Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-06-06
!. The Woman Who Changed
|. 4 i = = = \ 4 Z 4 i x 4
WHEN LOVE ASSERTS ITSELF.
CHAPTER XCvII.
By JANE PHELPS

CHAPTER XCVII.
4 never shall forget my sensations
when so nearly drowned. was a good
swimmer, and never hesitated to g
even farther out than George, who
swan indiffercntly. 1 went down, down
down! The water not only seemed tC
close over me, but it seemed to wraI
me round and round, like great sheet
Twice this happened, then felt myself
liftd up in strong arms, after which
knew no more until l opened my eyes
and found myself lying on the beach,
with George bending over me, chatting
my hands, and one or two others trying
to help bring me out of the unconscious.
ness into which 1 had drifted.
"Thank God!" l heard George say,
but his voice sounded miles away. The
ringing in my ears, like rushing water,
made all other sounds faint and distant
"That was a close shave for both of
you, Howard! l thought, at one time,
you were both gone," one of the men
said. Then, as | started, "There comes
the doctor now, but l guess she S all
right.
| struggled to sit up. Gradually, |
sensod who was talking they
were saying. George was deathly pale,
| had never before seen such look
on his face, not efen at the time when
l cut my wrist in the ear.
The doctor looked me over, then turn
ed to George.
"You get home Immediately he
said. Then followed directions as to
what he should do. For the first time
| noticed that George was shivering vio-
lently. "You need care more than your
wife does''
One of the early bathrs had gone for
car, and we were helped into it and
taken back to the hotel. Celeste got
ME to bed, but George refused to do
as the doctor ordered, and sat in a chair
beside me. He kept hold of my hand
until the medicine the doctor gave me
took effect and slept.
But before | closed my eyes he told
me he thought he had lost me-thought
that he never could get me ashore
just once he leaned over and laid his
face to mine
Thank God, 1 still have my little
wife," he said, then leaned wearily
back in the chair.
Disarranged Plans.
slept for hours When I awoke, ]
was nearly as well as ever. But George
was in bed, quite ill. The doctor was
there, and said that he would have 10
remain in bed for few days, anyway.
He looked so serious when he said it,
that L was frightened and I questioned
him closely.
1t was his heart, the doctor told me.
Not being very good swimmer, he had
not known how to spare himself, and
| had been a dead weight.
cit was a miracle that he saved you
that both did not drown" the physi
elan said. cat that early hour the
guards are not on duty. 1t is a foolish
thing to go out as far as you did, un-
less they are. J"
1t was my fault. had been to blame.
Had remained near to George, neal
the shore, it would not have happened.
All day messages poured in. 1t had
gotten about, and we were fairly besieg-
ed with congratulations, and with cop
dolences WIN they found George wa!
i'll from the effects of the strain. Abou'
three O'Clock, was called to the tlo
phone. 1t was Merton Gray.
Merton Gray Is Anxious.
81 have just heard " he said. "Yor
are all rightl"
Right as can be, but Mr.. Howard
is quite ill"
"That is too bad-thank God you DE-
not drown! You viii not be leaving d.
you planned will youl"
"No-that is, not quite so soon.
George will be in bed for several days
the doctor tells me. "
81 shall see you again, if that is the
case
Someway, when l hung up, it wa
with the same indifference with which
l had done so, after receiving message:
from casual acquaintanees Death had
been so near-George was so ill-that
everything else seemed trivial by com
parison.
Later, was again called to the tele.
phone. This time the message did not
leave me SO indifferent. 1t was froL.
Julia Collins. After asking me all sort
of questions, each time calling Georg'
by his first name, she proceeded to seold
me for putting him in such danger. That
she did it in her playfully sarcastic man
ner. made no difference. She intimated
that l wantd to show off before him,
and had gone out so far | eouldn t get
back. When explained that l had beer
taken with cramps, as are many swim.
mers, she replied:
''I know! They all say that when they
get into trouble"
hung up the receiver-after telling /
her that she could not see George for
several days-hating her worse than
ever.
Tomorrow Undesired Visit}
THE cLovEN HOOP.