Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-06-04
: I Z Z : : Z : : Z : : :
The Woman Who Changed
By JANE PHELPS
( 4 + = = = \ x \ = < y
MERTON .GRAY's ATTENTIONS
CAUSE GOSSIP.

Il OASo6 1OooAIs
After that day, when l so plainly
showed my delight that Merton Gray
had called, l saw a great deal of him.
If l played tennis he was sure to play
also. He semed always to be at the ca
sino when l was there, and invariably
joined me. My portrait had been shown
to few of Georges friends, and they
had been enthusiastic in praise of it.
Often, he would happen in and spend
an hour with me. | would play and sing
for him. Or else he would join me in
walk on the beach when George was
away and was out killing time. That
was what it amounted to-killing time
One day Mrs, Sexton joined us, and,
after time, Merton took his leave.
Z" Aren't you unwise, my dear Mrs.
Howard2" she asked, when We were
alone.
" Unwise! What do you mean3" had
not the slightest inkling of what she
meant.
"Unwise to be seen so often with
Merton Gray. People are gossiping."
Why-I never-the ideal" l ex-
claimed.
81 was sure you didn t know it, +"
"But-"
"Yesl" she asked, as l hesitated
She always had had an uncanny way of
reading my thoughts,
"George-he has said nothing about
it,"
1t Would Not Be His Way.
"No9V
Never has mentioned such thing
If there has been gossip, he surely
would have heard it. And there has been
no cause for gossip; Mr.. Gray and I
are simply good friendsl"
"You do not have to explain that to
me; l am sure Of it. But the world is
very eensorious, my dear-especially |
when woman is as young and pretty
as you are. Your husband may not have
heard the gossip, and even if he has,
he may not have considered it worth his |
I imagine it would not be
his way to notice vulgar gossip. You
must not be foolish. You love your hus-
band; be very careful that you do moth
ing to destroy your happiness and his. :"
Long after Mrs. Sexton left me, I
thought of what she had said Really, |
to be truthful, l cared little for gos-
sip--I knew it was not deserved. But
she had spoken of destroying my hus-
n ID hn chn at bt,,ly hnl
loved me, else she would have said
that what l did might distress him or
annoy him, but not that it would make
lim unhappy.
l determined to do a reckless thing;
would tell George | had heard that
oople were talking because Merton Gray
was seen with me when he was away
etc.
Did Enough To Know Her Own Mind
81 heard something very disagreeable
oday, George" 1 said, as we were
lressing for an affair at one of the pal
ices that lined the ocean drive.
"What was that?"
~ heard that people were talking
lbout Merton Gray's being with me
when you were off yachting"
"You did!" in a careless tone.
"Yes.p
''Well, what of it4 If you aren't old
'nough to know when you want to be
With people, and haven 7 sense enough
lot TO give reason for gossip, it is time
hat you learned. -
'GUnd van hard it9j1
eyes"
"Why didn't you say something
ell me2"
"Because I trust you implicitly"
rhen, after a moment, 'eI should hate
% see you do anything foolish, so be
'areful; but l have no patience with
gossip in any form. Ninety-nine times
,ut of a hundred, it is malicious.
l was really astounded What I had
Known of men, at home, had led me to
believe he would be Jealous, find fault
,ut he had been absolutely careless in
lis manncrl He had found far more
'ault because l had not greeted some
# his friends properly or because had
,een unacquainted with some dish which
vas being served.
| understand, now, that it was great
George paid me, by giving
ne his mquestioning faith and trust;
hen, it made me feel that he didn It
as long as l didn t interfere
n what he did, might do as ! pleas
d.
| had made IN my mind. when | mar
led George, that my life was to be one
ong, sweet song, and now that l found
hat song so often out of key, 1 seemed
0 have neither the poise nor the pa
fence nor the character, to wait until
ny own endeavdr could change things.
Then came. terrible shock.
(Tomorrow-Merton Grays Plea)