Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-11-21
Margaret CARROTS
Husband
ANOTHER WESTERN TRIP.
CHAPTER LXIIT.
By JANE PHELPS
X X x X X 4: X X X X x X


the living room, and through the open
door caught snatches of their conversa-
tion. John was talking when by inter
est became aroused by something he
said anent a woman.
II never shall forget the first time
saw herr, he said, 81 met her at a
social affair something as you did, -
he remarked to Bob, 81 thought her
very beautiful. +"
"She is beautiful, - Bob replied slow
| lly, but it is not entirely her physical
| beauty which attracts, she seems to rad
late spiritual beauty, beauty of soul
as well as body. Her personality is won
derful. She is the most restful, and at
! the same time the most entertaining
woman have ever meta perfect COM
panion,' he added, after moment.
Better be careful, Bob, / should
label her dangerous after that des-
cription."
"She would be dangerous and more"
here / missed a sentence, "but | owe
allegiance to Margaret"
"Many husbands forge" again I
lost part of John S reply
81 think her very talented, she will
do great things-some day" 1t was
Bob who spoke, but because he talked
of her as talented, judged all that had
gone before bore only reference to her
as an authoress. had card Bob disclaim
any other interest in her-at least I had
so understood the conversation, and he
had spoken of his allegiance to me. So
/ gave my entire attention to some
intricate embroidery / was doing, only
IL. I'll. u ILL
so that migt have Bob to myself.
1t may perhaps be hard to under
stand my viewpoint. Yet I honestly be-
lieve there are many women who feel
the same proprietory right in their hus-
bands that I did; who want to manage
their lives according to the rules they
law down for them regardless of per-
sonality, or temperament.
Occasionally l had felt that perhaps
Elsie was right in her estimate of Bob.
That he was of different temperament
than had fought wen married him.
He would become so excited when he
talked to John Kendall or his other
friends Sometimes he would pace up
and down while he gesticulated ner-
vously. His Imagination would at times
run riot in way that I with my quiet
er, colder temperament could not fol-
low. But I usually blamed his excit-
ment upon the people he was with, their
influence, instead of upon him.
I see now that 1 was deliberately
trying to crush out all personality, all
originality my husband possessed. But
at the time / thought I was entirely
justified in all that I did. As 1 look
n
were born the only comfort l CLEAN
is that | was honest in the stand /
took; honest, if mistaken.
1t had been very disappointing win
ter for me, and I had not hesitated to
so express myself to Bob. Surely, I
thought, wife has right to express
her displeasures over things in her hus-
band S conduct which she disapproves.
But Bob called it nagging, and while he
conceded that 1 did not nag for the
things which caused many women to
make complaint; he claimed that to be
nagged because he omitted to assure
me constantly of his love and because
he preferred the society of eongenialI
friends to sitting alone with me, was
as bad, or worse.
Bob was at this time, as kind as in
dulgent as ever. But he seemed ner-
vous, and was very irritable This was
always more noticeable after one of his
western trips; and consequently I was
the more opposed to his business venture
with John Kendall than I should other
wise have been. Then too, often thot
he avoided me, I would almost say he
shrank from my caresses. He surely
never offered me endearments unless ii
asked for them when he would respond
mechanically. I was terribly unhappy
over it, but did not know what to do
to remedy matters. would not concede
myself in the wrong and give my con
sent to Bob's desire to entertain and
be entertained by the crowd of people
of whom l disapproved; neither would
| admit that my constant fault finding
had anything to do with my unhappi-
ness. Could I once separate him from
bad influence Bob would return to me, |
would love me as he did when I first |
married him-and his heart was sore
with the loss of his mother.
For this reason I now became quite
over the new ONE in the coun-
try. It would be too far for John to |
return to town once he came out, and /
in that way he would see less Of his
friends; and would of necessity spend I!
more time with me. Mother was delight |
ed that we were to take the bows intol
the country although a bit disappointed |
that we had not chosen Long Island, in
stead of Jersey.
Any place is better than big city
for growing children,'' she had said
when we discussed it together, and fin
ally she aud father had consented toi
rent their place on Long Island and
spend the summer with rs.
Had 1 seriously considered what thel
invitation might mean never should /
have given it. Had known that Bob I
would feel that because Of their pres
anee he eanld ahSent himself 4rhenaysarl
be chose, never sould have asked them
10 come to US. do not positively know
that it made any difference; but at the
time I was sure that Bob took advant-
age Of the fact that / had company to