Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-01-07
THEWZFE
BBsa8SB9s f${${&f&fssB
RUTH PRESENTS BRIAN AND
MOLLIE'S PALSHIP.
BY Jane Phelps.
CHAPTER CXXX.

CHAPTER CXXX.
Brian had written:
dear Ruth We are just going into
a fight. 1t promises to be stiff one
Some Of us naturally never will come
back. Yet | have feeling l shall come
through safely. But | want to tell you
that | have taken out as much insur-
ance as l could got, for you ana tne
boy. | hate to think that, should be
taken, you would have to care for and
educate him. Not that you are not en-
tirely capable, but that, in some way,
! want hand in his up-bringing, If
only to supply little of the cash.
81 think Of you constantly. | have
Mt amounted to much, Ruth. Even if
come back | am not sure that | ever
shah. The leopard and his spots, you
know. Yet, dear, haven't meant to
be bad husband. Circumstances, nat
ural inclination, have been just AA.ye
too much for me, / guess. Sometimes
when lie awake at night try to fig
ure out how much better things would
have been had l done differently; and
| someway cannot feel that l could
have greatly improved matters.
"You have been very brave, very eff
ficient, Ruth. | sometimes wonder how
you kept going right up to the t,eaa !
left. But your bravery equals that of
any soldier. And appreciate you if !
do not often tell you so. Perhaps l
am afraid of spelling you.
~ have told Mollie some of my IfVaas
for our boy, should | never come back.
She will tell you if it ever becomes
necessary. She is wonderful little pal,
and has helped me to overcome an oc
easional fit of inconsistencies for you
and the kiddie more than anyone else
could have done.
~ am happy in thinking that your
aunt is with you and will remsin. /
never bore her a grudge because sne
thought me sort of worthless scamp
not worthy of you'll never was. But
this is getting to be very solemn let
ter. / didn't mean to have it so. ]
only wanted you to know that l was
thinking of you snd the kiddie the last
thing when l went over the top with
the boys. shall do my duty as sol
dicr, Ruth--though may have failed
MS husband. Failed in many things.
Tell the kiddie that I'll bring him a
German helmet; he II like it in few
years. Good night, dear wife. kiss
you and our boy over and over again
in my heart Brian. F"
Ruth was more frightened at the dan
Ger Brian was in than she ever had
been before. To go "over the top
sounded ominous to her--when Brian
was to be one Of those who went. She
shuddered as she thought of him
perhaps dying. Then reso-
lutely tried to turn her thoughts to the
brighter side Of his letter. His faith
that he would come through unseathed;
and his thought for her and little Brian
She smiled through her tears st the
dea Of u German helmet for the eooing
infant in his crib; then sobbed aloud as
she re-read Of the kisses in the sol
lier's heart.
ooh, pray he may come back, she
sad, snatehing the baby to her SO forei-
bly, he whimpercd,
"He's your daddy, darling, and he's
going over the top and perhaps he'll
never come back to us, and you Ii never
see HIM, and he'll never sec youl Oh,
,aby, it is terrible to have Mm sol !
lcr, vet You and wouldn't I love him
Is much if he wasn'tl We couldn II
'ould we. habyi
Ruth stopped suddenly. Into her
mind had come Whist
Brian had said Of Mollic King. She
vas to be tho bearer of his messages If
inviting happened to him; she knew
what he wsated to say TO her-his wife /