Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-07-09

/ eouiOn't believe what George had
told me-believe that had heard Alright
If l had, then my reasoning had been
all wrong; Julia Collins had been all
wrong.
"Do you mean what you said,
George9" 1 asked, as snuggled in his
arms.
"Of course l dol" he smiled his an
swer. What should 1 do with my mon
ey, my business, if we had no children
TO inherit itl Nice old Darby and Joan
we would be, with no young things
around to keep us from getting to be a
couple of old cranks.-I am to blame,
he added, after a minute. 81 don It know
why, but in some way l have made you
afraid Of me-afraid to trust me-"
1T was because you 50 often SEEM
cd displeased with me--so often cross,
and impatient because 1 was different
from your friends. Then you said you
wanted to axe me over. tried to let
you--tried 10 he as near like them as 1
could. failed, know, but tried
Dear, ! never wanted you to be
like them, save in the things that would
give you pcise would help you in hold
ing your cwn in society 1 have often
bceu very proud when you did So"
remembered the look that l had seen
upoa his face and could not account for.
1t had seemed like certain prideful
look, but was never sure.
why didn't you tell me, when 1
pleased you! You always told me when
| ahgrred or annoyed you"
George Confesses His Fault.
81 am sorry, Helen," he replied SER
ionsly, Every sorry. thought that you
knew NE well enough to see when L
was pleased. My only excuse is that 1
have 1onc always what l thought right.
l am a peculiar man, in some respects
!, hard man, expect his smile soft
ened the words, yet 1 knew they were
true. 81 have little patience with in
efficiency IN any one. But now we un-
derstand each other better,',, he said, as
he put me back among my pillows
"and after this, we will talk things
over together"
did not say so, but I recalled the
time that | tried to talk things over
with him lecause Mrs. Sexton had ad-
yissd ii. and how he had flung from
me in anger. But l had felt, then, that
l was tactless. I must try to learn to
wait until a time when 1 could talk
without annoying him.
We talked little more, then George
called the nurse and left me. had not
been so happy since the day | promis
ed TO marry him. I felt so relieved; so
G adj that he wasn't cold and hard-heart-
ed as Julia Collins had made me think.
/ didn't flatter myself that he would
BE- changed in every respect; he had said
lie was ga hard man, bat never again
would I let another woman-especially
Julia Collins-make me so miserable.
1t may seem strange that I was hap
py in spite of the fact that George had
not refuted a single statement I had
made when spoke of his neglect-of
his desile to be with Julia Collins
ard the other sthings Of which I COM
planned; but l had lived with him long
enough to know that what he had said
that ilttle-meant more than much
protesting would have meant from an
other nlan.
| improved rapidly, and was soon as
well as ever. Mother had only been able
20 remain until / could get up. Father
was not we'll, and she had to return
to him and the boys. Oh, how hated
to see her go! knew her loving heart
had been torn by what l had said in
my first siekness-that she was uneasy
and unhappy about me. SO I had told
her as much of the conversation between
George and me as / thought necessary
to quiet her fears. If / exaggerated
some Of the things he said, l felt I
would be forgiven, because l did it so
that she might not worry.
A Happy Convalescence.
1 was almost sorry when l was able
TO go out, once more-to take up my
social duties again. George had been
so uniformly kind. although, as got
stronger, he went out a good deal. But
he never failed to come home, first
and to see that was comfortable. And
except few times, he did not remain
out late. He kept me almost smothered
in flowers, and as soon as | was able
to ride, he came heme early every af-
ternoon and took me for spin out into
the country.
Sometimes we went alone, then, again
he would stop and get Evelyn Reeves
and my little namesake-who had grown
amazingly and was a lovely little roly-
poly thing, good-natured, and so cum
ming. Sometimes he would call for Mrs.
Sexton, and she would go with us. had
confessed how l had hated her, at first.
and how much l thought of her now
George had laughed at my confession
and had remarked:
"It win be like that with many
things, Helen. Sometimes little girls
don t know what is good for them, and
they have to learn it by experience"
Once to my surprise, he asked Merton
Gray to go with us. We met him in the
street. He said he was on his way to in
quire for me, and George invited him to
make his call in the car. Merton had
been most thoughtful, sending me flow
ers and an occasional message. In fact
everyone had been mora than kind in
that way, even Julia Collins.
Tomorrow Short Trip With George)
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