Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1922-02-02
CALEB'S OLD LOVE
BY MILDRED WHITE.
(9 1921. Western Newspaper Union. )

6ANOA noS AAhC IAAA6s OuL AC1 CANAA oASC
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 a 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 opiniOnated
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 ab-
sOlutely devoted to need. She took
grim satisfaction In impressing upon
her daughter-in-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 a 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."
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 reproacn. 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 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 a 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
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 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 hel
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 a spare minute from
kitchen duties"
Joan glanced fearfully at the dis
approving face of her mother-in-law
but June knew no fear.
"Tm trying to make this gloom,
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 tn,
tea dishes as her husband and hi
guest conversed beneath the tree, wa
torn by conflicting emotions Of jeal
Ousy and unaccountable hope. Surel,
Caleb was attentively interested in hi
former pretty sweetheart. but surely
too, his gray eyes rested often upol
| herself with a strangely comforting
| light. When the two left her alon
: one evening to drive to the village
Joan spent the time pacing distract
. edly In the garden; when they re
turned, June, motioning gayly, passe,
directly in ard upwards to Joan's pri
vate sanctum.
"Caleb ard L" she announce
breathlessly, have brought a lovel
E rose rug for your bedroom-the was
kind, too-anl candles for your dress
er. I'm going to make rose shades fo
them-just you wait and see," she Joy
OuSly ended.
Silently the young wife from tn
doorway watched as the pretty gues
D moved about the room.
1T was you," she said at last sadl!
'who thought this all out. Probabl
|. you're sorry for me; probably 20
know that Caleb doesn't care. Ths
YOU were his sweetheart"
,, June swung around.
Sweetheart" she scoffed, that wa
= his mothers notion. Really, wa
Caleb's true friend and confidant whe
t he became so terribly In love with yo
that he couldn't live without you
June laughed. 81 advised him to le
his mother go on thinking Of me as
= sweetheart, so that you would win OF
by comparison. Why, my DEAR" adde
June, 81 am here this very minute b.
. cause your Caleb sent for me with
plea to help you out Of your drear
way. When the old rule is broken yo
must have courage to carry out tt
{ new. You are Caleb's one thought
does that make the room more rOs
colored?"
'It makes the world rose-colored
answered Joan.
4 Gratefully, repentantly, her quit
n h-o,,,,, axac 1Y,oro Y,pro Ico6 IN v,1oof n