The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-13
CHAPTER xxVIII
r HAD thought Natalie indifferer

r HAD thought Natalie indifferent Il cold, for some time. Never had she been demonstrative, her caresses had l been rare, but of late I had feeling that she simply suffered any advances made, that they had become almost ob. noxiOus to her. So l gradually ceased offering them. Yet I loved her per haps even more than when we were first married.
 This coldness was not caused by any. thing I had done, as far as l knew Even her resentment because of my re. fusal to pay her mothers bills had not seemed to bring any added chill to her manner. She was gay, talked brightly to me when we happened to be alone, which was seldom, but it was as if she had erected wall between us beyond which I could not go.
 1 recalled something Garth had said when discussing a book he had read. Most authors" said he, ''only make a bust of marriage, but he gives you the whole body"
 It struck me as describing perfectly the condition existing between Natalie and me. To all outward appearances we were a most happy and congenial couple, yet our life together was but the semblance of what I had dreamed 1 it would be-
 Was Natalie satisfied with it? I could not tell. Never by word or look had she expressed unhappiness. save in connection with the one incl dent of her mothers bills, and l was sure she wasn't as upset over that IS she pretended-that her illness was as- stunned to compel me to her wishes in the matter.
 God knew I wanted her to be happy, but I also wanted her love, that one ness in marriage I craved. l wanted real home where I could stretch my legs and read or talk to her once in a while, instead of place to eat and sleep. which was all our home had meant 1 was tired, tired to the point of exhaustion with the years Of plea sure seeking, the abnormally late hours, the lack of any real rest or restfulness in my home.
 If. as I feared, Natalie's indifference meant she no longer cared for me. how was 1 to go about remedying matters Her mother was still with us and for the last month l had escorted them to theatres, dances. etc. with slayish reg ularity. Uncle Robert was almost him. self again and 1 had no excuse to re- fuse-so I knew Natalie thought. Money matters also worried me, Natalie's bills were larger than ever, her demands for entertainment and en- tertaining more extravagant. One can not chase the will-o' the-wisp of plea sure in New York without spending. Boxes at the theatre, engaged without consulting me, or expensive seats when boxes weren't procurable, dinners and suppers at expensive hotels or restau. rants, dancing clubs, all these and more ate up my money. The cost was far more than l could afford. l knew her mother encouraged her, I had overheard her say:
 You should have everything you want, Natalie. You'll never be young but once and there's no reason for you to shut yourself up; you've no children to keep you home.'
 But all these things, bad as they were, were as nothing compared to the feeling that Natalie had ceased to cart for me. And because of their fear had been cowardly in postponing any attempt to regulate our affairs. But could wait no longer. l had kept ac count of every penny we had spent in the last month, entertainments. my own expenditures, etc. Taking Natalie's bills with me I left the office in the middle of the afternoon and went home. would thresh the whole thing out with her tell her we must call a halt at once. found her in a charming negligee