Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-08-01
: The Woman Who Changed .
A CLoUDLESS SKY.
CHAPTER CXI1V.
By JANE PHELPS
: = = . = = ~ ** ]

happy. To have mother with me-to
have George so kind, so loving,-was
all l could possibly desire. I was so
glad, too, to have mother see how good
George was to me. I had always be-
lieved that Philip had told her was
unhappy. He had seen us when we
were so many times at cross purposes,
and had foolishly allowed him to see
that l was miserable. But now sang
and laughed and was gay all day long.
No one COULD think me anything but
happy, now!
/ | had so much to tell mother. All
about the Babcocks, ard their visit.
wished she could know them. She
smiled when l said so, and replied:
"Stranger things have happened
than that, at some time, we might
meet. But I am glad for you to have
such friends. Even if they are older.
From what you tell me, they are still
young enough to be interesting, while
old enough to be of real service to
you in teaching you many things you
need to know. You are very fortunate
my daughter, in many ways. You must
be grateful. "
81 am, mother. At least I am now."
"We all must learn, dear. Exper-
fence is the only teacher by whose
lessons we profit Someway, we all
must know things for ourselves. There
is always something in the experience
of others that doesn t just fit"
AN UNCOMFORTABLE NIGHT.
We had talked late, mother and I.
George was out, and would not come
in until after midnight-so he had
said But it was nearly twelve when
we went to bed and he was still out.
1 dropped off to sleep almost imme-
diately. l partly wakened and
though must have the nightmare.
/ had been dreaming that I heard /,
voices, shouting. 1 lay struggling to
waken myself more thoroughly, then,
suddenly realized that l had not been !
dreaming at ALL That I really HAD |
heard voices-that people were out |
side, calling and yes,-they were
screaming!
l sprang to the window. 1t was
bright moonlight. | could see the |
street, and just then the changing of |
the fire wagons brought a sudden re-
alization of what it all meant. The
house must be afire
| dashed on my clothes, and felt |
along the hall to mothers room, she
was already awake.
"Hurry!" / gasped, then ran up
another flight to the servants quar-
ters. L raped on each door, calling
loudly all the time. l had deard
mother calling to me to come back, that
she would waken them, but 1 paid NO
heed
When I ran back down the stairs,
mother was waiting, and the firemen
were already in the house. There had
been scarcely any disorder; the fire
was quickly under control. James had
rushed downstairs and was watching
that no one got in to steal, acting
under the direction of the chief.
'You can go back to bed," the chief
had just said, when the door flew
open and in rushed George
s'Helen, are you safeR Thank
God!" as he saw me. ''How did it
"Crossed wires I guess" the chaif
answered. "Here in the floor. Didn t
get above this one floor. Lucky that
It didn 7.
eyes, herel" and George passed a
yellow backed bill to the Chief. "Get
he boys some cigars,p then, "Come,
Helen, the chief says the fire is out,
md, without waiting, he gathered me
n his arms and carried me upstairs. 4
REGRETS.
COZ course, it would happea when
was out, " he grumbled to mother.
lfter 1 was comfortably propped up Il
n bed. None of us felt we, could
sleep, so Mary had gone to the kit
,hen with James to get us some coffee.
:" Your being here eouldn t have pos
,ibly made any difference" I told
lin.
st could have wakened the house
lold, at least / hope you did not {
njure yourself, running up and down
tairs. Were you terribly frighten-
'ds" he leaned over me anxiously. '
"No indeed l just knew every,
,ody must be wakened, that was all. - I
''You are very brave girl. Ism t |
he ~ he asked mother.
''She always was fearless when
lot yet quito recovered from the
right, and her voice trembled a lit
le. but after our coffee and some
we grew quite gay altho
lone of us wanted to sleep. (
About three clock George insist h
d that we all try to get a little rest. t
tossed uneasily. But, toward morn
ng, the doctor had to be called. \
Tn the morning my baby boy was
Iorn. And there was never a happier {
erson in the world, than was | when a
ieorge gathered us both in his arms.