Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-07-26
CHAPTER CXXxIX

\ buNhSu uhuVI MS arm. MI. anu MIS-
Babeock greeted him graeiously, GeOrg,
warmly. For the first time since Mer
ton told me of his love, 1 did not fee
embarrassed. l had thought it all out
. had done nothing wrong nothing
unaerhanded-so that I might be will
: him; and, more than that, l had lot
encouraged him. L was fond of him,
he was my very good friend l should
treat him as such, and put behind me
forever the fact that he had wanted
to be more. | felt flattered that he
had cared, but even so, knew that
he WASH t by any means heart broken,
and that he would probably marry
sometime-that he had mistaken pity
for me, for love. l must show him
that now did not need his pity-that
was happy instead of miserable,
We had delightful evening MI
Babeock had not brought his violin,
so he played several selections on Aber-
ton s, which he declared superior to
his. Merton beamed. His Strad was
the pride Of his life, he laughingly
told them. Then we sang, and were all
surprised when the grandfathers clock
in the hall struck eleven.
James brought in a very light sup
per, over which we became quite jolly.
Mrs. Babeoek declared she could not
eat another bite-then ate heartily!
Your wife is a little wizard" she
said to George. "She has found out
in some occult way, what my tastes
are, and she tempts me. y
HELEN is COMPL1MENTED
81 am delighted that she has sue
ceeded in doing so, he returned pleas
antly, just glancing at me. But /
read approval in that glance, and Mr..
Babeoek read something more, for he
said:
81 don't wonder you look at her in
that proud way, Howard. Not many
young wives have her knack of enter
taining-especially of entertaining old
folks like u.s..
"You people forget 1 am lonely
old bachelorl" Merton said in pre-
tended depression. al really feel quite
out of the picture"
~ imagine it is your own fault, Mr..
Gray" Mrs. Babcock returned in her
soft, musical voice. "And you will
pardon me, because 1 am older than
you are, if | tell you that you are
missing much that makes life worth
living. OF course, you are fortunate
in having your art, and your music;
but neither can quite take the place of
a wife-a woman who loves you."
g Mrs. Babcock is right, Gray" to
my surprise, George broke in, there 3
nothing like home for a man. And
of course no one can have a real home
without a woman in it,
l flushed happily. Did George real
ly and truly appreciate his home more
than l thought9 Was it true that he
cared because / was in it?
"Get married, my boy! It's the on
ly thing for young fellow to do"
said Mr., Babeock.
"But I'm NOT young!" Merton re-
turned, making a comical grimace,
"You're not old; about thirty, |
take it?" Then, when Merton nod
ded, he continued, "But too old to
wait any longer. Why waste the years
that might be made so full of joy2'
the glance he gave Mrs. Babeock
seemed to enfold her, so loving was
it--so full of trust and faith.
A COMPARISON.
% But / know some married peo-
pie" Merton raised his hands in
mock horror, "single blessedness is in
deed blessed, compared to the life Of
pickering and quarrehng they lead. -
"Sueh people are not in the major
ity, dear Mr.. Gray, again it was Mrs,
S soft voice. "We hear Of
them. that is ALL The really happy
couples seldom talk of their happiness.
IT is too deep, too sacred to discuss.
But the other kind, those who are un-
happy, mismated take the world
into their confidence so loudly that,
it multiplies them, and they
appear more numerous than they really
are. Is it not so, dear9" she asked
her husband.
"1ndeed it isl And it is a truth
which people do not often recognize.
Happiness needs no brass bands to an
nounce itself. 1t is so deeply en-
neshed in the mind and soul, that it
loesn t think to cry aloud, as does the
Of people (most of which
s surface unhappiness, anyway, which
,ould be easily remedied by little
'orbearanee on both sides). Marriage
: a give'and-take game with everyone.
Young psople are too apt to want it
-
Again flushed. I had taken so
much as my. due, without giving it
,roper consideration, when l had
found fault with other thingsl My
ovely home, my easy, comfortable ex-
stence, my care4free days, had seemed
IS nothing because could not have
ALL ELSE that | wanted. Merton
eft saying he. had never enjoyed
limself more and with an invitation
o visit the Babeock's if ever he was
n Chicago.
"Gray made hit with our guests,
ieorge said, when they had gone.
I'm glad we had him in. He's a
fascinating fellow, and remarkably en-
ertaining.
eyes, am glad we had him, too"
responded