Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-10-13
Margaret CARROTS
Husband
X By JANE PHELPS i
X X X X X X X X X X X X 4 !
A HEATED DISCUSSION
CHAPTER xxx

SIIAI LIN AAA
When the postman left the mail thu
next morning Mrs. Roots invitation
was the first thing 1 opened. Without
a word | passed it over to 30 b..
"Finel" he declared, 1--WE III have &
corking time, Margaret. You never have
been to one of Mrs. Elmer Root IS mus
icales. They are simply great. YOU
meet a lot of people worth knowing"
"But we are not going. 1 shall write
this morning and decline the invitation
"You will-what?''
"Decline the invitation - I repeated
"But what for? If you need some
new clothes to go with, get whatever
you need. 1 wouldn t miss this affair
for anything"
81 don't need any clothes. My trous.
e dresses are perfectly all right for
any OCCASION"
"Then what in the dickens is It'll
Why should you decline Mrs. Root S in
vitation9"
because ] do not wish to 60"
"But why7" and there wa wonder
ment mixed with considerable vexation
in his tone.
REALLY, Bob, l thought you under
stood that we had decided not to make
ourselves dependent for our pleasures
upon any one but ourselves. We have
each other, a pleasant home, why should
we give up our nice quiet evening to-
gether to go to a musicale?'
You're talking foolishly, Margaret.
and now he made no attempt to hide his
impotence, "Just because we are mar
ried does not mean that 1 never want
to speak to another woman, nor you to
another man,
"That's just what it should meant"
l answered, "and seriously, it should
be so. 1 have no desire to be with any
one but you, least Of all these gay un-
conventional friends of yours whom you
knew before you were married"
81 guess it is a good thing I did
know some few people before we were
According to the way you talk
we would lave been hermits had l
| commenced to cry. Instantly Bob
was all remorse.
"There there, Margaret 1 didn It
mean to speak so impatiently. But a
mans friends mean a lot to him. Why
wouldn't give up my friendship and
association with John Kendall for thou
sands of dollars. And 1 have many 9th
er friends who are very close to me.
Mother knew and loved them all"
"But L am not your mother; I'm your
your mother as L have told you
was an old lady. She probably
looked upon you as a boy, and your
friends as nothing but boys also. But
when a man gets married different
Kings are expected of him."
81 don't see why that makes any
difference as far as personal friends
o."
sit is hard to make you understand
1 said patiently. 1 would reason
With him just as L would with a child.
lis mother had as Elsie said, "spoiled
Understand what? that you wish
ne to give up all my old friendsl 1
do it, Margaret, even to please
-ou. Now stop being so foolish, and
write a nice note of acceptance. You
will enjoy the musicale as much as l
viii after you get there"
you mean that you intend to accept
when you know 1 do not want to go,
10 NOT appfOVeF
81 certainly do intend to accept that
invitation, Margaret. You can do as you
about going, altho L shall be dis
.ppointed to have to go alone"
81 shall go if you insist upon it,
Bob. 1t is my duty to accompany you
Intil | can in some way make you see
hat your duty to me should make you
to remain at home with me. 1
o not care for your friends. They not
My do not interest me, they bore
le."
"I'm sorry" Bob's tone was that of
hurt child.
eve could be so happy here at home,
Bob dear. Wen buy some new books
nd read aOud, or if you want to go out
re will go to the theater together. 1t
Tould be so much pleasanter than spend
ng the evening with a crowd of peo-
lie with bohemian inclinations."
Margaret, 1 can't understand you'll
know you are not a kid. but 1 did not