Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-11-10
Margaret CARROTS
Husband
A CONFIDENCE.
X By JANE PHELPS !
X X X \ X 4 !; X X x X X X !

CHAPTER LIV.
As soon as Bob finished his supper
we retired, and the next morning he hur
ried away so that he might have time to
; stop at John Kendall Is and see how he
had passed the night. He made no men
tion of what we had talked about the
night before. To be perfectly honest
was delighted that he had not. He prob.
ably thought something had occurred ia
make Miss Riggs change her mind and
unless he saw her soon, there might
never be any explanation of the mat
ter.
Bob was going to the station to meet
John s mother-so he had told me, and
altho | said nothing about it, I hated
him to be so friendly. considered it an
1 altogether unnecessary attention.
] All such things kept his interest in
4 John Kendall and his other friends alive
so I disapproved.
Dinner time came and the telepone
rang:
Don It wait for me, Margaret, +" Bob
said. FMrs. Kendall is here, and am
going to take her out for a bite of
dinner while Henry Creedmore is with
| John. -
This was the third night Bob had re-
mained away from home at dinner time;
and turned away from the telephone,
my mind filled with bitter thoughts
toward those whom considered to
blame for what / called his detection.
1t was the third evening he had devoted
to people for whom 1 cared less than
nothing. Surely it was most aggravat-
ing.
He came in about eight O'Clock, and
we spent the remainder of the evening.
He looked very tired but very hand
some, and told him over and over how
much loved him, how he meant every
thing in the world to me.
Then l told him that by spring we
should have another in our little home.
He was very tender and dear about it,
and at once cautioned me about TAX
ing proper care of myself, not worry
ing, etc.
81 shall be all right, and very hap
py if you will do right by me and stay
with me, and love me as l love you,"
| told him. Then over and over l as
sured him that all 1 cared for in the
world was that he should care only for
me, my happiness, as 1 cared for him.
never dreamed that this constant re-
iteration of my love might tire him;
that he would become annoyed because
of my caresses. To hear him say he
loved me was sweet music to me; why
should he not feel the same!
That women crave the expression of
love far oftener than do men now
believe, but at that time 1 judged
Bob by myself, taking no account of
the difference in temperament, his de-
sire to rest after haru day at the of
flee or the frame of mind he happened
to be in. TO say 81 love you darling' :
had become as much matter Of course |
with me, as to say "good morning" or
good night"
John Kendall began to improve al |
most as soon as his mother arrived. Bob |
had said so much to me about calling
on her that one afternoon l asked Elsie
to go with me. Mrs. Kendall was a very
very handsome old lady with i
the manners of a grande dame. She !
spoke in glowing terms of Bob and Of
his devotion to John:
81 don't know how I can ever repay /
him." she said feelipgly.
1 wanted to tell her that she could !
repay me by spersuading Bob to give
up some of the people with whom he.
spent so much time-her son included
but hardly dared. 1t was one thing to |,
talk to a young woman, like Marion
Riggs, and quite another thing to eX-
press my opinion to this dignified mat
ron.
She served tea and cakes, and while
John and Elsie chatted of the social
matters in which they were interested,
she talked to me. told her of Donald, i
and she declared she was. very fond
of children and hoped she might see
him before she left for home.
81 am going to try to keep her now
that she is here,' John Broke in. He
was in an invalid's chair and looked
very thin and old.
81 shall stay as long as you need me,
my dear boy," she replied, then ex-
planned that John s father was not well,
and needed her as soon as it was wise
to leave John. ~ shall not worry when
go now that | have met his friends -
she added, turning to me. "a Mr.. and
Mrs. Root and Miss Riggs called yes
terday. Charming people all of them.
Elsie heard and flashed a laughing
glance at me.
"I am glad you were pleased with
them, Mrs. Kendall, but I do not care
for them. They are altogether too free
and easy to please me-"
She looked surprised, and both Elsie
and John looked bit distressed.
''They belong to a Bohemian class of
people of whom disapprove more be-
cause of their influence on my husband,
than for any other reason, went on,
not appearing to notice the look of sur
prise ON her face, although it had not
me.
"Bob is too sensible to be influence
ID by anyone, T" John Kendall said quiet
". Then he added, smiling humorously,
Even by you, Mrs. Garrett. have
known him many years and have new
II known him to really give in to any
me s opinion on any vital subject. He II
loesn t say much, but 1 notice he US
Ially does as he thinks right irrespect-
We of anyone else.'' Il
"He is married now," I returned,
tand has me to consider,'' then we .
eft, sorry had called, and with nv ]
mind made up to tell Bob what had '
'een said.