Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-01-17
Margaret CARROTS
Husband
IN THE DEPTHS.
CHAPTER CxIT
By JANE PHELPS !
; \ X x X X \; x X X X X X :

it seemed as if 1 could not keep going
Days when all I wanted was to wee1
and bewail the fact that Bob didn ,
love me. Then some little thing would
happen, and l would pick up my cour
age in both hands and go along again.
Elsie helped me wonderfully. She
spent much time with me, and in every
way was so sympathetic, yet SO deter
mined | should not give way that
! grew to love her dearly.
Bob often made me very uncomfort
able, without in the least intending to
do so-that l know. But 1 didn t Just
know what to do about it, or even in
what terms l could speak to him about
it. Once l said:
| Be charitable, Bob
81 did not know that I was unchar-
table," he had replied. Something had
been said anent Marion Riggs, and he
had referred to the time l so embarras-
sed him, g l am only reminding you that
such things make me fearful you will
offend others"
So that was it! He feared to have
me go where his friends were, thinking
l might offend them. Oh, if he only
knew how hard [ was trying to be pleas
ant to them, not only pleasant, but at
tractive; he would not talk like that.
but | couldn t tell him-not for a long
time. l had to prove myself first.
~ shan t be home to dinner!'' Bob
said on Tuesday before l had invited
my little company.
ba OF ion,
just slipped out without volition on my
part. l bit my lip, but as Bob never
looked up L said nothing. He put down
his cup, and flung out an address in
town. L happened to know that it was
the address of an artist whom Elsie and
had one day discussed as being a col
lector of engrayings. Then he glanced
at his watch uneasily, and hurried from
the table.
l was surprised when he reached the
front door to have him return and say
rather sheepishly, 1 thought:
"Why don't you get Mrs. Baldwin
and go to the movies or something?'
then without waiting for an answer hur-
ried away.
All day I was happy. He had come
back to tell me to have a good time. He
had thought of me. So [ sang over my
for the next evening, until
| caught Della and Nellie exchanging
glances.
L was only to have simple supper
late in the evening. But I intended to
have it absolutely perfect. If my
housekeeping were the only thing which
Bob praised, he should not praise with
out reason. So the maids and / worked
busily all the morning. Then Nellie took
the children out, and Della said to me;
Why don It you go and lay down a
little while ma am? You look so rested |
and young when you do.
"I'd stay in bed all day to look
l said laughingly, but follow
ed her advice. Elsie had stipulated that
l should take all the care possible OF
my looks. l was trying to do 1t.
] rested over an hour, then put or my !
things and walked over to Mrs. 'arnes- |
worth s. 1 found Mrs. Baldwin there,
and few moments afterward Mrs. Boi- |
.an cane il.
''Do take off your things, ali Of you
aud we II have game of ,ldge, Mrs.
rarnesworth suggested.
We needed no urging, and were soon
having lively and interesting game.
Once when Mrs. Farnesworth was dunn /
my she spoke of her resolve to take up /
her French again with good teacher.
"Oh, | should like to study French!
[ exclaimed. Bob spoke it perfc 'tly
s'Why not join me2 We could study ]
together, and one would stimulate the
Liner, - shs replied.
IN
said, and before we played the next I
hand it was settled that we four would /
make up a class in French, and take |
lessons three times week. ! stipll&t-
ID that no one was TO know we were I
loing it until we could at least make /
ourselves intelhgible.
"That $ a good ideal We II surprise
hose husbands of ours some day,
Mrs. Baldwin laughed.
1 was delighted that at least one
move had been made toward wider
,dueation for myself, that it was to be
10 ENJOYABLE. l surely would learn much
nore quickly than l could hope to alone.
Then when l rad advanced far enough !.
% that l felt like telling him, perhaps
Bob would help me.
When we finished playing we three !
walked home together. l said nothing
bout going to the movies. / wGGll
% home and commence that very night
course of reading Elsie had laid out
or me. All ON subjects in which Bob
vas interested.
'fIt viii be dr7 reading at FIRST,
nueh of it," she had told me, "5Lt
-eu will soon get interested.
''I don't care how dry it is ie it
viii help make me interesting to Bob !,
had eelied and | meant it
I L \ ,