Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-06-03
A Mans Weakness

wen anyway, Salu Dr, MIL
ton, "Glendening's story is told
tYes," replied Clavering, "that
would be a good climax for the
end of a story, but this is real life
and things never happen that way
In real life. Almost always there
are anti-climaxes.
That's what makes it inter
esting," said Davis. But I can
not understand why any man who
loved a woman as much as Glen
dening, apparently, loved Margar-
ct Earl, could not convince her
that he would give the earth, the
sun, the moon or even heaven it.
self for her"
"It was right here" answered
Clavering, that Glendening made
another mistake. He left Margaret
Earl and went back, as she asked
him to do, to think the matter
over for a little while, and then,
well listen"
whats the use of listening,
asked Milton. His going away,
even at her request, planted a
doubt in her mind"
YES" said Clayering, "Glen-
dening SENS to be the same kind
of a blame fool that most men are.
Sometimes 1 think the litany was
written especially for us, for
we're always doing those things
we ought not to do, and not do
Ing those things we ought to do.
But in the case of Glendening
you must confess he strikes new
note for even a man can hardly
conceive of another man, while
loving a woman as he says he did
Margaret and living in compare
tive happiness-or at least peace
with his wife, should be taken
off his feet in the way that Glen
dening was by the American Beau
ty. Let me read what he says:
1 believe at the moment Mar
garet asked me to go away and
make up my mind whether Il
disinterestedly loved her unre-
, ervedly she would go away with
me. At the time 1t all seemed
easy enough for me to convince
her of something 1 believed so
implicitly myself,
For, Jim, surely you can under
stand that I did love her. l still
love her and 1 cannot realize yet
why she, who has always been
so big and fine. should not know
more of the complex soul of man.
Why you know, Jim. that man
can love his wife devotedly, can
think OF her comfort always, can
be an exemplary husband and yet
often be untrue to her in the eyes
of the world.
Margaret took the next train
out of the city to visit friends
while l decided. My mind was
teeming with plans for the closing
up of my affairs. 1 would send to
my wife half of what l would
earn. and that-with her small
personal income-would keep her
nicely. Honestly. Jim. l thought
she would be better off without
me as she semed to care only for
the material things l could give
her.
1 believe il Margaret had been
With me at the moment, that
which l am now going to tell you
would never have happened. But
was like a man adrift on an
,cean without a compass. The
Wind was blowing me about here
md there. l cannot tell you how
missed Margaret.
Then one afternoon the unex-
,ected happened. why do call it
he unexpected? 1t was the end
Il everything. 1t was the most
.ragic experience Of my life. But
While Il was going on I thought
( the most beautiful"
Poor chap was Davis ironic
zone would think
hat man OF as many affairs
IS Harry Glcndening. would know
hat he was especially vulnerable
ghen in the mood he has Just dss-
ribed. This remarkable fool
night have known he was Just