Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-01-19
Margaret CARROTS
Husband
AN EVENING OF SURPRISES
By JANE PHELPS f;
X X X X X j: X X X x x X :
CHAPTER CXIV.


Soma Wells said in her girlish tones
''Doesn' It it9 It's a perfect fairy
land" Mrs. Farnesworth rejoined
| had lighted the rooms entirely
with candles with rose colored shades
The logs in the large fire place were
cracking merrily; adding to the rosy
glow which spread over everything.
'It is so becoming tool" Mrs
Baldwin added, 81 dom see why we
women past the first flush of girlhood
ever stand for the harsh white lights
we have in our homes. / declare you
all look almost as young as Miss
Wells.' -
(Which is quite compliment, y
Mrs. Framework said, with q kind
glance at the twenty year old Soma.
had had some new records sent out
so that if we cared to dance there
would be the latest music Then there
was bridge for those who wished to
play. | had wished to do something .
little out of the ordinary, not so much
to pleasure my guests, as to please Bob.
After cudgeling my brain for days, |
had at last found an old gypsy like
fortune teller who would come and tell
our fortunes with the cards
They all voted to play bridge for
little while, then dance. But be.
tween the bridge and the dancing, 1
asked them, one at a time to 90 into
the library When they found out that
their fortunes were to be told they
were all excitement; and Bob said in
an aside to me:
'What a eorking idea, Margaret
who told you to do it, Elsie?"
'ENo, indeed, it was my own idea, -
I said pleasantly, although as usual
flushed under his imputation. 1t is
hard when you are trying with all
your strength to do something to be
so underrated.
"a good one" he said, with one
of the peculiar looks he so often wore
at that time.
ooh, it was perfectly wonderful" :"
Soma Wells exclaimed as she returned
to us and made way for Mr.. Lansing
"She is a wizard, ana so are you Mrs
Garrett for thinking of it, It is so
hard to do anything really different to
entertain so small number of guests. !"
''That's so!D John Kendall agreed
'Later may l hope you will act as
hostess for me? am planning some
studio affairs, and shall be glad to
have some original ideas to help me
out'
"Thank you very much. I'll gladly
act as hostess" I returned in what l
knew was my old stilted fashion, but
a5 thn I I
l haven't many"
II am willing to trust that you
have" he answered in his quiet way.
1 had noticed that Bob listened
whenever John Kendall talked to me-
[ suppose l had so often expressed my
dislike of the man he felt anxious.
Yet | noticed his eyes flash and look
of pleased surprise on his face before
he turned to escort Mrs. Bolton into
the library.
The fortune telling made so much
sport that it was time for serving
supper when all had been satisfied as
to the past and the future | had
provided large box Of marshmallows
and while fortunes were being told
Soma Wells and some of the others
toasted them on long spits of wood 1
had provided. My heart ached as 1
saw Bob get down on the rug beside
her, and l heard their merry laugh
ring out again and again. He hadn t
laughed so with me in months.
Then we all trooPed out in the din
ing room to supper. was proud of
my table, really The rose candles, the
viands all tinted the same color; the
dainty place cards held by rose colored
brought forth all sorts of oh s
and ah s from everyone, even the men.
Bob looked so delighted, played the
host to such perfection that it was
with qualm of remorse that 1
thought of how much l had cheated
him since we had been married.
'EYour taste is exquisite, Mr.. Ian
sing said; as he sat down beside me.
"'Your cooking is simply wonder
fdl. Mrs. Farnesworth added, 81
never tasted such a delicious salad.
What did you color it with, may I
askq"
Nothing but beet juice" I told
her. And 1 noticed that whenever
anyone said anything complimentary
Bob was always listening.
1t was after two o'clock when they
left us, each and every one of them
voic1ng the opinien that it had been
the most enjoyable evening they had
spent in long time.
Bob and l were in the dining room.
l helping Della clear away when Mel
lie came running in, her face as white
as chalk.
'Donald!" she painted, then burst
into tears.
"What is it, what's the matterR''
Bob and l asked in concert. s'Is he
siek9" and started for the stairs.
''No-he isn't sick he's"
swell, what is it3' and Bob grab
bed the weeping girl's arm. "What S
the matterl"
"He She's gonel" the last word
was a shrek. 4 came up after
had waited, and I didn't notice any
thing until / went to look il he was
covered. Then saw''-she ended
shat he wasn't here.''
Monday-0ne Common Tie.