Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-08-06
CHAPTER CXLYIu

That winter we again took up our
social life. Kenneth was so well, such
a good baby, l had no reason to re-
main at home, or to refuse to enter
tain. We had a thoroly responsible
nurse, and George would not hear to
my letting the fact that we had baby
in the house, interfere with us in any
way.
L had ceased trying to make George
over. Whenever the thought would
cross my mind that l might be happier
if he were different, 1 dismissed it at
once. l really loved my husband, had
always loved him. And now that ]
had learned to know him, to take him
as he was, had ceased to kick against
the pricks and was calmly happy and
eontented. Then one day they brought
him home. An automobile had knock
ed him down as he crossed the street,
and he had struck his head on the
pavement.
"Concussion," the doctor said as he
bent over him.
A trained nurse was installed, the
house took on the air of stillnessswhich
usually accompanies such an illness.
Even Kenneth seemed to realize that
was wrong, and was unusual
ly quiet.
For days my husbands life hung
in the balance. For days l had scarce
ly left him, an unspoken prayer con-
stantly on my lips: If God would only
spare him. At last the change came,
and he crawled slowly back to health.
He was not easv to take care Of in
those days of eonvaleseence, but I was
80 happy that 1 scarcely noticed when
he was cross and grouched because he
couldn't get up. Men are all like that
when they were i'll, at least my broth
eTs always had been.
JUST A MAN.
When George had fully recovered 1
lad learned one thing thru his illness.
That was that he was just a man, a
nan who must be humored, and let have
MS way. But not one to be afraid Of,
As 1 had feared him in the first years
1f our married life, l tried not to
cross him; I never now allowed my
self to do the things l knew were
or disagreeable to him. In
return he also forgot to find fault,
was contented. and 1 think, happy
most of the time.
When we were going out and enter
aiming l saw far more of him than
when it was necessary, for any reason,
10 remain at home. So | gladly gave
up to him in his desires in this respect.
had become, so Evelyn assured me,
IN accomplished hostess, easy and tact
,ul.
81 heard Madge Loring say she
vouldn t have believed it possible you
we're the same girl that bought an
etiquette book so that she could study
Up and avoid making mistakes" "
L laughed with Evelyn over the re-
but l also WINGED a little
Is | invariably did when anyone men
5ioned that episode. / never had for
gotten my modification, and the feel
ng 1 had when George burned the book
[ had in all innocence bought that I
night learn to please him.
"Mrs. Loring is very compliment
ary," then / added, $50 are you,
Evelyn"
Greatly, Helen, l woud scarcely
know yon for the same girl. Some
lines | feel that you are years older
han / am, yet when we first met |
always felt older. You have so much
,oise; you never let little things worry
you at all nowadays. l can remember
when your eyes were often red and
swollen"
~ know! | was a regular cry-babyl
wonder George didn t leave me.
"Well, don t! But do you recall
low Jealous you used to be of Julia
1ollins9 | don t believe you ever had
he slightest reason to be. Now you
.ould hold your own with her any.
where. That last dinner dance of
tours when you had all those foreign
officers was a wonderful affair. Ev-
,ryone talked about it for days. And
fou seemed to do everything so easily"
EASY WHEN ONE KNOWS HOW.
"It IS easy now But only since
made up my mind to be the kind of
/. wife my husband wanted me to be.
)nlv since l have put aside my own
selfish desires in the greater one of
making happy home for us both.
You see, Evelyn, was stubborn too,
Is we'll as unoducated in thg ways Of
he world; and in the building up of
home for George. / wanted to have
{ all my way; the easy way for me.
hadn't wisdom enough to know that
woman is more pliable, can more
Easily fit herself into a new groove
han can a man. George had made
his place in the social world of More
and before l married him. Natural