Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-02-05
Margaret CARROTS
Husband
A CHILDISH CONFIDENT.
CHAPTER CXXVHI.
X By JANE PHELPS
K X X X X X 4 X x X X x x

CHAPTER CXXVIII.
But if | talked to no one else of Rob
ert, / often talked to Donald. l haG
taken, or rather had tried to take Bob I
place as story-teller. But often We
would dispense with the other stories
while | told Of Bob. Donald never tirec
OF listening, on OF ASKING question.
anent his daddy"
When will he be back to us muv
ier2'' he asked frequently. NJ answer
was always the same.
] "When his business will let him
darling. He wants to see his little SOL
as much as you want to see him.
And to see you to, muver, and
Geordie?"
eyes and Geordie.''
"And muver9" he would often in.
sist until l had satisfied him by repeat.
ing:
"And muver," when he would go On
talking, satisfied that l had not been
left out.
found after the first sharp ache
had turned into duh ever-present pain
that my year had not been wasted
even though / had failed in holding Bob.
My reading and studying now gave me
more pleasure than anything save only
my boys. Our little club still kept up
our French lessons, and were doing some
really advanced reading. [ had formed
the habit of reading the books Bob lik.
ed, histories of art, travel and science,
as well as the new worth while novels,
and the standard magazines.
Il,
very unhappy how much real pleasure
one can get from books. They often
brought forgetfulness, too, when my
nerves were at the breaking point. So
say my year was not a failure after
all. [ said something of the sort to
Elsie one day and she replied:
81 knew if you failed to accomplish
your purpose that the effort would not
be lost"
Wise Elsie.
Ny life settled into sort of dull
routine. neither sought society, nor
shut myself away from it. went about
much as usual, and tried always to show
a smiling face to the world and to my
darling boys. Donald was quick to no.
tice, and l must not shadow his young
life.
Yet oftentimes in spite of all would
have dark days when l could not realize
that the sun would ever shine for me
again, when they were made darker by
the knowledge that mad [ been what
[ should have been to Bob never would
[ have been made to suffer as 1 was
doing. There were long never ending
nights when [ sobbed and struggled for
calm; when 1 felt that to die would be
to drag out my life misery
untold.
Then when morning came and l heard |
the baby voices calling me, 1 would flav
myself for my thoughts, and for their
baby sakes take up again the burden
Of my loveless life.
I, that used to be annoyed, sorry that |
was older than Bob, now was often |
that because l was, I would !
nave fewer years to live and suffer.
Oh, could we only look little ways |
lhead and, seeing, know how to plan
,ur hvesl But we work so in the dark.
The future hidden, the present our only
hought.
L had heard no news from Bob save
he occasional mention of his name by
Ilinor. Charlotte Keating was no longer
n New York, and I supposed of course
hat she was with him. Only Elsie knew
What my reason for separating from
Bob had been; only she knew that Char
otte Heating had anything to do with
{.
Another book of hers had lately come
ut, and Elsie brought it over to me.
t was very different from her first
ook, more entertaining, perhaps, al
hough not as powerful. It did not cause
S much of furore as did the first
ne, and the critics were not as enthus-
lstic in their praise.
In thinking of Bob I sometimes won
cred if he were still living up to his :
leals of right and wrong. Then l knew
nat he was. Even though it was hard .
or him to wait until the time set by :
ne court passed he would not be false !
} his theories. They were rooted and
rounded in his very being. ,
Strangely got comfort from the
lought.
But now the time was drawing to
lose. Another month or two and he
ould be free to marry the woman
e loved. One morning l found letter +,
y my plate. A letter from hlm. My {
ands trembled so l could scarcely
pen it. He had written:
" Dear Margaret. l shall be in New !
ork on Tuesday for a few hours. Please :
t Annie bring the boys over to the !
Ialldorf.'' then followed the direc- =
ons as to the time, etc. And he fin
he'd; ''With all good wishes for your i.
lDpiness. Bob
The next day was Tuesday. I immed- I
tely called Elsie and asked her if she :
ould meet Annie and go to the hotel !
it'll her, making the excuse that
ated to trust her with the care of :
,th children. Really 1 wanted to hear
ON Bob. And Elsie would satisfy my !
lriosity.
''Of course I'm meet them. Tell An
e to stay right in the waiting room
It'll l come for them.'
fTnfnnrroxV-A Meeting Dad1VD