Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-04-24
CHAPTER Y

CHAPTER
II CHIDED Natalie for her seeming lack OF
] interest in Garth Holden.
- HE is my best friend, Natalie. Do try
TO make him your friend also"
do you want me to fall upon his neck?'
she asked.
mot literally, no." I laughed with her.
but I more than anxious mat you Two
should like each other"
Look out! I may. like him too we'll
some day" inscrutable look on her face
I'll take that risk" I fatuously believed
she never would tire of me-
One of the first things Uncle Robert had
impressed upon me when fresh from college
I went to work in his office, was that l must
respect the confidence of our clients.
Natalie early developed curiosity about
what went at the office, our class, and
the people who came to US as clients. So
insistent did she become that l repeated
uncIe's warning.
But I am your wife, surely you can tell
me-"
mo, not even you, dear"
''Yet you Ahave many women cltents?" i
eyes, every successful law firm does"
''Women come to your office, make a con-
fdent of you,A and you refuse to let me, your
wife, share that confidence. Don't you think
have a right to know"
"That I cannot concede,' I replied
felt through all her questioning that 1t
wasn't jealousy that prompted her. Natalie
never had shown the slightest signs of such
an emotion. What was it, then? 1t seemed
to me there was much [ would have to
learn about Natalie, yet perhaps when she
met my friends, had more to occupy her time
and thoughts, she would forget to be curious
or-baffing.
She entered into all my plans for her en-
tertainment with zest, making me describe
infinitely the people she was to meet, espe-
cially the men. Invariably she inquired as
to their finances
''Without money one can do nothing. Why
bother with people who haven't it," she re-
torted.
At this time I did not take Natalie seri-
ously. Such remarks simply amused me. |
was so much in love that 1 saw no flaws in
her If occasionally something Jared, it
was forgotten in moment.
My friends proved most kind. Those who
were married came with their wives to call,
the bachelors dropped in for hour in the
evening or at Natalie's tea hour. Soon
had become part Of a gay group, many Of
them friends of my bachelor days.
Natalie would be busy now, have no time
to indulge her curiosity abo-t our clients
l wondered if after all she was a bit jealous
rather pleased at the idea. Her beauty,
her vivacity, her flair for clothes made her
popular. ! was not unlike other men in
that this popularity caused me to believe her
the more desirable.
Natalie had absolutely no idea of the value
Of money although her people were in very
ordinary circumstances. 1t worried lit
tie. l should have to caution her, tell her
she must not spend quite SO recklessly, that
my income didn't warrant it. But | hated
to curb her spending, she so loved to purchase
beautiful things, for the apartment as we'll as
for her own adjoining. To make her happy
was the aim of my life and something
told me- and unconsciously | listened, that
WOul0 he haODV
Shes so lovely no wonder she loves lovely
things" | said to myself as | watched her.
"Why don't we have a car, Bruce?"
'SimLle enOugh-because we can't afford it,
If we lived in the country we might perhaps
manage it, but here, high garage charges up
keep and make it out of the question"
Il should think your uncle might give us one
or else pay you enough so we could afford
one"
He pays me all am worth and more, too"
replied.
Considering that you will have it all some
aay ne might be more generous now. 1t
wouldn't hurt him"
hated to hear her crltcise Uncle Robert.
Her dislike for him had been obvious from
the first. Why ! couldn't imagine
Don't Natalie. When you talk so about
Uncle Robert it hurts me. Aside from you.
dear, ne is all | have in the world love
him deeply"
you're not at all flatterine wou1dn,t tus+
me be enough?"
Don't" l said again
mat she could not or would not realize
now felt toward my uncle made me really
unhappy In this, too, l knew there was no
leehng Of jealousy; it was something differ.
enL something I could not understand He
nad oeeh very kind, very generous large
check had been his wedding present to Natalie
Perhaps she didn't understand older peonle
Inought. She would love him when she knew
him better.
continued Saturday. Start this story now.
You VIII find it of absorbing interest.
nef OF imaginable ills and by letting their
fancy convert trifing annoyances into mon