Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-06-13
: : The Woman Who Changed :
i By JANE PHELPS i;
x X X X 4 x x & x x x \ X !;
A WIDENING RIFT.
By JANE PHELPS
A WIDENING RIFT.

CHAPTER Gil.
When reached my room 1 locked tn
door and threw myself upon the be6
But didn't cry. 1 lay dry-eyed bu'
sith rieheked hands and repeated ove'
and over that 1 hated Julia Collins, :
HATED hEkl
The idea that she should speak my
husbands name in that way before
those people at the station made me
furious. One would think she was his
f;aGeee at least did they not know he
was married, 1t was outrageous ]
would never speak to her again.
My tsl'phOne Jingled.
1--WE have news, your husband is
unhurt anu Is on his way here n
special sent out by the railroad. -
Thank vou" l again flung myself
across the bed. Someway in my anger
I had fofgotten my anxiety. Tha;
George was safe did not mean quit
as much TO ne as it would have mean
lad ] not heard what Julia Collins
said-that is it did not just then. Aftel
ward when i understood the gravity o.
sae accident; the number Of people in
iured, l was nrayerfully thankful fej
my husband escape.
A call for Help.
FINALLY l Ioce, bathed my face and
eyes. The clerk. had said that George
was on the way in special. He might
arrive at any time. 1 rang for Celeste,
and asked her to tell Mrs. Sexton 1
would like to see her. She came to me
Immediately.
"What is it?" she asked, as she
ioked anxiously at me.
GeoTge was on that train" then
realizing she knew nothing of the aeci
dent, l explained. Georges train has
r,et with an accident. He is unhurt and
on his way in special. Many Were in
jurCd so have heard. Then | told hel
of my visit to the station, of what l
had overheard, and how 1 felt. "I
HATE that womanl" L declared
"What right had she to go and tell
those people that she was there because
of George, MY husband 1t was insult
ingi"
"You say she didn't see youY"
"No-I rushed back immediately l
heard what she said"
"Never let either her or George
know you did hear. If You are not cog
infant of an occurrence you cannot be
supposed to resent it"
"Then you acknowledge 1 should re.
sent it,"
"No-not quite that. She told tho
truth, they are old friends, very old
friends. Naturally she might feel anx
ious. But if I were in your place l
should ignore the incident. Not for her
sake; but for your own. To talk of it
will peghaps make it seem of more i'm
portance than it really was-to your
husband. He might feel rather flatter
ed than otherwise to know she was so
in his fate. Men are like that
my dear. All men are apt to be easily
flattered by beautiful woman s inter-
est in them. Don't make it the more
patent by speaking of it"
"You are so wise. Shall I eve
learn?" l said, feeling she had spoken
the truth.
you are learning-have learned a
great deal Fight women with their own
weapons when you can do so and keep
your self-respect If a woman engages
your husband s interest by flattery, VIII
go her one better by using the same
means. Meet her, any woman, on her
own ground. Defeat her by your clever
aso of her own weapons.
Mrs. Collins Brings George to the Hotel
Mrs. Sexton left me after a little
more talk, confidential in that she tol6 |
me things concerning herself; her owr |
married life. l was happier when she !
had gone, more determined to make
myself the kind of a woman George
had thought 1 would be when he mar
ried me.
l bathed my face and put on most |
becoming dress | had hardly done so
when I heard voices in the hall, and |
George and Julia Collins came in. For
4 moment, couldn't speak. Oh, why
ladn t Mrs. Sexton remained with meq
Then / saw that George had his arm in
/ sling
"You said you weren't injuredl" /
exclaimed going to him. Chow do you
10 Mrs. Collins" I added, as George
kissed me more tenderly than usual. AZ
Ter that kiss / did not care what she
lad done. | felt that my husband was
glad to see me; glad he had not been
killed because of me. | don't know
what gave NE that feeling. had it.
"It's nothingl' he said, "just
,prain. When I think of those poor fel
ows who were burned to death | almost
leel ashamed to wear the sling Yos
zee, Helen, It was the smoking ear that
-ook fire The injured were all men
Had there been women or children it
would have been even worse" he shud
Tered.
All this time Julia Collins had stood
luietly listening. Now she remarked:
HI heard of the accident and went
lown to the station. When l heard it
vas the train on which George was ex-
,eeted waited for the special. | felt
'ure he would be glad TO have some one
o bring him home"
at was kind of you. Thank you"
'eturned. ~ also went to the station
,ut I could not endure the wait with
,eople looking on. Naturally you would
lot be as concerned as l was, nor feel
he same at being in a crowd" l knew
= I