Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-11-24
Margaret CARROTS
Husband
A NIGHT OF WAITING.
X By JANE PHELPS \
x X X X X X X X X X x s.sk 1
CHAPTER LXVI.

SUM hi1Cu my ttdiS Wien lHtIt
was no one to impress with my unhappi
ness and sat down to read, expecting
every time heard the elecator stop that
it was Bob returning; ready to apollo
gize for leaving me, and to promise tc
do as asked concerning Fred Lang.
worth-and others.
But the time dragged miserably, and
when midnight came and still he had not
arrived 1 logan to feel anxious. II
couldn't be that he had gone out with
the very people of whom l had been
talking; the people who derided and
inssdted me, and whom l ignored. Yet
as one O'Clock struck, then two, and he
had not come home, 1 realized that
probably he was with some of them
John Kendall, perhaps.
| waited until little after two then
called up John IS studio. When he an
swered l realized that / had waken.
ed him as his voice was muffled with
sleep.
Ono, haven't seen Bob tonight, y
then, els there anything ] can do for
you9 | shouldn' t worry however, he II
be along pretty soon.
"Thank youi I am sorry I have an
noyed you, and hung up the receiver.
knew Of no other place I could reach
him at that hour, SO | slowly prepared
for bed. But sleep was impossible, and
| laid awake until the gray dawn crept
in at the windows.
Della said nothing when he did not
appear at breakfast, but / knew by her
expression and her solieitude because of
my failure to eat, that she mistrusted
something wrong [ swallowed my cof-
fee, and then anxiously waited until
time for the office to open. At nine
o clock called.
~ would like to speak to Mr.. Gar
rett'' l told the stenographer.
Hello!" it was Bob's voice, and
the relief was 50 great could scarce
ly speak.
Hello Bob, where in the world were
you, and why didn't you come home. ;"
81 was at the club, and 1 didn It come
home because you make it the last place
l want to seel +"
don t understand what you mean +"
"Then | shall not tell you. But UNI
less things are to be changed / shall
remain at the club indefinitely. Good
bye"
l was dumbfounded. Bob would not
come home and claimed it was because
of the way | acted. What had l done?
l left the telephone and ignoring the
children s cries I locked myself in my
room and had a regular spasm of weep
ing. 1t was strange that no matter
what / did things never went right
any more, +" said aloud in self pity.
Finally | bathed my face and eyes
and went toward the living room Just
rs heard little Donald scream horribly.
rushed into the kitchen and my baby
was rolling in agony on the floor, while
Della stood helplessly by; so frighten-
ID she could not move. He had pulled
over some OF grease she had used in
and is little arm was badly
burned.
l felt terribly guilty as I snatched my
BOY from the floor and found something
% ease his burns. Had l not remained
,loseted in my room it never would have
occurred. In my great love for Bob,
lad forgotten my babies. 1t should
lever happen again. This would be les
ION. | would love Bob just as much
tut would not allow that love to make
ne neglect my darlings.
Donald soon fell asleep in my arms,
,ut even then sobbing occasionally j
While Della knelt beside my chair talk |
ng wildly in whispers of her sorrow
'ecause she had not watched her charge i
more closely. / comforted her as best I
could; hesitating to blame her for
What | felt | was responsible for. Fin !
lily laid Donald down, and going
gain to the telephone 1 told Bob what I
lad happened.
"I'll come right upl' he answered,
nxiety tingiing his voice.
"There is no need. He is asleep nov
nd l don t think he will be scared. y
every well; will be home early"
For anyone or anything but me, .
thougt bitterly as / left the telephone.
hone.
Little Donald was not as badly burn
d as / had feared, aud aside from fret,
ing little he was all right when Bob
ame in. watched him hold his boy
losely in his arms while he talked low
ngly to him with a hungry longing in
~ heart. A longing for the earesses
he loving words given so freely; yet
or which l had to beg.
Deep down in my heart knew that
was my own fault if Bob had ceased
0 care for me, vet ! never had admit
I'd it, even to myself. Finally after he
ad put Donald down / asked him:
HWhy did you go out last night7''l
because you make it impossible for
lie to remain where you are without
and as | prefer not to spend
" evenings in biekering with you /
ave made up my mind to stay away
NTH YOU can live without constantly
agging me.n +
4 uoa mean to nag you, Bob, real
2 I don Il but | want your love; want
4 that goes with that love and when
feel YOU don t give il to me can t
clip telling you how l feel. -
He made no answer. / couldn't tell
neither he was annoyed or not, but j
fter that night he remained with me !
most every evening until we moved in
, the country. Il
(To be Continued Monday E