Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-04-20

crossroads. Or the Crildren's Page
Johnnie read a story about a pair of
house wrens. And he learned then
that an ord tin can nailed to a tree
makes exactly the sort of house that
wrens like.
Well, Johnnie Green began at once
to look for a tin can. He had made
up his mind that he would try to coax
a couple of those busy little song
hands. / was thinking about the let
ter / had read from Karl Shepard and
wishing that had not torn it up.
Although every word in Karl's let
ter stood engraved on the tables OF
my memory, yet, womanalike, 1 was
almost afraid that l was misinter-
preting some of it.
l could not deny to myself the fact
that Karl Shepard loved me, or at
least his interest had been aroused to
such an extent by his knowledge of
the liaison between John and Eliza
beth Moreland, that he called the
emotion thus engendered love.
Then, as ALWAYS, my vagrant mind
meandered about on a new trail.
wondered just what was the emotion
that Karl Shepard designated in his
own mind as love.
He had never attempted to caress
me. He had never, but once, even
kissed my hand, and that was the
time at the club just after my severe
illness, when John became so UNI
reasonably Jealous.
No Caressing Cadence
Even when Karl snatched me back
from the storm darkened waters of
the Atlantic his voice held no caress-
ing cadence. Indeed. that was the
only time he had spoken b~rusquely to
me during our acquaintance. And
yet, to me, that short quick sentence:
Don't be a fool" held perhaps the
greatest love token he had ever given
because the words were so full
of the terror from which he had
saved me. And blended with the hor-
ror in his voice was another note--a
love note which indicated the anguish
he would feel at my loss.
Even the letter from him that l had
just received and destroyed did moi
tell me so much of his feelings as that
quick decisive exclamation, combined
with his hard grasp on my arm as he
pulled me back.
Although, when a woman's heart is
torn aand bleeding from real or
fancied neglect Of her husband, there
is a sweet solace in the fact that some
other man believes her to be desirable
above all others, yet | am not sure
TINS knowledge is at all productive of
peace OF mind. l almost wish that
Karl had not sent me that letter. If
was something that I could not show
to John even IL l had kept it. 1t was
first thing that had happened
since | was married that l had the
least desire to keep from him. and be-
1t was really so comforting 10
1t made me feel as though | had
actually done something wrong.
Determined to Tell
determined to tell Alice about II.
because after what | had heard of her
conversation with John 1t seemed to
ne that she would look upon the
'plsode from a common-sense view
'olht' at least. / knew that 1 could
iot ask Helen about 1t, because. not
she had not found the
attn she had taken most desirable. |
new that she would counsel me to
Immediately separate from John IL
eit that In u married life must be
ways a straining Of the cords OF
natrimony.
or me thing. however, I was de-
ermined, and that was that whatever
ohn would say, however angry or
.uft NJ should feel. I would insist up-
n the economic independence that
mothers bequest would give me.
l almost smiled to myself as 7
fought how like John II was to have
'ttled the entire business of my little
atrimony without asking me any
hing about 1t.
are you quite sure you are fully
TO go through with the busiess