Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-07-08
The Woman Who Changed !
By JANE PHELPS
HELEN Is DELIRIoUS.
CHAPTER CxXIV.

never knew When tine doctor came.
They told me, afterward, that became
delirious almost Immediately after Civ
ing my consent that he be sent for. Ce-
leste told me that 1 raved terribly, cry
ing that wanted my baby and could
| MT be happy in having it because 1
would lose my husband s love.
"It was frightful, Madame, to hear
you" she said. "It made us all weep"
Toward morning, my baby was prema
turely born, born dead. 1 was very i'll
for some time, too i'll to even think.
Mother came and either she or George
were with me day and night, as well
as the nurses. l recall that | used to
wonder, in a detached sort of way, why
George stayed home So much; why he
WASH I with someone else. l took moth
er's being there for granted, and asked
no questions.
No one ever has told me so, but |
know that by my foolish hiding my con-
dition from my husband, by my con.
stantly exceeding my strength, by my
dancing hour after hour, that killed
my baby.
AS grew better I gave expression
to this thought to mother; and she gent
ly scolded me for even thinking of such
a thing.
A Heart to Heart Talk.
I had been sitting up for about al
week, and was much stronger George
came in early in the afternoon, bringing
me wonderful bouquet of orchids.
"Do you feel well enough to talk to
me-talk seriously, for little while9"
he asked, as he kissed me. thought
it was worth all the terrible pain and
illness to have him so tender with me.
"Of course | dol | am almost well
now!" returned with smile.
He brought chair and sat down be-
side me, taking my hand in his.
"Now, Helen, tell me what made you
think I did not want children-would
not love you if We had them9 Tell me
honestly, dear. Don't hide anything,
even your thoughts about it, from me. "
The tears were very near, but forced
them back. / would not cry before
George. In spite of my weakness, had
not done so since the day l had said
/ would not. waited So long, trying to
think what to say-just what to tell1
him--that he leaned over and kissed me
again, SAYING tenderly:
"One would think me an orge, dear.
Please talk freely to rie. When you were
dclirious, you said many things I did |
not understand. !"
You remember when we were at |
Narraganset, last year, that Mrs. Col
Inns was also there?"
eyes, | remember that very well,
Why, what has that to do with itq"
"One day was sitting in shelter
ed part of the piazza and overheard her
talking to another woman. They spoke
Of you and me, thun siley talked of
children. Mrs. Collins mediately said
that men who were particular-wh
wanted their wives to look well, and
to appear in society with them--didn It
want children. Then she added that it |
was because of children that men grew
intimate with other women, and their
wives were neglected; that babies took
up so much of woman's time and
thought that husbands grew away from
thom, and some other things which I
do not recall well enough to repeat"
An Understanding.
Butch, see. Because you over
heard this conversation, you thought
that I-why y
"Why shouldn't I think you were
just as she saidg You had held her up
as model to me, ever since | married
you; her and other women like her.
Then. you enjoyed her society''-l
stumbled on. (He had asked me to talk
freely; | would try to. Perhaps | never
would get up courage to do so again).
''You often left me alone, to spend the
evening where she was, and she seemed
to know you SO well-to know all about
you, your likes and dislikes--even to
the color you liked your neckties to be.
| never said anything of that to you;
but it hurt me, and let me know how
intimate you must-have been with her.
/ wanted to be like her, not because |
admired her, George, but because
thought it was the only way to please
you. So, naturally, when | overheard
that conversation, / judged she knew
your feelings on that subject. When
/ found was to have baby, I hit it
because / wanted to be with you, to go
out with you. I was afraid you wouldn t
let me, if you knew-that you wouldn It
love me, even little bit.'
"You poor ehildln George exclaimed
as he swept me up out of the invalid
chair into his arms. "You poor child,"
he repeated. "Why, dearest, want chill
dron, long for them. have been bit
disappointed that they did not come,
You dear girl, to bear such thing as
that alone, How can | ever repay yous
Tell me, dear, was what you said in your
delirium true; that you locked yourself
away to sew because you feared to have
ME know9"
eyes, George. Many days, and | made
such lovely things"
"You poor childi" he said again.
[Tomorrov--A Better UNDERSTANDING |