Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-12-06
I Margaret CARROTS
: ! slsmsa
= By JANE PHELPS (:
4 X y X y y \ ~ X X X X X 4:
A SERIOUS QUESTION.
CHAPTER LxxvI.

CHAPTER LXXVI.
! After reaching home l took off my
things and then went into the library
/ still had the inclination to cry, and
determined not to give way to it. So ]
took book and sat down to read, but
ever between the pages there danced
the laughing, animated face of the beau
tiful blonde, or else Bob IS eager, boyish
one.
j Finally threw the book down in dis.
gust. The clock was just striking
twelve. If Bob caught the last train he
would soon be at home. Half past struck
and then the telephone rang.
Hello, Margaret l find have miss
ed the last train SO L will stay at the
club"
But Bob"
There is no But about It'll L can It
get home, so good night"
l said good night very family, then
as the knowledge came over me that no
one would see me / gave way and Sob
bed and cried for hours. Not that l
suspected Bob of ANY unfaithfulness,
or that / was sensibly jealous; but that
he had preferred other company; that
he CARED to leave me for anyone or
anything made me pity myself.
| wept until l had horrible head
ache, and sleep was out of the question
Then l bathed my eyes and sat down
to think. Should l tell Bob of what l
had seen? could not explain my know
ledge without telling l had followed
him. He would be angry-perhaps worse
disguised, and that l feared far more
than his anger.
I finally decided that 1 would not
let him know l had seen him, or knew
anything of the party. 1 would ques-
tion him however and make him tell
me.
Without warning there leaped into
my mind the telephone call. The wom-
an Owould give no name. Could it be
possible that was mistaken about rec
ognizing the voice, and had it been
this blonde9 recalled the confusion in
Bob's face, then the relief when I re-
marked that her voice sounded familiar
| was no detective to make deduc-
tions, but it seemed there must be some
thing behind that relief so plainly
shown. Where had he met that woman,
what was her name.
bathed my eyes for an hour before
dared lie down. Had 1 done SO with /
out bathing them, they would be closed
the next day. As it was Della was SYM
pathetic and asked if 1 were sick, and /
shouldn't she take the babies out when !
she finished her breakfast dishes, SO / |
could lie down.
agreed. had looked into the mir
ror, and what | saw had not made me |
happier.
81 look old enough to be her moth
er!" | muttered as the slow tears start
I'd again.
And l didl my swollen eyes, by pale !
,heeks and bloodless lips were anything
out attractive. Suddenly hated myself !
ny age, my looks, and with a violent
gesture [ threw out my arm and smash
ID the big mirror on my dresser.
Della came rushing in.
"For the lands sake ma am, it s the
ookin glass! you II have bad luck sure
IS fatel'' and she stopped to pick up
he pieces which had fallen.
we cut your arm, ma am, it g
,leedin' somethin' awfult''
| had not felt myself cut, but as I j
fitted my arm [ saw that had an ugly /:
,ash in my hand whene I had thrust
throught the glass. Suddenly 1 felt
weak and faint. / would sit down a
minute.
The next thing I knew opened my
yes, lying on the bed and Della lean
d over me, binding up my hand as
est she could, calling on the saints to i
elp her. / sat up and told her how to I
andage it for me, and then sent her {
ut with the babies, and almost immed- /