Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-01-28
Margaret CARROTS
Husband
HOSTESS AT JOHN KENDALL'S
PARTY.
By JANE PBELPS
+ X x \ + y y X y * x X x
CHAPTER CXXI.

CHAPTER CXXI.
Nellie helped me to bed and Bob re-
marked:
"Don't get up in the morning, Mar
Igaret, l IN afraid you are not well"
81 could have screamed aloud. Not
we'll! the irony of it. But my emotions
had exhausted me and 1 soon sank into
a deep sleep. When L awoke the dawn
of a gray morning was creeping into my
windows, but it was no colder, no gray
er than the cloud over my soul. [ closed
my eyes and tried to sleep again, but l
only visualized with a keenness born of
despair, the words Bob, my Bob, had
written to another. He had addressed
her in the intimate form ''Dear One. -
1t could mean but one thing. He was in
| love with whoever was to receive that
message. Or-he thought he was.
| | hoped and prayed the latter. If that
was the case perhaps l still had a
chance. L rose quietly and dressed. 1
looked pale and haggard, and-ugly
and old. 1 added to myself as L look
ed into the mirror.
| For the first time in my life L roug-
: ed my cheeks before breakfast. Then
hurried down and drank a strong cup
Of coffee before Bob was ready, making
excuse to Della that L had headache.
L hadn t, it was heartache, but it
would answer.
"Y You gave us quite scare" he re-
marked.
1t was foolish in me. l guess 1 was
overtired," l made answer.
:" Yes, probably" he said and then
/ hic ontira ottaurlon to bic brAa r.
tast and his paper.
cit is the night of John Kendall s
dinner" l said, "You know L am to
act as hostess so we will have to get
there early"
"Do you feel up to it7 If you don It
III make it all right with john"
"Oh, l wouldn It miss it for a good
deal" p" 1 assured him, hurt to see how
quickly he would arrange for me to re-
main at home.
every well. 1 IL get home early"
l felt almost unable to attend to the
things 1 had planned for the day. My
trip to the beauty parlors, the final try
ing on of my finished dinner gown, a
wonderful creation of Morton s. But L
put all thoughts but those of what L
had to do as determinedly behind me
as 1 was able, and managed to get thru
the day.
1 was dressing when Bob came in.
FFeeI all right?'' he said.
eyes"
"That IS good! called John up and
told him if you didn t show up not to
be disappointed.
"What did he say, please9"
<'That he would be awfully disap-
pointed if you didn't t Did you think
he would be impolite to say anything
else?"
Although Bob had spoken in joking
tone yet [ was hurt. He had implied
that John would not be so disappointed
as he pretended.
Once more I waited for his approval
My gown was exquisite, and I knew
that I looked very well in spite of the
fact that I was desperately frightened
and unhappy.
"You have learned to dress, Mar
garet. 1t is wonderful what it has done
for you,'' he said. Someway felt chill
ed If he had just given me kiss, and
said rs he used to--sometimes: 'FYou
look bully!" I should have been better
satisfied
We took cab and reached the studio |
early.
"Bob gave me quite scare" John |
said as he welcomed u.s. "He intimated |
that you might not be able to come. |
That you were i'll. You certainly don It |
look it now, you are simply stunning. !
1 shall be very proud of my hostess to-
night.
1t was very comforting to have him |
talk like that, especially as Bob was
standing by and heard him. But L had |
little time to think of his flattery as
the guests began coming almost i'm
The Rapps, Elsie and Tom,
and all the others belonging to the |
same crowd and-Charlotte Keating. |
You see 1 put her by herself. That is
the way 1 considered her. Not as l did |
the others.
She was dressed in a long gown of |
black sequins. 1t accentuated her slight
graceful figure, and lent distinction to
handsomest in the room, seemed to pale
into insignifieanee beside the one she
wore.
Bob took her in.I don t know why, but
knew he would. They were seated too
far from me for me to hear what they
said; but as at the other dinner they
were entirely absorbed in one another,
and kept up an animated conversation
all through the entire dinner.
Once or twice saw Bob look in my
direction, and l smiled and nodded at
him. He had looked away with a puz-
lied expression.
He would have understood a frown, I
thought.
Tomorrow A Surprising An
nouneement)