Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-05-10
CHAPTER XII

with the story.
CHAPTER XII
1--WE minutes after arrived Natalie
II came in.
eat last we are sensible COUPLE"
she astonished me by saying in gay un-
troubled voice. 1--WE each go our own way
and no questions asked"
you've enjoyed yourself?" I asked +
Had corking time. And your" {
"Corkinger-''
"Good. And we both have an ingrained
belief that questions aren't allowable in well
regulated families, I'm off to bed I've
an engagement early in the morning"
Would she never cease Raging me about
that old remark, 1 wondered as I babe her
good night. l would read awhile.
What | had expected | don't know, taars
and reproaches perhaps. But I resented This
nonchalant acceptance Of my absence, the
lack OF curiosity. She had been adorable in
her insouciance. And she was ravishing in
her beauty which perfectly set off by
her goWning. / thought of the girl in the
simple white dress who would love road
ster she could drive herself-and sighed.
She never would be satisfied to be in one
place, her husband in another.
1t nearly morning when at last went
to bed, fully decided that Natalie never
should have a car until she too was satisfied
with roadster a. coupe and learned to
drive herself.
1t was late when I wakened. Natalie was
ALREADY gone.
"Mrs. Henderson told me not to wake
you, Dora explained as she poured my cof-
fee Mrs Morton for her early
1 hurried through my BREAKFAST and left
for the office in anything but happy frame
of mind Natalie had told Dora to tell me
Mrs Morton called for her, knowing it
would annoy me. What did it all mean
or-was l growing suspicious without cause
-misjudging Natalie?
AS had often done before, 1 went back
,,-;4 lal
doubted her love, although never had she
been at all demonstrative. Even her cold
ness had attracted me as | had believed it
to be modesty. Had l been too soft with
her? Was my little friend right and would
she think more of me because | had asserted
myself? Did she love me, why else had she
married me? She was mercenary, that [
knew, but l had not been wealthy, I had
nothing to arouse cupidity. If she no longer
cared | must be at fault.
| was glad when l reached the office and
my introspection ended. Often of late had
demonstrated the efficacy of hard work as a
cure for mental disturbance.
Can you go to Chicago?" Uncle asked.
eff it is necessary, yes"
ut is necessary He mentioned we
were working on, explaining why it was
vital that l should go instead of one OF the
clerks. "Can you go today? The first train
{ you catch?"
Yes, give me time to run home and tell
Natalie" | stopped. Natalie wasn't at
home L rushed to the telephone. No, she
had not returned, Dora told me. / called
the Morton home. The maid there had no
idea where Mrs. Morton had gone or when
she would return.
Uncle gave directions as to how was
to approach the man I was to see. rushed
home packed my bag, then wrote Natalie a
note telling her where l was going and how
disappointed l was not to see her before I
left and promising to return as soon as
possible At the station l again called our
apartment Natalie was still out.
Never had l gone about a duty more I'M
willingly. Thoughts of what had happened
the night before troubled me. We had not
quarreled, yet it seemed that something
more sinister than a mere quarrel lay be-
tween us. Natalie had gone to bed with
careless good night after declaring we were
a sensible married couple because neither of
us cared where the other went. No word
had passed between us since, and at the
thought of leaving her all my love for her
had surged over me. / longed to take her
into my arms, to tell her l had been brutal
to leave her, to hear her say she had missed
me-had wanted me with her. / had hesi-
tated to caress her of late-fearing L would
be repulsed. -
Instead / was being rushed away from her
at forty miles hour. If everything went
right [ woUld get back in time for her din
ner party. She never would forgive me If II
failed her then
My days were crowded with work had
no time 10 tnlnK, even OF hef. At night l
was tired [ fell asleep almost as soon as
| touched the pillow Yet each night l had
sent her a note but | had heard nothing
from her
| reached home scarcely more than an
hour before our guests we're due, longingsto
be with Natalie. She returned my kiss In
perfunctory sort of way, then cautioned me
to hurry and dress.
81 dress in few minutes don't send
me away" l begged
"You must shave" she returned "And
now that you are here L will let you make
the cocktails"
"Cocktals?" l knew we had no "mak-
ings" in the house, and then am bit OF
Puritan in way, believing in observing
the law.
Eyes, Glen Morton sent over the mate
rails. 1t was awfully good of him.
l turned and went quickly from the room.
L am also bit old-fashioned and the
thought of another man providing anything
for my Wife's dinner party angered me.
Natalie must be more intimate with the
Mortons than | thought to accept such a
thing. / bathed and shaved, but it was not
until our first guest arrived that left the
room.
CONTINUED Tuesday. Renew your SUBJ
scripti0n now to avoid missing chapter of
this absorbing story.)
PUNGENT PARAGRAPHS
Happy is the man who can't borrow
trouble.