Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-06-14

w looking at the name had scrawled
on the envelope.
eyes, but charged to me-"
She drew out the bills, sheaf OF them,
and turned them over carelessly.
''Well, what of it? You surely doEt be-
erudge them to Mother and / couldn'l take
her about with the clothes she had
t'You mean that you deliberately run up
those bills expecting me to pay them? That
vour mother doesn't intend to give you the
money!"
.she can't very we'll give me what she
hasn't got, can she? ! gave those things to
mother"
"Then you'll pay for them I won't"
"You mean
.That 1 shall not pay those bills" in
terrupted Had you wanted to buy your
mother one dress or some other thing to
improve her appearance l should not nave
objected. I would have gladly told you to
do so had I been consulted, but three ex~
pensiye dresses, shoes from that bootery'
all those other things--I absolutely refuse
to pay for them" *
"How can you help it? Mother has no
charge accounts and / bought tnem, she
didn't"
''These bills all say distinctly, For Mrs.
Brooks I am under no obligation to pay
Mrs Brooks bills and / shall write and tell
these people 500 My determination grew az
1 talked.
"You would embarrass and mortlfy me
like that?"
"You should have asked my permission.
Your mother or you never dreamed of such
extravaganza until you had my money to
spend [ shall do as I say-refuse to pay
those bills
Suddenly Natalie burst into very tor
rent of tears, loud sobs, interspersed with
T
Natalie cry, really cry; few tears quickly
wiped away had been the extent of her
weeping since we married. She was not the
crying sort and was so astonished, so non
plussed / could do nothing for moment but
stare at her.
Crying won't do any good Natalie"
steeled myself, longing to comfort her but
feeling il I showed my feelings l was
gone. 81 shall not pay those bills"
Every we'll, don't, then. But you'll take
the consequences She sat up, dried her
eyes instantly just as her mother came into
the room.
What is it, Natalie? I thought I heard
you crying" she said looking from Natalie
to me.
Il have a bad headache mother. i think
I will crawl in with you if I may. If
keep you awake you can sleep in the morn
ing" She crumpled the bills in her hand,
rose and swept out of the room, her mother
following.
My punishment had begun.
In the morning neither appeared at break
fast. | sent the maid up with message
for Natalie She returned saying Mrs.
Brooks had told her my wife was sleeping.
In pleasant frame of mind I attended
to my work at the office. Garth dropped
in and l asked
What made you think Jessie knew moth
Ing of the party last night, Garth?"
Because she telephoned me- She has a
phone in her room, you know
Even so you probably are mistaken. Jes-
sic isn't strong, you know"
"Perhaps-but I still have a bunch she
called the party off for other reasons"
After he left / called JESSIE expressed
my regret at her illness and expressed the
hope she improved.
II am feeling much better this morning"
she said. IL sorry to spoil your eve-
ming
"You didn't spoil NINE" I replied II was
glad to get home early"
Then there were two of us not disap-
pointed she laughed. AS L hung ND was
convinced Garth was right. She had pur-.
posely kept Ned at home.
Before I left the. office Uncle Robert laid
a check for $500 my desk. ,~e
''Its your birthday soon. I am only an
ticipatng It a lttle,'' he said, laying his
hand on my shoulder.
AS ] thanked him I knew this was his
way Of helping me, showing he knew bills
were worrying me- His next remark proved
me right.
81 hate to see that anious look on your
ace. Bruce. Come to me for more If you
need It,"
II shan't need more" I swallowed the
lump in my throat. II hope to manage bet
ter in the future"
Would I be able to?
When [ reached home the maid told me
Natalie was still i'll and would not come
down to dinner Her mother did, however
and entertained me by wondering what I
had done to make Natalie suffer So
She won't tell me-" Mrs. Brooks COM
blamed. But she's so sensitive, so easily
hurt. You must be very careful Bruce in
your dealings with her. A high spirited,
sentative woman can't stand unkindness" /
bit my tongue in the effort to keep STILL
! had put 1T up to Natalie to settle the af-
tair with her mother and unless it were
necessary for me to interfere I would let
her be the one to inform Mrs Brooks that
| would not pay those bills. I was sure she
was not ill--that she trying to force me
to pay them.
Continued Tuesday. Renew your subscrip.
ton now to avoid missing a chapterl