Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-01-26
Margaret Carrots
husband
A BITTER FIGHT WITH SELF.
CHAPTER CXX.
By JANE PHELPS
X x X X \ X X X X X X

just the thought of the coming of tn
IOTHER WOMAN was shock. Had
not turned over a new leaf, this thought
would have shook me out of my smul
eomplacency, my preconceiyed ideas
that M Y way was the right way.
had only few months in which tc
make good my determination to hold
fast to mine own. Our children. healthy
happy youngsters occupied a great deal
of my attention, demanded much of nv
time and strength in spite of the fact
that Nellie was both competent and
willing. When 1 thought of the task |
mad set myself the shortness of the
time left in which to accomplish it; |
/ grew sick and faint with fear.
In those days prayer was often on
my lips. The prayer that / might not
fail Mrs. Farnesworth, Elinor, as [ had
come to call her had proved a real friend
to me. She and John Kendall had be-
come fast friends, Bob said he was sure
1t would make match. She seemed hap
pier and John and she spent much time
at our house. Usually Bob would be at
home, but occasionally when he remain
ed in town they would come over and
sit with me.
l had followed Elsie S advice and
had given several small affairs to which
had invited Charlotte Keating. [ be-
gan to realize what it meant to smile
when one s heart is breaking; to pre-
tend not to notice the little evidences
OF Bob's feeling for this other woman
which no effort of his could quite hide.
But l never abated .jot in my deter
mlnatlon to win him, and so in this
also L religiously lived up to what |
mad promised Elsie.
L was always nicely dressed; many
times eXquisitely. Yet unless it was for
some special occasion, or that the gown
was very unusual; Bob did not notice
my appearance. tried, oh, how l tried
to break down the barrler that had
grown up between US. L tried to be low
Ihg and gentle, always. did not realize
could not, tnat love once dead never
can be brought back to lite. SO [ went
on and on Dhndly trying to coax the
little god of love to return.
All this time Elsie tried to encourage
me; tried to make me think L would
surely show Bob that his place was
with me.
by the end of the year you II !
laugh at your fears" she said once
when we talked together.
Then one Mght there came confirm |
alton strong. Bob had been out a great
leal in the evening, either after din
ler, or had remained in town. Unless |
we had an engagement, or were enter
tanning he rarely spent an evening with
ne. tried to keep the time filled up |
Is much as possible, yet feared to over
10 it.
One night he had intended to go to
own, and some people came in and it
Vas impossible for him to get away
without appearing rude, a thing Bob
lever dlu. But he excused himself for
moment and went up stairs. Then he
ang for messenger. When the boy
anne Bob stepped outside the door and
loscd it Eefore he spoke to him. When
e returned to the living room all con
traint was gone from his manner, and
10 entered INTO an evening of music
nd cards with his usual zest,
When our guests went, Bob put on his
at and coat and said he would walk
ways ard stretch himself before he
etired. He did not ask me to go along,
nd l did not offer to. Instead L went
upstairs. Bob had left a
ght in his room. l opened the door in
ending to put it out as he might be
one some time, when in front of his
esk ON the floor l noticed a piece of
aper.
l picked it up, straightened it out
nd read:
Dear One: l cannot come to you to-
ight. Unexpected guests here fol
wed a blot, evidently made after the
ote was finished, so causing him to
rite another, but below the blot read
gam: 81 fold my love and send it
ith this. Bob.'
There was no address. Nothing to
low to whom the note was sent; for
HON it was intended turned cold as
e. 1t was true then that Bob cared
II someone else. replace the note ON
le floor, erumpled as / had found it,
Id erept softly down the stars. Bob
,ver must know 1 had seen it.
He came in whistling after a few mo-
ents and seemed surprised to find me
i'll down stairs. l bent over my book
I'd when he asked if 1 were going to
t up all night 1 answered:
Perhapsl this book is very inter
ting"
tGood night, then, I am going to
IN in at once. 1t is nearly one
elock'
As he left the room the book slipped
ON my hands to the floor. heard him
ove around overhead; and then all sud
My the words of the note came before
e as plainly as if 1 still held the bit
blotted paper in my hand.
81 fold my love and send it. with
is. Bob. I"
Suddenly something seemed to snap.
grew dark around me.
led to get up to my room. Half way
the stairs lost consciousness. The
xt thing I knew Bob and Nellie were
nding over me, Nellie with a bot
of smelling salts, Bob saying nothing
t looking anxious and puzzled.
Ionday-HOstess at John Kendall s
Dinner.)