Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-01-30
Margaret CARROTS
Husband
A WEDDING AND A BOOK
CHAPTER CXXIII.
+ By JANE PHELPS
+ X X X \ \ 4 X X X X X X

John Kendall and Elinor Framework
were married very quietly about si1
: weeks after the announcement had beer
made. They just slipped away quietly
and came back man and wife. We SEN
them some lovely silver and wished then
all the happiness in the world But i
WASH t their wedding that made thu
date one | shall always remember.
Charlotte Keating's book was pub
lished that day.
Bob brought home a copy. The first
copy. He laid it down and when hs
WASH t looking picked it up. She hai
inscribed it:
70 my friend and inspiration to dc
only the best of which 1 am capable -
As read the words sickened l felt
faint as l had when L read the note
had found on the floor. The words in
themselves were nothing, it was the
meaning l gave them. heard him COM
ing and hastily put the book back on
the table. But l had not been quick
enough. He saw. The old peculiar flush
crossed his face, and fingered there, un-
| til l, unable to bear more without speak
| ing, left the room.
There had been pity and guilt in his
eyes.
Often as did things of Which used
to disapproye l would have weird
sense of being somebody else. That night
the feeling was strongly upon me. All
day had been planning something to
please Bob-so l fancied. A welcome
home party for the bride and groom.
Bob was SO fond of John Kendall that
[ had been very careful to use that
fondness as a lever to influence Bob in
my favor.
[ stumbled up stairs. [ was getting
tired, so tired. The constant strain, the
unremitting effort were getting on my
nerves. l must not lost my poise; [
must not fail because of that.
l had looked at Bob many times CO.
verify as he read. l saw the harrassed
look in his eyes. Many mornings he
looked as if he had not slept. Was he
worrying, too, and why's
Elsie had told me for my peace of
mind that she couldn It see the symp-
toms 1 spoke of, yet felt she was
only trying to reassure me for Mrs.
Baldwin said:
"You should make your husband take
a rest. Mr.. Baldwin and | were talking
about how badly he looked only this
morning. Then, she added, not at all
spitefully however: "You give him too
much freedom. His eyes show he keeps
late hours"
"Hhe reads very late," I responded,
"even when at home. He is a regular
night-hawk "
9'Wen, he looks dreadfully."
I knew he had no business worries.
His real estate business had grown won
derfully. He had sold several big parcels
of land in an expensive portion of the
city, and had made great deal Of
He had been most generous also;
my allowance, and urging me
to get whatever L needed for myself |
and the boys. He seldom spent money /
excepting for books. He seldom came I
home without one in his hand.
Yet that something was worrying him
was positive.
NY first waking thought was of him,
and with it would come misery, an
unhappiness that flooded my being. 1t
was in some respects the hardest hour
of the day, this waking hour when l
knew that another day of effort had
to be lived. Yes, just LIVING was
hard thing to do under the cireumstan'
,es.
Rv this time I had succeeded in sup
pressing all fault finding; all question
ng. 1 think sometimes that had we
.eallv uuarreled it might have cleared
he air. That the tension under which
Bob was so evidently living might have
'ound an outlet, so preventing him
seeking one elsewhere.
But 1 never opposed him. If he cared
% go anywhere | went. That l was tred
,r didn t care for the place and people
low made no difference. He wished 1t, /,
hat was enough. When he did not ask
ne to accompany him helped him with
lis coat-when he would let me-and
,ade him good night with smile.
| never waited up for him. Even II
nv book was interesting, and so helped
ne to forget, would lay it down before ;
ime for his train-now nearly always :
he last one, and hurry to bed and pre- ,
end to be asleep when he came IN. In
he morning l never referred to his hav-
NO remained out, as used to;, but chat
ed of the. children and other things
when | so wanted to ask him the same
nestions | used to--no not the same.
rbcn no doubts of his fealty had ever
inferred my mind. Now 1 was not SO .
ure-nOt so sure. i
had hoped he would leave Charlotte
<eatinr's book at home. But when he
eft he carried it with him. / went into
own. and as always called on Elsie:
"Have you seen Charlotte Keating's
lew book - she asked enthusiastically.
'Au the critics are raving over 1T.
rhev already are saying it will be
,est seller"
sfNo, but 1 shall get one and take
I home. 1 should like to read a book
he wrote"
ssSend me onel am crazy to see
tt"
(TomOrrow-The Book)
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