Okolona messenger., 1921-09-22
CALEB'S OLD LOVE
e
~ MILDRED WHITE. \.
(0 1871. western Newspaper Union.)


QuerulOus voice Of her mother-ln-law,
coming from the barren porch outside,
and the stretch Of dust-dry garden
reaching on to sun-baked country
road-all conspired together to add to
her desolation. And she had been
married to Caleb but six months
Caleb; It was like his Oplnionated
mother to have given him such a name.
The pretty dresses she had taken
pleasure in wearing were barred as
Unnecessary luxuries, or things not alb
oOlutely devoted to need. She took
grim satisfaction in lmpressing upon
her daughter-ln-law the fact Of her
own desirabIlity against a former
sweetheart Of Caleb.
That June, girl" she would remark,
named silly, just as she was brought
up silly, would make a poor wife
for Caleb. Glad brought him to see
his mistake In time. Taken, Caleb was,
with pretty face and laughing ways.
Laughing folks are always light The
plain one with the quiet eyes will wear
you better, told Caleb, an you are
wearin' well, JOAN Get out as much
work as could, an me able now to
rest for the first time in my life."f
Joan, mutely rebellious, would raise
the quiet eyes to her husbands trou-
bled face, but Caleb pressed and har-
assed as time passed by the growing
labor Of his inherited farm, saw
neither the appeal or repr0ach. 1t
was a letter that had Come that
despairing morning which brought
Joan to present resentment and
tears. A gay, assured sort Of letter,
from the former sweetheart his mother
so often mentioned, directing Caleb
in all confidence to meet her at the
station that evening.
"June's mother and me we're friends
as girls" Joans mother-in-law ex-
planned, 'she was the well-off one in
the big house of the town, an me the
poor one. But that never made any
difference to her bein' kind. Though
she was brought up like June to ways
Of foolishness, we kept on bein' friends.
80, you see, June's got to come here
whenever she wants to for visit.
Can't see just what her whim is now /;
mebbe to study out how happy Caleb
Is in marriage They two were al
ways good friends"
Joan, in her brown gingham, saw the
two later, as her husband obediently
drove his former sweetheart up from
hn cAo M L
good suit, and lifted happily in some
way out Of himself. Sullenly, Joan
moved into the prim sitting room TO be
introduced, but as June remained, the
sullen attitude was. hard to retain.
Even the visitors contrasting pretti-
ness failed to awaken her envy. Rath-
er was Joan refreshed, as though some
fragrant breeze had fitted through the
oppressive rooms. June installed her
hammock with its crimson cushions be-
meath a distant tree. In the barren
porch she placed her camp chair With
added downy pillows for Joan's COM
fort, a bright covered magazine or two
nearby.
ITO pick up" explained the guest
''when you have spare minute from
kitchen duties."
Joan glanced fearfully at the dis
approving face of her mother-in-law,
but June knew no fear.
I'm trying to make this gloomy
abode less gloomy for Caleb's BRIDE"
she remarked frankly and cheerfully.
She was halfway to her hammock be-
fore Caleb's mother could form an In.
dignant response. Joan, washing the
tea dishes as her husband and his
guest conversed beneath the tree, was
torn by conflicting emotions Of. jeal-
Ousy and unaccountable hope. Surely
Caleb was attentively Interested in his
former pretty sweetheart. but surely
too, his gray eyes rested often upon
herself with a strangely comforting
light. When the two left her alone
one evening to drive to the village,
Joan spent the time pacing distract
edly in the garden; when they re-
turned, June, motioning gayly, passed
directly In and upwards to Joan's pH-
vate sanctum.
"Caleb and l." she announced
breathlessly, have brought a lovely
rose rug for. your bedroom wash
kind, too and candles for your dress
er. I'm going to make rose shades for !
them just you wait and see" she joy |
Ously ended
Silently the young wife from the !
doorway watched as the pretty guest !
moved about the room.
at was YOU" she said at last sadly,
"who thought this all out. Probably
you're sorry for me; probably You
know that Caleb doesn't care. That
you we're his sweetheart"
June swung around.
Sweetheart" she scoffed, that was
his mothers notion. Really, was
Caleb's true friend and confidant when
he becameuso terribly in love With you
that he couldn't live without you,"
June laughed. Il advised him toilet
his mother go on thinking of me as
sweetheart 50 that you would win out
nv conlparison. Why. my dear" added