Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-06-10
MY WIFE AND |
BY CAROLYN BEECHER

Y Jerry reluctantly | gave up all thought
" of a summer in the country. Could I'm
Gle Robert have been with us 1T would
have been feasible but after the contre->
tempts resulting from Natalie's proposal
that she keep house for him / knew he
never would consent to stay with u.s. [
told Natalie, simply saying that because OF
his health l could not leave him.
cit suits me just well,' she said Wen
go to Newport for your vacation and If am
enjoying myself I'll stay on
81 may not have any vacation"
"That would be too bad You really need
one [ never saw you look seedy. But
I shall GO couldn't endure the city all
summer. Every one away-and nothing to
do
t"There are the roof gardens and other
cool and attractive spots. I think you could
survive" I said, more annoyed at the ex-
preston on her mothers face than at Ma
talie.
Gust because you think it necessary to
remain with your relative is no reason
Natalie should punish herself by staying in
the hot city," Mrs. Brooks remarked in acid
tones
"Perhaps. Diana Lowell will remain in
town to attend to her affairs If she does
you won't lack company. Ned said you
were very much absorbed in each other"
was too angry to reply, not because
| felt the least guilty, but because of Natalie's
! tone, which was almost insulting. Diana
had been right. Ned had lost no time in
|
much of that as that Natalie had seen Ned,
had talked with him. 1t seemed she was
always seeing him.
"Where did you see Ned?" asked
Mother and I dropped in at a tea dance.
He happened to be there and insisted upon
being our host"
"a very likable man" her mother said.
! HE appreciates Natalie"
"Undoubtedly," I dryly responded.
Desperately 1 wished to wake Natalie up;
her inconsequence, her Indifference was driv-
! ing me wild. Was it only matter of time
until her utter indifference would change
into active dislike of me, perhaps into love
for some one else? The thought filled me
with such black despair and jealous rage
that felt like doing something violent. [
had waited and hoped so long, had tried to
be patient-was this to be the end Natalie
! in love with another?
what time is it," fretted Natalie.
"Please finish your dinner I must dress"
'Whats the plan for tonight" I asked.
! Mother and I going over to the Nor
toms. Do you care to go?"
"Not if I may be excused" said, then
wished I had not been so precipitate. us
it party?"
"No, just to play nah jong."
'"Thats that new Chinese game, isn't it,"
Mrs Brooks asked.
eyes, and Bruce detests it."
Til call for you" told them as left
them at Morton's door But I overstayed
my time with uncle and they had gone when
[ arrived. L apoogized and Mrs. Brooks
said:
1T didn't make bit of difference. That
nice Mr.. Church brought us home in his
limousine. Natalie ought to have just such
car. He thinks SO too"
oh, he does, does he?" retorted, then
hung off to bed, wishing she would go home.
that Ned Church would have an accident,
that something might happen. / couldn't
go on in this way much longer.
1t was the first of June, a beautiful balmy
morning. I felt better, happier than I had
Tor some time. Uncle Robert was able to
! come to the office for an hour or two each
day and it seemed to me Natalie had been
DIT kinder, more considerate. I whistled
as picked up my morning mail, heavy as
was always the case on the first of the
month.
Il wonder how much Natalie has stuck me
for this month";" I said aloud as I COM
menced to open the envelopes
my whistle caught in my throat What
ala 1T mean? All she and her mother had
! bought was charged to me. Dresses. coats.
| hats for Mrs. Brooks, even lingerie ali billed
IN my name. 1t was outrageous! Had
! they been at all economical it would have
oeen bad enough but this lavish expenditure
dresses from the French modesto hats
from the same shop that Natalie bought her
| own, shoes from exclusive bootery on
the avenue. | would not pay for them.
thought OF the remark I had made when
| hi0t maj lleu-LHaC nadnt married tha
Iamlly. This looked very much as if had.
l folded the bills, put them in an enyelope.
marked it Mrs. Brooks" and put it into NV
| pocket L drew checks for NataIie's personal
| eXpen dltures which were but little less than
! usual then tried to forget all about the
others. 1t might be that Natalie had them
sent to me because her mother had no
! charge accounts in New York
what the matter, Bruce, something UNI
pleasant in the mail this morning?" asked
uncle Robert, who had just come in.~
nope not-just misunderstanding on
my part about some bills"
are your bills worrying your"
Not particularly. Anyway not enough for
you to bother about them"
Have you talked seriously with Natalie,
Bruce? 1t isn't fair to her not to- You
can expect her to curtail IL she thinks
thereEls no reason why she should"
Contlnusd Thursday. Renew your SUBJ
sc1pt1on now to avoid missing a chapter.