Catoctin clarion., 1921-07-21
CALEB'S OLD LOVE
By MILDRED WHITE.
la, ly2l, Western Newspaper union)


had reached breaking point. The
querulOus voice of her mother-in-law,
coming from the barren porch outside.
and the stretch of dust-dry garden
reaching on to Sun-baked country
road-all conspred together to add to
her desolation. And she had been
married to Caleb but six months
Caleb; 1t was like his opiniona'ed
mother to have given him such II maine.
The pretty dresses she had taken
pleasure in wearing were barred us
unnecessary luXuries, or things not aD-
soIutely devoted To need. She took
grim satisfaction IN impressing upon
her daughter-in-law the fact of her
own deSirability against II former
sweetheart of Caleb.
THAT June, girl" she would remark.
named silly. just as she was brought
up silly, would make poor wife
for Caleb. Glad brought him to see
his mistake IN time. Taken, Caleb was,
with Il 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' we'll, Joan. Get out ms much
work as | could, an me able now to
rest for the first time IN my life."
Joan, mutely rebellious, would rulSs
the quiet eyes to her husbands truu-
bled face, but Caleb pressed and har
assed as time passed by the growing
labor of his Inherited farm, saw
neither the appeal or reproach. 1t
was letter that had come that
deSpairing morning which brought
Joan To present resentment ana
tears A gay, assured sort Of letter,
from the former sweetheart his mother
50 often mentioned, directing Caleb
In all confidence to meet her AT the
station that evening.
"June's mother and me were friends
as girls" Joan's 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.
SO, you see, June's got to come here
whenever she wants to for II 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 obedienily
drove his former sweetheart up from
the station. He looked well in his
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 10 retain.
Even the visitors contrasting prettl-
ness failed to awaken her envy. Ruth-
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, bright covered magazine or two
nearby.
"To 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.
'lm trying to make this gloomy
abode less gloomy for Cnlebs bride"
she remarked frankly and cheerfully.
I.,lt hn,, hn, Il. hA
fore Calebs 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 jfal-
ousy and unaccountuble hope. Surely
Caleb was attentively Interested in his
former pretty sweetheart. but surely,
too, his gray eyes rested often upon
herself with strangely comforting
light. When the two left her alone
one evening to drive to the village,
Joan spent the time pacing distsses-
edly In the garden; when they 70
turned, June, mOtioning gayly, passed
directly In and upwards to Joaa's pH
vate sanctum.
Caleb and l." she announced
breathlessly. have brought lovely
rose rug for your bedroom-the wash
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.
ut 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 were his sweetheart"
June swung around.
Sweetheart" she scoffed, "that was
his mothers notion. Really, l was
Caleb's true friend and confidant wheTi
he became so terribly In love with you
that he couldn't live without you,"
June laughed 81 advised him to let
his mother go on thinking Of me as
sweetheart, so that you would win out
by comparison. Why, my dear" added
June, II am here this very minute he.
cause your Caleb sent for me with a
plea to help you out Of your dreary
way. When the old rule Is broken you
must have courage to carry out the
new. You are Caleb's one thought;
does that mske the room more rose
colored7"
1T makes the world rose colOred,"
answered Joan.
Gratefully. repentantly, her snhet
brown eyes were upraised to nsee< tAe
laaghing ones of blue.