Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-02-09
Margaret CARROTS
Husband
THE ENDING
+ By JANE PHELPS
K X X X X X y X X X X X !
CHAPTER CxXXu.

ooh, muver you found daddy, didn It
you7" Donald shouted.
"Yes, dear" replied, blush steal
ing up to the roots Of my hair.
"Lets walk a littlei" I said en-
barrassed, "We will come over where
you and George are, - said to Donald,
i and he, satisfied, ran on ahead.
"You are quiet" 1 remarked as we
/ followed our boy.
| II have been alone so much it has
made me so, perhaps" he said with
a slow smile.
"But-" stopped was about to
tell him that 1 had not freed him to be
alone and lonely, but that wouldn It dol
[ must not refer to her again. 1t might
still hurt him too much. He had loved
her.
Here comes muver and daddy" Don
aid announced to Della and his little
brother then he fairly pounced upon
Bob and led him away to sec how far
he could throw.
Presently both voices were ringing out
in laughter. Bob IS deep tones, and Don
aid 8 childish voice.
" Mr. Garrett must have been a brave
soldier Della remarked, with one of
her loving glances at me. "It is awful
to lose an arm.
"Daddy a soldier mans" George
piped up.
"It is good it was his left arm,"
said quietly.
eyes, ma am, it sure it," Della re-
piled, then we sat in silence while |
o4aI 4bo rIo
to me playing together.
Finally I arose.
"Call Donald, Della; we will go back
to the hotel. You will scarcely have
time to dress the boys for luncheon.
Bob, too, came when she called, he
and Donald raced along together hand
in hand. But when we turned toward
the hotel, he raised his hat and turned
the other way. When Donald protest
ed he said:
''I am going for long walk, Donald.
I will see you again this afternoon, and
Donald, not quite satisfied, reluctantly
came with Della and me.
I went to my room and lay down for
a little while while. hoped would see
Bob that night at dinner-or after. Then
I was seized with an idea that made me
turn cold with dread. Perhaps I never
should see him again. He had said moth |
ing about seeing me, and had told Don
aid he would see him that afternoon. !
Perhaps that meant he was going away. !
I jumped up and hastily made a fresh
toilet. | too would see him that af- /
ternoon. would once more have the
piteous joy of being near him, of look
ing into his eyes, of hearing his voice.
| remember l wore all white, hat,
shoes, dress, and carried a big rose
and white sunshade. By the time was
dressed the boys and Della had been
gone some time, so l walked slowly in
the direction l knew they had gone.
came upon them sitting on the sand.
Bob between the two boys, his arm
around Donald, and Della quite dis
lance away, knitting.
None of them had seen me and
was beside them listening to the story
Bob was telling them before anyone
If them realized my presence.
ooh, muver!" Donald who saw me
first exclaimed, ''daddy is telling me
such a nice story. Can muver hear?'
le asked Bob.
eff muver wants to," Bob answered
smiling at the eager little face. But
his is a little boy IS story, not a grown
Up lady I"
"But muver likes little boy S stories
lon't you muver!"
eyes, DEAR l replied and sat down
lear them, ''please go ON, don t mind
ne, )" 1 said to Bob.
He finished the story. l heard no
word of what he said, only heard his
lear voice. When he had finished Don
Id asked
s'You is coming home wiv us daddy,
.ren t you? Muver and George and me
wants you, don t we muver?''
''Do you9N Bob turned quickly and
lsked the question. Then a minute Ia
er he began to say things, brokenly,
cling me of what he had endured when
le found that he was after all giving
10 what would make life worth the
living. That too late he found that he
ared for me, really cared. /,
81 was Just thoughtless fool just
fool. 1 hadn' t sense enough to see
hat you had, in reality, become all
hat / thought-she was. 1t was sort
f madness which possessed me. Thank
lod it was quickly over
And you have no regretsF' l asked
o low that he bent to hear.
s'Not for-her. None. Many for the
ass of the love and home that were
nine. Can you-will you take me back
Iargaretl Win you give me another
haneef'
"Come daddy, come muverl see the
ig crabl'' and as we looked into each
tRer's eyes at the sound of Donald S
oiee l laid my hand in Bob's and an
wered:
eve IL both have another chance,
Bob. You and me-and the boys. One
,ore chance, thank God-together.
So hand in hand we ran down to the
rater's edge and with our darling boy I
-atehed the crab wriggling on the
and.
THE END.