Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-06-27
: The Woman Who Changed
By JANE PHELPS
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CHAPTER CGv.

OF EVeiyn's Daby, so pleased that she
had named it for me, that I didn t
see stone ON the crossing; and tripped
over it. As 1 was serambling to my feet
hoping no one had seen my undignified
performance l heard some one say:
"Let me help you'll Are you hurt?"
and Merton Gray assited me to rise. lie
held my arm a moment to steady me
and in that moment Madge Loring came
along.
never was so embarrassed in my life
1t was bad enough to have Merton see
me stretched full length on the ground;
but to have Madge Loring come along
just then was too awful. Ny clothes
were covered with dust, my hat was
awry. knew looked a sight.
"What is it? A rescue of some sort2"
she asked as I jerked away from Mer-
ton.
Her tone made me angry and l an.
swered icily:
cit was, most fortunate one," then
I turned to Merton, "Thank you, Mr.
Gray, now if you are ready we IL hurry
ON and get that cup of tea l promised
you" All the time l was talking /
tried to make myself mora presentable.
First l tried to straighten my hat, then
to brush the dust from my skirt, Merton
also helped brush me.
Mrs Loring Thinks Falls Ludjcrouss
cit makes one feel so silly and small
to fall in the street, doesn't it?" Madge
Loring asked, then without waiting for
reply, "It-always strikes the onlook-
er as so ludicrous, even though the per
son who fell may be hurt. l always
feel like laughing when 1 see anyone
fall )"
81 suppose you would enjoy seeing
others laugh if you fell" l remarked
sareastically.
"0h, never fall, but some people
are naturally clumsy" she returned
then said "good-bye" and hoped !
would feel no bad effects of my fall
and rather maliciously added: 81 trust
you will enjoy your tea"
"Cat!' Merton said as soon as she
was out of hearing. "Did you really
mean that you were going to be kind
and give me cup Of tea9"
"Certainly I will if you care for it.
But to be honest I said it on the spur
of the moment. 1 was so embarrassed
to have her see me. l suppose l was
clumsy, but--oh, well it is over now.
/ will try and look where | am going
after this. But I was thinking Of my
little namesake."
"Your what?"
"Evelyn Reeves has little daughter
and she has named her for me. am
delighted to think she did so, and was
thinking what should give the baby
for a christening gift when / stumbled
over that stone"
"You are sure you aren't hurt9"
"Only my pridel That is terribly
bruised"
"Don't mind her. She may fall some
day.
wasn't thinking entirely of Mrs.
Loring 1 had been terribly mortified
to have Merton see me. But | answered.:
''I hope she does, and that | will be
where I see her" at which Merton
laughed heartily, then added:
stMe tool"
A Serious Talk
When we reached the house excused
myself and left Merton in the library
while l went upstairs and changed my
soiltd dress and rearranged my hair.
When 1 looked in the glass and saw
how blowsy I was I flushed again to-
think that Madge Loring had seen me
But l soon forgot the contretemps when
Merton and began to talk.
1 had ordered the tea things when ]
went up, and everything was ready for
me. 1 made the tea and then we chat
ted. Merton touched very lightly upor
his feeling for me; said he had beefI
thinking things over, and that he want'
ed me to forgive him for prcsuming. H.
had perhaps thought me more unhappy
than l was, and had acted accordingly
Then he stopped talking of our affairs
and told me of places he had visited
stories of people he knew; and finally he
told me of many things he had exper'
fenced, things which seriously affect
ed him, and which were intensely inter
esting. We talked until nearly time for
George to come in. An intimate, serioueI
talk that f.ade me feel l knew Merton
Gray, the REAL Merton Gray for the
first time.
When George came in I told him of
my day. OF the baby, how cute it was
at which he smiled rather indulgently
but said nothing. Then l told him of
my fall, of Merton Gray happening
along, of his assistance; of Madge Lor-
ing and her eatty remarks, then Of my
tea with Merton, and some of the things
he had told me, the serious things.
To my surprise George said nothing
about my chmsiness. His only remark
anent my fall being:
"You are sure you weren't hurtf" Ii
gave him the same answer / had given
Merton. That My pride only was bruis-
ed'', at which he laughed.
Tomorrow-Maying Over Oneself
Thankless Task