The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1912-09-26
When Marcia
Came Home

Copyright. 1912. by Associated Literary
Press.)
Don't tell mother" Marcia said
tensely, but I'm not going back"
Constance looked at her in amaze
ment. You're not-going back" she
gasped.
I'm tired of 1t all. and I've told
Phfl."
How could your" her sister de
manded. HE loves you. Marcia
"Oh, know it, but love isn't every
thing, Connie. l thought so when
married Phil, and went up there in
the lumber regions and tried to live
his life. And you know I've tried to
be happy, but Pm not used to that
sort Of thing. And as for baby-you
know how ! want her to have every
thing that life can give her, and she
cannot up there"
But how could you tell Phil?
What did he say?"
"He-he didn't say much. He Just
looked at me In a puzzled way"
"Oh," Constance cried, "how can
you do such thing, Marcia?'
Because" Marcia painted, because
know what life up there means.
You don't. OF course, Phil is a law
yer, but his clients are all the men
who work in the forests, and the
women-why they are the wives Of
those men-and there isn't anything
n do ord mont oO hocL-co don't
ask me, Connie-don't ask me-"
For two months Marcia lived in a
whirl. Her mother, joyous at having
possession for a little while Of her
youngest girl, loaded her with gifts,
and Marcia appeared at garden par
ties and tennis events, and golf tour
naments, robed exquisitely in rose
color or in white.
She dressed Baby Margaret like a
doll and took her with her. To
gether they were petted and praised.
And If I were up there with Phil,
Marcia said % Connie, Il should have
spent this summer listening to the
frogs croak and the chickens sing"
You would have shared Phil's
hopes and sorrows," said Connie.
"Oh. Marcia, isn't he lonely?"
He doesn't say So" said Marcia,
evasively.
Two weeks later Phil came down
to fetch his wife.
you are coming home with me.
Marcia he said.
L; IN,
prise. Il thought you knew wasn't
coming any more?"
THAT is what you said, and /
thought | might let you have your
way. But-Tm not going to let you
take your life in your hands. |
promised to love and protect you.
My duty to my child places upon me
the same obligation to love and pro-
tect her-I haven't any right as a
husband and father to let you stay
here"
That night Marcia talked 1t over
with Connie. do you think I ought
to go back"
"If a man loved me-" said Connie,
as Phil loves you, | would go with
him to the end of the world"
That's what | thought" said Mar
cia, bitterly, when | married Phil,
but romance doesn't survive long
when you are up against the hard
things of life"
Philip Ames took with him an I'M
willing wife The trip on the train
was silent one. Only little Mar
garet prattled of the return Are
he pussies and the chickens expect
ng me?" she asked her father.
Eyes, and the pine trees have lots
If things to whisper In your ears.
Don't you know when the sun Is set
ing how they whisper, whisper, and
sing lullaby songs?"
yes said little Margaret, land
hats the time when you always tell
mother how much you love her."
Marcia, listening, felt her heart
cap. That had been one Of Pills
title ceremonies in their temple OF
ove At sunset ne would take her In
lis arms and say, Another day is
,urs, dear heart"
When had he stopped? She re-
nembered with shock that 1t was
The who had rung the knell to ro-
nance. 1t was she who had been i'm
patient of his caresses. 1t was she
Who had, one night, interrupted his
sunset litany to say, Another day of
oil and trouble-another day-of
oneliness."
After that he had not kissed her at
unset. After that he had withdrawn
little. After that he had worked
larder and more doggedly. Suddenly
he reason of his incessant laboring
awned upon her. Did he think she
wanted an easy life more than she
wanted romance, and so he had en-
to give 1t to her?
Their horses were waiting for them
t the station. They drove through
be long aisle of the forest.
The pussies were at the door to
neet Margaret. The man drove away I
With the horses, the maid who had
reeted them turned and went into
he house to serve the evening meal.