Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-07-08
MY WIFE AND |
BY CAROLYN BEECHER
CHAPTER XXXVI

CHAPTER AAANl
VYvE spent Christmas day with Uncle
w Robert. He was ailing again and
said we would make him very happy
if we would come to him. His gift to me
was check large ] expostulated with
him, telling him he too generous. he
gave Natalie a string of perfectly matched
pearls.
Some day, my dear, you will have all my
wife's jewelry, but while she lives it is hers"
I knew she had not worn anything OF the
sort for years, that it was in the safety
vaults.
I had given Natalie another bracelet and
she had remembered both uncle and me.
We passed a quiet day, I feeling we had
made uncle happy, although / was terribly
depressed. Before the week ended I wouiG
know whether Natalie desired her freedom.
In the late afternoon we motored down 70
see Ned and Jessie. They were to celebrate
Christmas in the old-fashioned way with a
tree and "all the trimmings, as Jessie ex-
pressed 1t.
well play we are children, since neither
of us have any," she said gaily, a wistful
look in her eyes Her baby had come to
her only to pass on.
That wistful look caught at my heart
strings and [ determined not to allow my
depression to spoil her attempt to spread
the Yuletide gaiety She had gifts for all,
quaint ridiculous things carefully wrap
ped, that brought bursts Of merriment when
opened and displayed. A delicious supper
! followed and just before we left the choral
singers came and sang beneath the window:
f"Peace on earth, good will to men,
We drove home almost in silence. The
night was beautifully clear, not too cold,
and the music fingered with me, the words
ringing in my heart: peace earth"
I left Natalie at home and took the car
| to the garage. When I returned I went in
so quietly she did not hear me. She had
not discarded her wraps. She sat before the
CRATE fire. her head on her hands, look
of utter WEAKNESS on her face
Something in her attitude gripped me,
made me forget myself, think only Of her
| that she was unhappy.
Natalie, dear what is it," asked, bend
! ing to her.
Startled, she looked up, a little cry on her
| lips. 1 leaned over and lifted her from the
| chair into my arms
Don't look like that, Natalie Tell me.
dear-what can I do to make you happy"
I drew out the hatpin and taking off her
hat smoothed her hair, holding her close.
'Id give my 1ife dear, to see you happy"
whispered. II love you SO, my beautiful
! wife. Why can't you love me little?
have so wanted to tell you how loved you
but"
"Why haven't you-before?" The words
were scarcely more than a breath.
II didn't dare. was afraid I'd offend
Indifferent Tell me, Natalie, have / been
mistaken-do you care for me llttle?"
But she made no attempt to leave my arms
and awakened hope was almost unman-
ming me.
'No-not little, Bruce-a-great deal.
But I thought you didn't love me- she said
after + gave her chance to speak You
too, were cold, indifferent--so different
from what thought you would be-"
II was afraid to force my love, myself.
Note Ito t
why, dear, I have been making up my
mind to give you your freedom-if you
wanted it-even if it broke my heart" i
"I won't take it, so don't make the Of
fer she smiled quiveringly.
For hours we talked talked until every
thing that had troubled me was cleared
away Her mad chase for pleasure had
been an effort to hide from me and the
world her unhappiness. Her extravaganza
had been but the outcome OF a decision,
bolstered by a letter from her mother, that
so long as I did not love her she would get
what she could, all she could, out of her
life with me-
"I loved beautiful things, artistic sur
I roundings and I thought as long as you had
married me and given me nothing else they
were my right At the very beginning you
refused to make me your conf1dant, made
me feel | had no part In your life, that
could not question you. You made an orna-
ment of me and I accepted the role. But
there never has been time when II you
had taken me in your arms, made me feel
you loved me, that I would not gladly have
given up anything that distressed you. But
when a Woman feels that she has given her.
self to a loveless life she will do most any
| thing to console herself-to show that she
too, does not care-if she has any pride"
1t was almost morning when hand in
hand we sought repose not even the shadow
Of cloud between
Four months later I bought a small
country house up the Hudson Uncle
Robert will spend the summer with u.s.
welcome guest Natalie Is full of plans for
her flower and vegetable garden. We have
no secrets from each other except such mat
ters as intimately concern my clients. She
no longer claims Ter right to ask about such
condolences.
My cup Of happiness is full, overlooking,
| and our friends point to us as the model
couple, the couple who never have known
disagreement. How little people know. How
little I knew of Natalie until love taught
me-showed me the real Natalie who so
long baffled
I have learned my lesson. man cannot
expect a wife to be loving and responsive
unless she is sure Of his love. love that
Is expressed in words as we'll actions. 4
| (The Enid NT
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