Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-03-08

And the next day, still angry with
her. All. the puzzled desoIatlon OF
those weeks before she had salved her
hurt; with pride, and then with love
Those days of misery before she could
convince herself that she had been In
love with love, not with her fleeing
ioverl Hardin was there, eager to be
noticed. That affair. she could see
now, had lacked finesse.
Richard had certainly loved her, or
why had he never married? Why had
he left so abruptly his boarding house
In midtermf Doesn't jealousy confess
love? Some day. he would tell her; /;
what hideous mistake hers had
been She ought not to have rushed
into that marriage. She knew now 1t
had always been the other. But life
was not finished. yet
The date set for her summer
"widowhood" had come, but she lin
gercd. Various reasons, splendid and
sacriiiciai. were given out. There was
much to be dones
Il wish she would be definite" IN
nes' thoughts complained. She was
restless to make her own plans. II
had not yet occurred to her that Gerty
would stay In all summer. For she
never had so martyrized herself.
"Some one must be with Tom. II may
spoil my trip. But Gcrty never thinks
Of Tint She believed 1t to be a
simple matter Of clothes. 1t always
took her weeks to get ready to go any
where.
"But l won't wait any longer than
next week. If she does not go then, l
win. Absurd for us both to be here"
ii was already fiercely hot.
Gerty, meanwhile. had been wonder
ing how she could suggest to her sis
ter-in-Iaw that her trip be taken first.
Without arousing suspIclonsi Ter
rlbly loud In her ears sounded her
thoughts those days.
Her husband flung letter on the
table one evening. "a letter to you
from--Casey.n
She tried to make the fingers that
closed over the letter move casually.
She could feel them tremble. What
would she say II Tom asked to see III
II was addressed TO her In her hus-
bands care. Hardin had found II Mt
the office In his mail. And she going
each day to the postofIice to prevent
It from falling into his handsl She
gave 1t quick offhand glance.
aAbout the drive, of course, Sup
per's getting cold. Look at that ONE
Ietle, Don't wait to wash up. It win
be like leather"
When she had finished her meal. she
read her letter with fine show of In
difference. "He sets a date for the
drive.v She put the letter carelcssly
into her pocket before her husband
could stretch out his hand It would
never do for jealous Tom TO read that:
"Your letter was received two weeks
ago. Pardon me for appearing to have
forgotten your kindness"
"The nerve" growled Tom again,
his mouth full OF Gerty's omelette.
ITO take you up on an invitation like
that. call that pretty raw"
you must remember we are such
old friends" urged his wife. HE
knew meant 1t seriously"
"Just the same, it's nerve" grum-
bled Hardin. helping himself to more
OF the omelette. now q fiat ruin In the
center OF the Canton platter. His re-
sentiment had taken on an edge of
hatred since the episode Of the dredge
machinery. ITO write to anyone In
my housei He knows what I think of
him; an Intellectual ass. That's what he
Is. laundering around with his little
levees, and his fool work on the wa
ter tower"
1.-THE water towerf" demanded his
sister. "what's be doing with that"
'oh. I don't know" rejolned Tom
largely. his lips protrudlng. He had
been itching to ask some one what
Rlekard was up to. Twice, he had
seen him go up, with MacLean and
Estrada. Once, there large flare OF
light. But he wouldn't ask Some of
his fool tlnkerlngl
His sisters gaze rested on him with
concern. lie had too little to do. She
guessed that his title, consulting en-.
gineer. was mocking one, that his
chief. at least. did not consult him.
Was II true, what she had heard, that
he had made fiuke about the ma
chineryS He was looking seedy. He
had been letting his clothes go. He
looked like man who has lost grip;
who has been shelved.
She knew he was sleeping badly
Every morning now she found the
couch rumpled. Not much pretense OF
marital congenIallty. Things were go
ing badly. there
Everybody has accepted" Gerty
was saying. 'aThey have been waiting
Cor me 10 set the date"
aAnd you cater to him. let him
aangle you oil. wonder why you do
Ii unless it's to hurt me-"
aHurt you. Tom" cried his wife. her
deep blue eyes wide with dismay.
How cnn you say such a thing7 But
( It Il given for him. how can LIDO