Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-05-20
MY WIFE AND |
BY CAROLYN BEECHER


family. They begin housekeeping in a
New York apartment. Roberts uncle,
for whom he was named, disapproves
of the haste of the wooing and we'd
ding, but says nothing. Garth Holden.
handsome and wealthy college chum or
Robert, dimes with them Natalie ap-
pears not to fancy him, but shows
decided liking for Ned Church, friend
of Bruces, who is pretty much of a
male 1irt. Bruce returns late at night
from trip Natalie reaches home
later and declines to tell Bruce whom
she was with. Bruce is made a part
ner in his unces firm and Natalie de-
veops extravagant tastes.-Now go on
with the story
HAD never thwarted Natalie in any OF
| her plans but when I how she had
- decided on plans for our summer with
out consulting me, I concluded it was high
time I asserted myself. Then, too, I dis
liked the thought of spending the summer
vacation in fashionable place. Before
| Uncle had suggested cottage in the coun-
| try I had determined to rough it If Natalie
were willing-to go somewhere in the woods
and rest wear old clothes, forget society.
But how much better to take house in
the country for the entire season. Three
months or more of quiet country life would
get me up make new man of me physical
ly and mentally. With the motor uncle had
promised would be independent, could
roam about country roads, picnic, etc. l
was immensely pleased with the prospect
yet I would look about bit before I men,
| toned it to Natalie. If I could find an at
tractive place, small but convenient, 7 would
be prepared to sweep aside some of the OBJ
! jectons she might make.
I never was sure of Natalie, never certain
what would please what annoy her. At
first I had delighted in her elusiveness, the
thought that I would never know boredom,
but this battling quality was beginning to
pail on me. I longed to know how she felt,
what she would do, whether a suggestion
would be acted upon or she would do just
the opposite-as often happened.
A thought was in my mind-a hope UNI
believably alluring. Suppose we went to the
country and it should be the means of draw
ing Natalie and me closely together Never
had I been able to feel close to her, not even
when ave were first married, and now she
seemed to be getting farther and farther
away all the time. Perhaps If she once
tasted the peace of quiet summer with me,
just we two alone, her restlessness, her love
of excitement would leave her. Why in the
two. years We had been married I could
count on the fingers of one hand the days
we had spent entirely alone after we re-
turned from our honeymoon.
Natales craving for excitement, her rest
| lessness had at first seemed but the natural
desire of small town girl to know the
gaety of city life, to become acquainted
with her new environment so [ had willing
ly accompanied her wherever she wished to
go, even planning to show her everything
of interest. But long ago had come to the
conclusion that her avidity for pleasure was
slowly but surely making havoc of our life
together, preventing the quiet intimacy that
a happy marriage demands for stability.
When tried to explain this to her, talk
ed seriously of our future, she only laughed,
called me "an old fogy like your uncle"
and went serenely on her way So I had, as
! Uncle said, burned the candle at both ends,
| working hard all day, then working still
harder half the night to please her. I was
| feeling the strain, was tired and bit dis
gusted with the constant round of dining,
dancing, theaters, etc. At first I had fig
ured that it was an old story to me, that
must be patient and give Natalie her fling.
But after two years she appeared more avid
than ever, more restless, less willing to give
anything Of herself, her time, exclusively
to me-
Her extravaganza APPALLED, me- Twice wa
had moved to a larger, more expensive
! apartment each time refurnishing almost
wholly. We now kept two servants instead
of one-I often thought they got more out
of my home than did, perfectly run though
it was. At first Nataies fair for clothes,
her exquisite dressing had added to my
pride in her. But now the bills for her
wardrobe had grown out of all proportion to
my income. In nothing had I been able to
curtail our expenses save in the purchase of
something for which she had no credit-an
automobile, expensive jewels, etc.
Whenever [ demonstrated with her-I sell
dom dd-she invariably reminded me that
[ would get Uncle Roberts money, that +
had no need to save that she, got little
enough out of her life as it was.
We had never really quarreled. T won
I dered sometimes If it wouldn't be better if
we did, IL our nerves, perhaps our morals.
wouldn't be improved by getting things out
Of our systems instead of bott1ing them up,
! hiding them under soft words or deadly
! silences.
me was as great, perhaps greater than ever,
yet I was far from happy. I was nearly
! thirty-one; / lived in a rented apartment 7
could not afford; I had used UP practically
all my savings as we'll as my increased in
! come, and oVershadowing all Natalie and I
were growing apart, had no community
| of interest.
eff you'd tell me about your cases you
wouldn't embarrass me- she said when I
spoke Of this, tried to arouse her interest.
What do you mean? How are you EN-.
| barrassed?"
Nell Morton asked me what 7 thought of
| the Daltons case. / told her I'd never heard
of it, You should have seen her surprise
Your husbands firm is getting her a d.
Yorce, she informed me. You shut me
out Of your affairs, then expect me to be In
terested in you"
Il have told you clients condolences"
"Oh, yes / know" she replied impatient.
| ly But when you have case like uua1
| society people, you might tell me about IL
instead of making me wait and read it in
the papers. You want me to talk of books
! dry as dust subjects, and wonder WHY am
| not interested. I'd be interested if you
weren't so afraid to gossip with me-"
Il hate gOSSiD kno fol bor