Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-01-09
Margaret CARROTS
Husband
PREPARING FOR THE PARTY.
By JANE PHELPS
X X X X X \; X X * X X X

CHAPTER CN.
When Bob S door closed the first feel
ing had was one of hot anger and in
dignst;on. L had been so horribly fri
ghtened, and he seemed not to care.
Then cane the thought he didn It real
izc now scared | was, and-he had
come home on the milk train.
Could it he possible that because I
let him go So pleasantly, because L had
asked no questions, or made any dis
agreeable remarks that he had come
home? Was my changed attitude already
beginning to show results 1t was too
soon, it couldn't be, l thought sadly,
yet soon fell quietly asleep, and slept
somdly the remainder of the night in
spite of ly scare anent the burglar.
In the morning Bob questioned me
about my fears, also about Donald.
che wasn't sick, was he7" Bob
asked.
"No, | dreamed bad Dreams" Don
aid told him, then proceeded to repeat
his dream of bad man carrying "muv-
tonight?' he asked as he finished his
story.
"No, son. You won't have any bad
dreams tonight. and satisfied the child
ate his breakfast quietly while we talk
ed.
"It. is the night of the party You
know, Margaret" Bob said. "Do you
still think you will go?"
'Of course! didn't l accept2' 1 an
swered as casually as 1 could. "Shall
you come out after me or shall l meet
you in town2''
Gas it is a beefsteak and I don It
have to Dress. suppose you meet me in
town." Then after a moment he said
q hope you won It be too much bored,
Margaret, the people whom you dislike
will all be there. y
If am l shall try not to show it, :"
and bit of asperity crept into my
voice. Was he giving me chance to
back o;lt3
Then III loeet you at, the station.
Re there on tat train that gets i'll a
little before six. Z"
VERY well, l II wait at he news
sand" l had a lille plan of my own to
carry out. l didn t intend to take him
into my confidence.
As soon as he left l telephoned Ell |
"I'm coming right in, )" I told her
twill you meet me at luncheon2p
g Yes, " she responded, how is every
thing going2"
g AS well as can be expected, 1
guess" 1 answered. Then after making
arrangements to meet for luncheon at
a small tea room, L hung up.
had had a pretty afternoon dress
fixed a little and it was very becoming. /
would have my hair washed and dress
ed, a facial massage and manicure. 1
would look my best. So that my dress
would be perfectly fresh l carried it in
my suit case and checked it at the sta
tion. would change just before time
for dinner. l wished it were a different |
kind of a party; one where full dress
was permissible. looked better in an
evening gown. Then l blushed to think /
was taking such an interest in my
looks--and in the entertainment.
First l did little shopping. 1 bought /
some dainty high heeled shoes to re-
place the plain low heeled ones l affect
ed. Fresh gloves, and some few things
for the house. This took my time until
met Elsie.
Over our luncheon 1 told her of the
fright I had had, of Bob coming home
on the milk train-and lastly of his
giving me the chance to back out from
going to the beefsteak.
'You see Margaret you have been so
miserable whenever you have gone to
such affairs, you have also made him
so miserable that ] don I wonder the /
poor fellow is afraid to have you go. |
1t S up to you to have a good time to-
night. 70 pretend you do anyway"
But / feel such hypOerite when 1
pretend to enjoy such silly things
You won L have to pretend after a /
while if you just let yourself timber up
a little. wonder what made Bob come
home, she mused, ''you say he never /
hiss done that before-eome home On the /
milk train, l meant"
'Never!"
"Um-and you didn ask questions,
ror find fault, nor-cry2"
Not one of the three. -
O. Il looks encouraging, but we must |
I t take too much for granted, prac-
tieal Elsie went on, 'she might have
wanted something, or-Oh, any one Of
a dozen reasons might have brought him
hClae.
We separated right after lunch and
I reTaired to the beauty parlor. When
emerged three hours later / was salts
fled thar / had left few wears be-
hind ne-for that night at hesst. The
girl who massaged me laUghingly told
me that the result Of what she did for