Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-12-22
Margaret CARROTS
Husband
A TERRIBLE CONFIDENCE
By JANE PHELPS
K X x X X 4 X X X X X X
CHAPTER XC.

! NHlltJ anu loOheu SO serious was
frightened, and began to tremble What
could have happened that he must
come home purposely to tell me of it?
But | asked no questions, someway I
could not. 1 just stood and watched
1 him as he took off his coat and hat,
and then followed him into the library.
/ Sit down, Margaret, 1 want to talk
| to you. What / have to say may per-
haps hurt You. ! hope not. But, what
ever the result, it cannot go unsaid any
longer
He stopped, and leaning one elbow
! on the table he rested his head upon
his hand He was quit so long that
could stand it no longer and asked
"What is it you must tell me y
| For some few minutes longer he kept
silent. I wanted to say something to
him, but he still wore that detached,
serious look and I hesitated. Fmally
he commenced again:
You remember, Margaret, that when
we were married I had just lost my
mother How dearly had loved her
you perhaps have never realized; nor
what she was to me. From the time
was little shaver we had been
chums something you and I never
have been. AS 1 grew older, we were
comrades, young together. Mother
never was too tired, or too busy to well
come and make much of my friends
those of whom she approved Most of
them, Margaret, are the same friends
you so dislike"
81 dislike them because they take
you from me, and IL interrupted, but
he made motion to silence me, then
went on
''When I grew older and went to col
lege she was still the best pal, the
dearest comrade a felfcw ever had.
Why / would rather have her come
over commencement week than any
girl I knew. She entered into all my
disappointments as no other could do
then" I noticed his hesitancv before
the word then,' but said nothing; /
was too surprised that he should have
come back from the party to talk about
his mother.
"She was forever doing things to
make me happy. Only tonight Creed
more reminded me of the boxes Of
goodies she used to send me so that we
might have spreads in my room; of the
Christmas gifts she made, never once
forgetting any of the boys who were
my companions. Not expensive gifts,
but big fat sofa pillow such as col
lege boys like, or a pretty table cover,
or books, something for every one. Is
it any wonder that 1 loved her?" he
did not wait for an answer, indeed l
was incapable of giving one. 1 sat
wide-eyed listening; wondering if. Bob
had suddenly lost his mind
"You know that father and I never
got on, he resumed after a moment
'and that sister Adah was just like
father, so we did not get on either.
After mother left me, it was impossible
that 1 should be happy at home. Then
l became acquainted with you. just at
the time when my heart was sore and
bleeding; when l wanted to hide my
sorrow; when l felt that nothing mat
tered, that nothing ever would matter
again now that she was gone l was
motherless, 1 felt homeless, because
home without her was no home at all
not for me.''
"But why are you going over all
this, Bob?" l queried at last.
Because I must so that you will
understand.
Understand whatq" again 1 won
dered if he was out of his mind.
'What 1 came home to tell you,
he grew white as chalk. "You were
quiet, soothing. Without meaning to
l drifted into sort of dependence on
you. You were older, graver than
any girl ever had known; and
didn't expect things of me. Things
which 1 had no heart for after
mother went. Gradually 1 commenced
to visit you. You were a fine house
keeper; you never annoyed me by light
and foolish talk when my heart was
sad with my loss. | mistook my feel
ing for you. 1t was gratitude, and be
cause 1 never thought to be happy
again, never expected to join in the
old gayety; I let my gratitude to you
overshadow me to such an extent that
l asked you to marry me. -
Gratitude-Bob. what are you talk
ing about - l again interrupted
"You cared for me from the first
1 think, / don t know now; then
was incapable of judging. But as
soon as my grief for mother had In
measure worn away-not that
ever shall cease TO grieve for her,-I
knew l had made a mistake. This is
hard for me, Margaret, perhaps harder
for you, but I must go through with
it. / have known for a long time
that the feeling had for you never
was love; but gratitude. We are mis-
mated in every particular. When l
bought this house and so was able to
enjoy the privacy of my own room
thought perhaps l could go on. But
we must come to some understanding.
And at once. -
''What kind Of an understanding
1 heard myself saying, and my voice
sounded as if from great distance.
''When I finish talking-that is 1
for you to say,'' and he YEARLY laid
ono arm over the other on the table
before him.
(To be continued Monday)