Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-05-03
The Woman Who Changed
: x x X x X x Z x x x X X F:
THE oUTSTRETCHED HAND.
AN EVENING OF sELF-PITY
By JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER LXvIII.


l went upstairs for something, immed
lately after l had finished dinner, ex
peeting to return at once and spent the
evening eozily in the library with
George. would tell him all about my
visit. OF course he hadn't had time o
wait TO hear, at breakfast; l should.
mt have expected it of busy business
maj.
"Helen!" he called from the foot of
the stairs. I'm going out"
( l did not answer. l eouldn t. The
lump IN my throat was 100 big.
/ He waited a moment, then ran light
ly up the stairs and glanced through my
door which was partly open. Then he
came in.
| turned away for a moment, that ho
might not see the tears which We're
filling my eyes. He turned my faco
around, his hand under my chin.
81 came up 80 kiss you goodbye; but
as you choose always to disfiguEa your
self by shedding tears will forego
that pleasure.
Il didn't mean to cry, George"
said unsteadily, "but 1 thought you
would stay home with me tonight and
| would tell you all about my visits
81 have An engagement at .he club, !"
he turrad toward the door. "Good
night"
A Scathing Rebuke
"Please don't go away crossl"
pleaded.
81 am no. cross. am simply disgust
ed. A woman who weeps over every lit
tie thing that happens to be contrary
to her desires, is an impossible compan-
ion for man. hate ears! / have tod
you so many times. Good night" he
stalked out of the room, down the stairs
and |, listening, heard the front door
close none to gently after him.
| burst into a very passion Of tears
and sobs-a sudden, wild access of lone
illness and longing.
81 ought to have ayed home. He
doesn t love me, he can't He couddn u
treat me so, if he did, /" moaned aloud.
George hadn't wanted to kiss me-.
hadn t cared enough to kiss ME, just be-
cause / was crying And He had made
me cry.
One thing, and ohc thing only, was
gradually seeping into my mind; could
MT go on like this forever. He had no
consideration for my loneliness when,
nigh after night, | sat alone in that
luxurious house that now seemed less
like home than ever. would gladly
have given up the oriental rugs for
mother s rag ones-the tapestries and
real lace for the dainty dimity curtains
at home-all the ease and splcndor of |
our living for the nominees that per-
vaded the home l had JUS left.
was not left long alone. George had
been gone but little time when James
a Mr.. and Mrs. Ross and a |
Mr. Huntington.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ross, were, knew,
close friends of George S before we were
married. OF Mr.. Huntington | knew
nothing 1 wanted to refuse to see them,
but did not dare. George would be an
cry. So l sent word hat ] would be
down immediately, and then hurriedly
hatked my eyes and smoothed my hair |
A New Acquaintance
Mr. and Mrs Ross greeted me very
cordially, when l went into the room.
and then Mrs. Ross introduced Mr.. Hun
tington Mr.. Ross was lively sort of
man and did his best to be entertaining
He paid me all sors of compliments,
some of which, at another time, would
have embarrassed me- I accepted them
calmly because l was too unhappy to
mind. My calm seemed to much intrl-
que this man of the world. And l
thought it caused a lock of admiration
in his eyes.
Mr.. Huntington, too, was very kind
lie was young about 3wenty-five. He
tried to find out some VI the things in
which | was especially interested and
talked first of them and then of what
interested him. He talked
better when on the latter subjects.
My wandering glance, my forced at
tention, did not escape Mrs. Ross. saw
to my annoyance. i was not living up
TO Mrs. Sex pms teachings. / was pro
jecting my own feelings into the atmos.
phere when, as hostess, it was my place
to make their call pleasant-not theirs
TO entertain me.
Before they left l had quite recover Z
ID my poIse. Mr.. Hunting on said he
was going to make up party, some
,vening, to dine at a very popular res
tauraht out in the suburbs, and wanted
10 know if George and / would go. OF
course | had to tell him l would CON
suit my husband. But | was delighted.
Perhaps George would go and take me,
Before they left we became quie gay.
And I had promised to go to a picture
"Tee heel tee hee' d Miss Smith.
You cert n y are cleverl"
Hammeren Tongs began to find her
positively fascinating.
eThpv 're starting IN damon - bc soid |