Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-06-03
MY WIFE AND |
BY CAROLYN BEECHER
CHAPTER XXI

WONDERED if this disa ppointment ha@
| had anything to do with Natalies actions
aside from her resen tment at Uncle Rob-
'ert's attitude. Had it affected her feeling
for me? | had told her of the lovely old
home but had in no way even limited we
might occupy it. l had such idea as I
knew we'll Uncle's feeling about Mrs. Bell,
his love of quiet and his belief that young
married people were better oil by themselves.
Downstairs they were all laughing and
chatting and my entrance was unnoticed for
moment. | stood just inside the living
'room door, looking at them, remarking
Garth and Natalie in the group.
Suddenly l heard Diana's clear vot~-, >4s
she came toward me- saying:
"a wise old owl lived in an oak.
The more he saw the less he spoke
The less he spoke the more he heard
Why aren't we all like that old bird?V
Everyone laughed and wanted to. know
where [ had been.
"You stood there looking like a sphinx"
Diana said, cor wise old owl. l couldn't
help teasing you little. You're not Me-,
thuselah, you know, neither does the world
rest on your shoulders, although you look as
if it did" &
at has slid off at your coming 1 rerlie1
in the same bantering tone she had used n
had been trying to make up my mind as
watched them whether | should let Natalias
know l had overheard what she said to
Garth or avoid discussion by keeping my
eavesdropping to myself. AS we babe Ned
and Jessie good night I decided no good
could come of raising the question and that
l would not say anything.
Garth and Diana rode home with u5 so we
had no opportunity for condolences of any
sort | got out at Uncle Roberts telling
them I would walk home after l saw how he
was feeling.
found him not as we'll. He was lying
on the couch and for him that was a bad
sign. I glad I had said no more than
had about the country. If he were i'll
could leave him in town alone and after
what l had heard l knew it would be useless
to think Natalie would have him with u.s.
found Natalie reading letter that had
come for her during our absence.
Mother is coming to visit me- she will
be here tomorrow" she told me.
Good" 1 exclaimed heartily. Uncle is
not SO well and l shall want to spend some
time with him. If your mother is here can
do so with a clear conscience You will not
be alone"
Il hope you won't be so busy you can't
spare little time for her" Natalie replied.
MY relatives haven't bothered you very
much the last in an injured tone.
Indeed they have not Your brother has
made his visits to you in the day time and
I've not liked it that he didn't let me get ac-
quainted with him." Natalie found she de-
| tested her brothers wife and never had
asked them to dine with although they
lived only short way from us in New
Jersey.
Il didn't want that common Wife of his
coming here" she replied. AS I never had
met the lady in question I kept still. A
thought of Uncle's reminder that a man
must consider his wife's family came to me-
Mine certainly had given me no cause to con-
slder them. l looked up the trains found
what time her mother might be expected and
offered to meet her
Thank you, then I won't try to GO to the
station she said.
| was really glad my mother-in-law was
coming L felt / owed it to Uncle Robert
to spend as many of my evenings with him
as possible unless he improved | hated to
leave Natalie, certain that she would seek
her accustomed pleasures without me-per-
maps with Ned Church. couldn't down
the suspicion that he sought her that she
was willing to meet him. Now, even If she
did go out as usual, her mother would OF
necessity accompany her.
met Natalie's mother, called taxi, dis
posed of her luggage, took her baggage
check and ordered her trunk sent
Haven't you bought Natalie car yet?s
she asked as | took my seat beside her.
mo. l haven't been able to afford the
kind of car she wants." / answered sharply.
You owe it to her, to your position in
society. It's ridiculous for you not to have
while | am here,
MY enthusiasm over her visit left me- She
intended to encourage Natalie in hersextraya-
gance. | would not be forced to buy car.
Inc idea was becoming an obsession with ma
Natalie intended to compel me to humor
her.
stole a glance at my mother-in-law, III
had met her only a few times before NV
marrage she had seemed an ordinary sn m
Town woman then. But l saw something
that reminded me for the first time of Nata-
ne' Inc. straight lips as she spoke of the
car the determined chin. Natalie had writ
ten her, coached her, was my thought
Natalie welcomed her affectionate1v and
until we sat down to dinner I saw no more
Of her.
How can you endure to live in a hat?n
she asked Natalie. 4.
Ill., rms IS an apartment" I smiled at her.
GU should see New York fats"
But all on one floor, no privacy" She
fairly shifted
1T is the best I can afford" I replied as
served her, wondering what was to come.
continued Thursday. Renew your subscrip.
ton now so as not to miss a chapter.