
HAS your mother arranged to settle her
bills?" 1 asked. had no intention of evad-
ing the subject I would hear what Natalie
had to say, then forget all about it. 1 was
sure it never would happen again.
Brother Kirk paid them. I sent them to
him, telling him they must b paid and this
afternoon the receipts came. still think it
very ungenerous of you; you might have paid
them. Where he got the money is puzzle
to me, but it's none of my affair as long as
they are paid" M
had not interrupted her-I couldn't. I
was so angry I dared not try to speak So
that was what her brother wanted the mon.
ey for. 1 had paid the bills after ALL
you say you sent them to him. Did you
tell him refused to pay them?"
No! l wouldn't let my own brother know
how shabbily you have acted. It's bad enough
for me to know it,"
Should I tell her? I was strongly tempted
to, then thought better Of it. Kirk had told
me it was private matter; he had not LET
Natalie know how he secured the money N.Y.
position was more dignified if I kept still.
To let her know that after all I had said,
after [ had sworn I would not pay them I
had been hoaxed into paying them, was a
blow to my self-respect could not endure.
SO with SINE careless remark dismissed the
subject. The moment the bills had been
paid, no matter how, Natalie had apparently
thought the matter ended. But long after
she slept lay awake planning. I had not
married the family and what happened
might well happen again unless l took steps
to prevent it,
Continued Thursday. Renew your snbscrip.
ton now to avoid missing a chapter.