Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-11-07
Margaret CARROTS
uSl)als
BOB Is DEVOTED TO JOHN
KENDALL
K By JANE PHELPS
< X X X X = 4: 4 n X X X X
CHAPTER LII,

at the ceiling most of the night, won
dering what | should, or could do to
keep Bob at home with me. had heard
that everyone had a problem of life.
This was mine, and | would solve it
before long. In that I could my faith
never wavered. realized that | had to
contend against his early habits, fos.
tered by his mother-whOm in NV
thoughts l always condemned as a fool
ishly weak person, almost wicked in
fact because she had not only allowed,
but encouraged Bob to give free vent
TO his Bohemian proclivities. The only
fault L saw in my otherwise perfect
husband; but fault which 1 must cor
rect.
I never thought of the people we met
that night we dined at the Revourt
without shuder of repugnance. Bob
had said they were clever and I knew
h. really thought them so But it was a
kind of. cleverness of which 1 disapprov-
ed; and which did not appeal to me in
the least.
Queerlv dressed women with bobbed
hair, and badly groomed men did not
interest me, and should not interest
Bob With Lis education, his poise, his
appearance, he should associate only
with the very best, the most conserva-
tive people instead of with the Bo-
Ermian crowd with whi3h he was iden-
titled.
When he realized that I was in earn
est in my refusal to mix with them; 60
either accept their invitations, or to en-
tertain them he certainly would accede
to my wishes. Then my companionship,
my love, would be, MUST BE, suffi-
cient for h;m-as his was for me.
I thought Of John Kendall and Won
dered if he were really i'll or if he had
simply made Bob believe he was so that
he might keep him at his studio, and
so away from me. How strange that Bob
cared so much for him. He talked of
nothing but books and writer's. He seem
ed to care nothing for other things, the
quiet domestic things in which l was
interested.
Elsie once told me that when John
Kendall got to talking about some writ
er you could give him sawdust to eat,
and he would think it a cereal and
put sugar and cream on it and eat
it with perfect relish.
Then too, there was Henry Creedmore
rich, and of an old family. He also had
bad influence over Bob. He gave large
parties and invited all sorts of queer
people who stayed until daylight. The
women smoked with the men, and talk
ed about personality, the new woman,
and such trash. L thought also that there
was too much freedom between them.
Occasionally it flashed over me that
some women would be jealous if hus-
band as handsome, as attractive as Bob.
acted as he did with these people; but
no thought of being jealous of him IN
that way ever entered my mind. But
WAS Jealous of the time Bob gave to
them; that time which I considered my
own. We had promised to forsake all
others, to live only for one another.
I kept booth the spirit and the law
of our marriage contract, and l intend
ed that Bob should do the same. l did
not imagine for a moment that it might
proye irksome for him. simply con-
sidered his fondness for the friends OF
whom L disapproved que to the loose
way in which he had lived when his
mother was alive and humored him.
In the morning l arose unrefreshed,
disappointed because of the loss OF my
Atlantic City outing, and in vain tired
to eat little of the tempting break
fast Della had prepared for me. When
she urged me, l shook my head, but
managed to swallow a cup of strong COZ
fee.
"I don It expect Mr.. Garrett would go
without eatin if you was away. Beg
gin your pardon Tor speakin SO bold
HkeH Delta said when l refused the
toast.
"There are many things you do not
understand, Della. One of them that
when Mr.. Garrett is away l have no
appetite but just at that moment ne
came in and l added, "But here he is
uowl make some fres toast, and scram-
Bile some eggs as quickly as you can.
"Good morning, dearl'' Bob kissed
me as he spoke ~ IN just in time 1t
SENS. Is Donald all right9''
eyes, he has been awake for an
hour
!" Kendall's pretty sick,'' Bob volun'
teered.
"he must be when you not only give
up your outing, but thought INT TO pun
ism me as well. :"
II would give up any sort OF pleas
| ure if old Jonn needed me.
"But L cannot understand why yor
should expect me to give up mine 1ol
a man l dislike, and
"John Kendall means great dea
TO me,'' Bob interrupted, land shal
remain with him until his mother ar
riyes. l have sent for her but she can
not get here until tomorrow. l VIII rul
upstairs and change, but don't expeel
me home again until she arrives. Creed
more is with him now."
s'Let Henry Creedmore stay wlti
himl He is a bachelor, and 1t ineon
ycniences no one. Your place is w1ti
your wife and son. -
Gas long as my wife and son are n
excellent health, and in want of noth
ing, my place is beside the best frien'
I have in the world, - he told me severe
ly. But I was SO disappointed, so cha
grined at being put aside, that burs
into tears, and flung myself into hl
arms, sobbing out my love for him, m,
unhappiness when he left me for anyon'
else.
4 sf,rafl