Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-01-12
Margaret CARROTS
Husband
THE REACTION.
By JANE PHELPS
X X X X X X X X X X X
CHAPTER CVIII.


all, and everyone seemed to become hill
arious all at once. l felt hopelessly out
of it, although l tried bravely to hide
of it, although L tried bravely to hide
my feelings.
What's the matter, Margaret2 You
started in so bully, and now you we
petered out all of sudden. What is
it2" Elsie said to me when we were
alone for moment.
"There Is no use, Elsie. When he
danced with me he hardly spoke, and
when he did, was disagreeable, there
was no need to tell her who l meant
by HE.
''It's too bad, but if you allow a
/ little thing like that to discourage you,
you might as well give up the whole
thing. Brace up like a good girl. Show
them all what dead game sport you
are, land Elsie gave me loving look
along with her slangy advice.
"Im tryl" l returned as someone
called her away.
! eff at first you don't succeed, you
know she called back at me.
After a bit everyone tired of dancing
and we had some music. Gladys Root
sang, and the quartette played for her.
Then about two o clock the party broke
up. Toward the last John Kendall came
and sat beside me. He said:
"May 1 compliment you upon your
looks, Mrs. Garrett? L never have seen
you look so well. The country must
agree with you"
L felt like telling him it was the eff
feet of what had been done in the beau
ty parlor, not the country which had
made me look so well, but 1 replied in
the customary language of society. He
then said:
''You have broken the ice, now 1 hope
you will often join us.
'fThank you, 1 hope to, l knew my
voice was cold, my answers stilted, but
for the moment all my dislike of this
man was with me. Had it not been
for him perhaps Bob would never have
cared for the things which blamed for
our unhappiness.
AS we were putting on our wraps Ell
sic said:
"I1l come down to the HalldOrf in
the morning. Don't go until l see you
then as Bob came for me:
"Good night, Bob, you should be very
proud tonight. Everybody here has vot-
ed your wife great addition to the
party"
"Yes indeed!' Henry Creedmore
agreed, "and best of all Mrs. Garrett
has promised to become one of us this
winter always supposing those boys OF
hers keep we'll"
| could see in Bob IS manner that the
praise had had its effect. 1t had been
what clever Elsie had intended. She
knew that a man is always impressed
by what others say about his wife
especially when it is said publicly.
''They are pretty sturdy" Bob an
swered for me, II don t imagine they
will keep her home.'
Then amid many promises to see each
other we drove away. l leaned back IN
the corner of the taxi waiting for Bob
to speak. But he too was very quiet, and
seemingly disinclined to talk. So we
rode to the hotel almost in silence.
''Did you really have a good time,
Margaret2' Bob asked as 1 brushed
my hair before retiring.
. Yes, veryl didn t you?'' 1 turned to
look at him. The comb caught in my
hair and Bob leaned over and set itI
free.
The touch Of his hand brought back
to me all the bitterness of knowing L
was an unloved wife. He had not lin
gered over the task, he had freed the
comb as carelessly as if it had been
Donald who was in trouble; or some
one he knew and wished TO help.
''I always have a good time with
the bunch, he replied as he dropped
first one shoe than the other with a
resounding thud.
A sob was near. I had to close my
ewes for moment l knew my lips
ouivered, so turned away that Bob
might not see me. If only he had said
he had a good time because I was there
how happy I should have been, instead
of SAYING he "always had good time
with the bunch. -
| was determined not to give way,
but back of this determination l dimly
realized that perhaps in spite Of all
l could do. Bob might be swept away
from; as if no resolution would matter
very much. As if there was nothing
l could do, really.
The stimulation of the crowd was
gone. Nv spirit seemed to be dead Only
my body was alive. The excitement OF
the evening had worn on my nerves
already keyed to the highest pitch.
shut my eyes and the slow tears oozed
between my lids. 1 did not wipe them
away, but squeezed my eyelids close
that no more might follow. Then my
lips formed voieeless prayer that 1od
would give me strength to adhere to
nv resolution, to keep my promise tol
Elsie And to win my husband.
We breakfasted IN our room. Bob
had said kindly;
.sNo need Tor you to hurry, Mar
garrett the children are all right or Nel- |
lie would have telephoned. stay IN bed
and rest. -
So an hour after he had gone to the
affiee Elsie came and found me still IN /
bed. i
(MOnday-A Shopping Expedition.)
CUBA FACES FAMINE