Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-06-28
MY WIFE AND |
BY CAROLYN BEECHEk
CHAPTER XXXU


r. = HE time passed without any encourage
ing developments, that is anything Vi
tai. Natalie was still her cool, aloof
self, seemingly never angry at the decided
change | had inaugurated yet showing in {
hundred ways that she resented it. | adj
hered strictly to the program had laid out
but often she went out without me, when
I came home she would be gone and not
come in until late. Yet in some way she let
me know where she had been and with
whom. An apparently careless word the
mention Of a name kept me informed
The time for my vacation drew near. Once
again I asked her if she would not like to
accompany me and repeated my plans for the
two weeks.
mo, thank you she replied. II don't
choose to bury myself.
l had figured what my expenses would be
and giving her just double the amount told
her to take her mother and go somewhere
for a change THAT is if your mother
ecides to remain" l added. Mrs Brooks
had spoken Of returning to her home.
1 kissed Natalie good-by, telling her to
have good time.
II feel that | need the rest, dear. I am
tired and stale. Roughing It will set me up
for the winter
Il hope So" she surprised me by saying.
"You don't look we'll"
l longed to take her into my arms, beg
her to show little love for me, let me love
her. But she turned away, saying she would
decide what she would do after she had
talked with her mother
Her brother had been to visit her two or
three times and had remained to dim
ner. l rather changed my mind about him.
found him more agreeable, plain, honest
spoken fellow. Nothing was said about the
money he had borrowed, which l did not
consider strange as we were alone but few
moments and the time had given him was
not up. Yet I wondered if he would meet
the obligation and what I would do about it
if he didn't
Just before I left my office that day Jessie
Church entered.
I'm not in trouble, Bruce, so don't look
at me that way. l was down this way and
thought, I'd drop in for a moment. Natalie
told me of your plans for your vacation and
[ wondered if she and her mother would
spend that two weeks with me- What do
you think about it? Shall I ask herr" Them
"You must think it strange that ! come to
you, but l wanted to be sure you didn't OBJ
iect," She flushed and dropped her eyes.
AS we'll as if she had told me, | knew
what she meant She thought / might OBJ
iect because of Nataies liking for Ned.
81 think it would be fine-if Natalie hasn't
already made plans to go elsewhere said
heartily "And Jessie, think we have been
needlessy alarmed. We're old friends and
can speak plainly. There has been nothing
between Ned and Natalie to worry either OF
us-athough at one time l feared there
might be-"
II knew--that's why I came to you. I
knew you were bit jealous was, too"
She laughed nervously. But that is all
passed. Ned can't help flirting with every
pretty woman he sees. / only wish they
were all as safe Natalie | know, Bruce,
that she is as, true as steel. Don't ask me
how I know, but you never have had, never
will have I am sure, cause to be jealous of
Natalie. She loves gaiety, fun excitement
takes it where she can get it. But that's
all. Do you think me terrible to talk so
frankly about your Wife,"
very kind"
'"Then I shall ask her to come to u.s."
After she left I wondered what had hap
pened to make Jessie she had no
cause to be jealous OF Natalie Then with
a sigh I dismissed the matter I no
longer afraid of Ned of any other man,
but I was far from happy, far from being
contented with the way things were between
us.
My two weeks in the woods made me a
new man. The quiet communing with ma
ture, the days [ tramped the woods until
bodily WEAKNESS sent me back to camp to
eat my supper of bacon and eggs, then to
bed to sleep like child until morning, re-
iuvenated me body and soul. had written
Natalie but had received word from her.
did not know if she had decided to accept
Jesses invitation if she had gone else
where. I concluded she had not received my
letter.
I went straight home from the station,
more anxious to see Natalie than to know
what had happned at the office, yet not
knowing that / would find her. But before
/ opened the door with my latchkey I heard
the piano She was at home. My heart
beat quickly. How would she receive me?
"How well you look" she said as I kissed
her. I had reached out my arms but
thought I saw her shrink and dropped
them.
II well, my vacation has done me
world Of good" I said, but even to my own
ears my voice sounded dull, flat. What had
/ expected? "You look we'll, too" 7 said
after a moment How is your mother"
'She left for home yesterday"
Really, l am sorry not to have said good
by to her" I could scarcely conceal nv de-
light. Perhaps if we were alone-perhaps-
THAT didn't matter" Natalie replied in
her usual cool way. "She had been here
long enough The last week she spent at
brothers."
"And you, Natalie? Where did you COZ
And did you enjoy YOURSELF" I asked IT
wrote you but as you didn't reply I knew
you must be away"
Continued Tuesday. This story is nearing
the end. Renew now to avoid missing the
final chapters.
OUIPS AND OUIDDITIES
ATn~ Dxor 1oJ IInoJ 49,