Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-10-26
Margaret CARROTS
Husband
X By JANE PHELPS 4
X X X x X \ X \ X * X X X j
A HARD ROW TO HOE
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
, l was perfectly astonished by Elsie
g confession. Tom appeared to be SO for
of her; that he should have cared fl
someone else before he married HI
seemed wrong in some way. When
said something to that effect Els
answered.:
"Better before than after, Marga
et +"
"But why either7n
"It's just a little wa, men have!
she laughed.
often wondered how Elsie could ios
about such things. l couldn' t altho
often had to laugh at her quall
speeches.
"Not all men," I replied.
" Most of them dear. A man feels 10
been cheated unless he's made love I
more than one woman. they are al
Mormans at heart. But I did not com
over to talk Of the ethics of the mar
riage question; but to tell you thu
Henry Creedmore is giving a party an
has asked me to play hostess. Ism T i
dear of himH I just love to be hostess a
a bachelor party; especially rich bach
elor. They do things up so splendidiy
are so reckless about money. We pool
married folks have to count the cos
Of our affairs. have the list of guests
with me, want to see it?'
"Why yes" L answered to please
Elsie, not that l cared to know who
was invited.
She started to read the names al1ul
Mr., and Mrs, Garrett.D - she called
out gaily.
"Please do not count us, Elsie.''
"Not count you and Bobl why not -
"Because I IN not going"
care you going to be out of town9
Is that the reason?'
"Nol But am not going to start the
winter by going to any afafirs of that
sort.'
"But Bob-he will want to go. You
know how intimate he and Henry Creed
more always have been. Don t do such
foolish thing, Margaret, I feel sure
Bob will go without you, and you III only
punish yourself and miss good time.
Be a good sport, Margaret, and give
up these notions Of yours"
"Bob will not go either. Please do
not urge me, Elsie, it will do no good"
Elsie said no more but went on read
ing the list of guests. I was delighted
that had declined when I saw that it
ed; that Bohemian crowd whose influ-
ence over Bob l felt sure was bad.
"The Roots are back. They will help
me make things interesting" she said
as she finished the list.
81 don't approve of Mrs. Rootl she
is entirely too unconventional to suit
me. Then, too, she isn't domestic. I
prefer not to know her and the rest
Of that set any better than 1 do at
present"
"Well, Margaret, Is your funeral,
not mine! But L d like to bet box of
gloves that Bob will go"
"He IL not go, you see, - and for the
first time l had known Elsie Langley
Barton l was glad to see her go. !
"Hello, Margaret! where are you?"
Bob called when he came in that after
loon.
"Here in the kitchen making some
hing good for hungry mani"
"Well, dear, there going to be
cal party in few days; Creedmore is
,oing to spread HIMSELF and when Hen
y does, it is some spreading believe
mel Then, My but that steak looks
.oodl 1 am hungry, although l didn It
now it until just now. You surely can
ook, Margaret" and he'gave me kiss
hen hurried to a tidy little and play
nth the baby until called to dinner.
"How did you know about the par
y2' l asked ''We have received no in
itation.'
"We will thought they haven't been
emit out yet. He IS going to have all the
Id crowd, and it IS sure to be a jolly
flair, and Margaret" he. ran on never
living me a chance to speak, I'VE II
ave to do something pretty soonl We
an t accept SO many invitations and {
OF return them, they IL soon drop us .
we don't; and that would be j
llamity tell you. The Roots are back
nd Elsie is going to act as hostess. He {
as wise to ask her; she always fits in q
nicely. Tom is tickled to death be- s
luse Creedmore paid her the eomph- /
ent,' he finally stopped, not because
, was through, but because he was out a
breath. t
"Now, Bob, if you will let me talk i
few minutes, I''--
eyes, dear, but you must get a new s
,essl get something stunning. Besides h
l the old crowd Henry has invited Q
me notables L am anxious to meet; y
veral clever writers and publishers; \
Id a. Ii
"Bob Garrett, win you stop and let n
e talkl you have run on like crazy
~ instead of married man with a T
milyl" +
81 feel like boyI 1t always excites
e when there is something l enjoy to n
ok forward to. was always like that, r
zen as little boy" he explained as f
saw my sober face. When Bob was Ii
Ne this l scarcely knew him; and al II
avs thought of what Elsie had said r
,out his being "temperamental." Was :
more so than 1 had thought If so f
must be all the more careful to keep
m well balanced. 1t might be hard; I
It l would do it. r
fTomnrroxr-A SariouS Clashl l.,