The herald., 1912-08-01
When Marcia
Came Home

Copyright. 1912. BY Associated Literary
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 it all, and I've told
Phil"
How could you?" her sister de-
manded. "He loves you, Marcia"
ooh, 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 I'm 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 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 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
to do. and l won't go back-so don't
ask me, Connie-don't ask me-"
For two months Marcia lived In a
whirl. Her mother, joyous at having
possession for little while Of her
youngest girl, loaded her with gifts,
ties and tennis events, and golf tour
naments, robed exquisitely in rose
color or in white.
She dressed Baby Margaret like
doll and took her with her. To-
gether they were petted and praised.
And II 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.
"Why" she looked at him in sur
prise. II thought you knew / wasn't
coming any moref"
THAT is what you said, and
thought I might let you have your
way. But-Im 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 q
husband and father to let you stay
here"
That night Marcia talked 1t over
with Connie. do you think 1 ought
to go back?"
'If a man loved me-" said Connie.
"as Phil loves you, would 60 with
him to the end Of the world"
That's what I thought" said Mar
cha, bitterly, when I 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 a silent one. Only little Mar
garet prattled Of the return. Are
the pussies and the chickens expect
ing mef". she asked her father.
Eyes, and the pine trees have lots
Of things to whisper in your ears.
Don't you know when the sun Is set
|, ting how they whisper. whisper. and
, sing lullaby songsf"
YES" said little Margaret, "and
that's the time when you always tell
. mother how much you love her."
Marcia, listening, felt her heart
, leap. That had been one Of Pills
little ceremonies In their temple of
love. At sunset he would take her in
his arms and say, Another day II
ours, dear heart"
When had he stoppsdf She 70.
membered with q shock that 1t was
Div VAo hou iuu6 lH0 Aucu u To
nance. 1t was she who had been i'm
? patient Of his caresses. II was she
, who had. one night. interrupted his
sunset litany to say, Another day of
Z toll and trouble-another day-of
, loneliness"
After that he had not kissed her at
sunset. After that he had withdrawn
, q little. After that he had worked
. harder and more doggedly. Suddenly
} the reason Of his incessant laboring
, dawned upon her. Did he think she
? wanted an easy life more than she
: wanted romance, and so he had en-.
} deavored to give 1t to her?
Their horses were waiting for them
= at the station. They drove through
!. the long aisle Of the forest
The pussies were at the door to
. meet Margaret. The man drove away
, with the horses, the maid who had
greeted them turned and went into
the house to serve the evening meal
Philip looked at his wife. you
a are home again, Marcia" he said
: simply. "Will you try to believe II
Is for the best, and not blame me