Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-07-02
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: The Woman Who Changed
By JANE PHELPS
GEORGE SPENDS THE EVENING
WITH JULIA COLLINS
CHAPTER CXIX.

L
Mrs. Ross flattering remarks about
my being young, beautiful, and musical
did not allay the fears her conversation
had excited. SO all the women considered
Julia Collins dangerous, and they
thought me good-natured to stand for
her taking so much of Georges s time.
"Good natured or a fooii'' 1 said to
myself bitterly, "possibly the latter, -
but 1 made up my mind no one should
think me knowingly a fool. l would
pretend ignorance then they eouldn t
say connived at it in any way.
After the door closed after Mrs. Ross
1 breathed a sigh OT relief She had Civ
en- me bad half hour. | was glad she
was gone. In a few moments Evelyn
came in. l expect 1 was looking awfully
dismal for she said:
"Whatever's the matter, Helen7I met
Mrs. Ross, she said she had been here.
Did she say something disagreeable2"
"No-and yes. She gave me the dol
drums talking about Julia Collins. F"
Evelyn gave me a keen glance before
she replied;
"For heavens sake, Helen, don't let
anything anyone can say about that eat
make you unhappy" "Cat" was Eve
lyn S pet name for Mrs. Collins whom
she didn't like any better than l did
81 know 1 shouldn't but"
"Now see here, Helen Howard, [ am
ashamed of you. If Julia Collins had her
way all the men in town would be at
her feet, yet don t believe that if she
had the chance she would marry any of
them. She just loves to be flattered,
and--to show her power"
81 IN not so sure about that" Then
blurted out just what had made me
so sore over what Mrs. Ross had said:
George was with lAer until midnight
last night. | accused him and he didn It
deny it."
Evelyn Laughs at Helen, and-Sympa-
thizes.
"What if he was! I'd rather Kurtz
would be with her than with some
mandy pamby woman who expected him
to make love to her, and who took every
word he said as gospel truth. Julia Col
Inns isn't that sort. She just is hail
fellow with them all
"But Evelyn! 1t all seems so awful!
What would mother think if dad spent
the evening and half the night with an.
other woman, and left her aloneg Why
no one out home ever heard of such a
thing. When l was first married |
thought ALL married people were like
mother and dad. Of course l know diff
ferent now; but yet L can't get accus-
toned to the way men act-women, too.
| feel so belittled, so neglected when
George leaves me alone and spends his
evenings with Julia Collins. He never
asks me to go to her home with him--per-
haps she wouldn t let me in if he did
but he might ask me. Yet he makes
me invite her whenever we have a din
ner Of any sort of an affair. Oh, Eve
lyn! l wish | knew how to manage
better and IL stopped short l was do
ing just exactly what Mrs. Sexton had
warned me not to do. Telling my pri-
vate affairs. Oh silly, l guess, Evelyn.
Mrs. Ross upset me, come on Ie; play
game of pool" George had recently
had pool room fitted up and l was
learning to play.
Eyes, l am anxious TO learn to play
good game. Kurtz is awfully fond Of
pool But, Helen, don't be silly over
Julia Collins" she laughed little "all
the same l am sorry you feel as you
do. Try to forget her.
Helen Talks to George
When George asked me why l didn't
eat my dinner that night I said;
~ am unhappy, George, and when
l am, can t eat. "
"What are you so unhappy about,
he asked not unkindly.
"Win you tell me why you spend so
much time with Mrs. Collins7"
"No! III make no explanations Of my
conduct to anyone.
"That means that l am to think
anything l please just as Others dot"
"What you or others think makes no
difference to me. :"
"What if / took the same stand yith
you'll Suppose 1 went to some mans
apartment and remained until after
midnight, and left you sitting here
alone. wouldn't you think you had a
right to some explanation3"
"Don t talk foolishness.
81 am not! There is not one bit of
difference in the two cases. Everyone
is talking of your infatuation for her;
hers for you. They think me fool for
standing it; 1 was as much as told so
today"
"lf you stoop to listen to gossip you
can always hear disagreeable things"
he said coldly, never asking who had
been my informant. think his abso-
lutte indifference was more calling than
anything else could have been.
"How can / refuse to listen. And
George, if you only knew how it hurts
me, my pride, to have people say you
care nothing for me, that you always
have been in love with Julia Collins.
1t makes me feel so small, so unhap-
pyl"
"Stop talking that way. Perhaps
some day you II grow up. Until then |
suppose I shall have to be patient"
And he rose from the table.
''I am growing older. and-wiser all
the time, George" I quietly returned,
growing calm as he showed anger and
impatienee.
tTomorrow-Life What We Make IT.
t.. e.. ansArn,-nd nnarlr trrn