Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-11-12
Margaret CARROTS
Husband
ANERA OF HAPPINESS.
By JANE PHELPS
X X X X X \: X X X X X X ,
CHAPTER LV.

CHAPTER LV.
When I told Bob of the converse.
tion at John Kendall s the day Elsie
and called on his mother, he looked
displeased, but made no remark other
than that he was glad Mrs. Kendall
intended to remain with John until he
was WELL
"She spoke of coming over to see
Donald" told him.
81 hope you will be at home when
she comes" was Bob IS only comment.
Bob was very attentive to me from
this time on. He refused several invi-
tations to studio affairs; and came di-
rectly home from the office instead of
making call on one of his bachelor
friends ON is way as had been custom
of his, one which 1 had vainly tried
to break.
Mrs. Kendall called one day when
was not at home. Della and the baby
were however and as Mrs. Kendall ask
ed to see him, and played with him for
some time. told Bob, who was regret
full at my absence, that he needn t
feel badly as it was really Donald she
came to see. She left for home the next
day.
l shall always look back with pleas
ure to that winter before my second
baby was born. In spite of the many in
vitations we received, Bob scarcely ever
left me. Our evenings were spent either
quietly together at home, with father
and mother occasionally, and once a
week we played cards with Tom and
Elsie. One night overheard Elsie say
to Bob:
"'We miss you this winter, Bob, the
boys always speak of you and regret
you are not with us. John Kendall and
Henry Creedm6re are always lamenting
your absence. Those three, Margaret, ARE
a trinity it would be hard to beat when
it comes to mutual admirationlN she
said to me.
Il would rather be missed than that
you should be glad 1 remained away"
Bob answered.
" You don t know how happy we are,
Elsie!" b" | broke in. F'We are together
every evening, and so have nothing
to worry about
''But l should think you would hate
the very sight of each other!" Elsie
said in her impulsive way, cor would
bore each other to death, which would
be nearly as bad"
"Why, Elsie" 1 exclaimed, "you
know we don t bore each other! We live
each other too dearly for that, don t
We Bob?'
81 love Tom, but I should hate the
very sight of him if we sat and stared
It eac other evening after evening!
Elsie returned, preventing Bob from
my question.
"You are very different from Mar
taret, Elsie Bob said very quietly.
: She makes herself so unhappy when
am away, denies herself even proper
ood, that L feel just at present l must
emain with her. Next year we win be
more sociable."
1 was shocked and a bit puzzled at !
'ob's speech. He had not intimated by
p the old life again, hardly made me
eel that he regretted it. Only an oc-
asional word or expression showed that |
e longed to be with his old crowd, that |
soemian crowd l objected to so siren |
ously.
''Next year is long way off Bob"
reminded. "We will wait until it ar
ives before we make any plans, 'Suf-
icient unto the day you know
The next day when alone 1 thought |
f what Bob had said anent my deny |
ng myself when he was away, L exult- |
d as 1 flattered myself on my per-
picuity especially in denying myself /
ood. They all had either found fault |
r laughed at me for doing so; yet now
was the means of keeping my hus-
and with me. That is, one of the |
hings. His love for me and mine for /
i'm of course had more to do with his
eviction than anything else either could
r would have.
The holidays came and went. We spent 1
hem quietly at home; mother and faith
r our only guests. We had invited Ell
e and Tom but John Kendall was
living a party. An elaborate affair. He
ad rented a country house and invited
is guests for the entire week. Elsie
nd Tom had accepted before 1 invited
hem to join us Christmas, but Elsie
ad said frankly: /
"WE should have gone anyway, Mar
aret. Think what a good time we will
ave; an entire week. Elmer and Gladys
DOT, Curtiss Morgan, Marion Riggs,
.enry Creedmore, Maud Warren, and a
It more are to be there. How can you
,sist joining us, Bob9" she asked. We
ad finished our weekly game and
ere chatting over the supper 1 had
repaired.
''Bob has given up that crowd so it
n t hard for him to resist" said
liekly.
"why don't you come down and
,end a day in the middle Of the week,
obi" Tom asked, then added. Gas
ng as Margaret doesn t feel that she
IN 60. Business will be duh over the
,hdays, and even one day would do
~ good"
Perhaps 1 may run down some
orning and back at night" Bob an
7ered. ''I have already told John so. -
- You DON t mean that you woald
ave mett' broke in.