Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-04-06
.CtarHgh 7
BY the Noted Author
IDAH M'GLoNE GIBSON
Shattered Illusions

ing enough noise to awaken the
whole floor.
However, had done nothing tc
be ashamed of and, In fact, the
mere knowledge that someone,
did not care who, was at the door
gave me courage to say: "Wait a
minute until l have slipped on a
dressing gown" To my great Joy |
recognized Mrs. Chester'5 Toice.
Il am very sorry tJ have lwak-
ened you, Virgie, but | have a rag
ing tooth ache and | wondered il
you have hot water bottle han
dy."
did not wait for my dressing
gown. | rushed to the door and
flung it open.
Mrs. Chester was standing just
outside, her handkerchief held to
her cheek.
Il am Just across the hall, dear,
have been trying to stop this
aching tooth with only the heat
Of handkerchief from off my
heater. III come in while you fina
the hot water bottle. May l."
"Yes, do dear Mrs. Chester. You
do not know how glad | am to
know that you are here on this
floor. You did not tell me where
you were in your note, and 1 con-
fess | was rather lonesome In this
big room alone
Why don't you come over into
my room, Virgie, If you are lone
ly. 1t has twin beds, and 1 am
sure | won't disturb you"
'oh, Mrs. Chester, If you only
would let me come!"
"Of course, | will be glad to
have you" She gave me queer
little look that made me Under
stand that she knew what had
happened and her aching tooth |
was subterfuge.
While we were talking no
sound had come from Theos room.
| hastily put on my dressing gown
and went across to Mrs. Chesters
room, determined that in the
morning | should insist upon my
trunk being sent there, too.
l wanted to ask her If she mad
known II the afternoon of this
arrangement of connecting rooms,
that Theo had made. / was now
certain thae he had contrived the
whole scheme. My face grew hot
as ! surmised that every one In the
whofs company but myself had
probably known it. However. af-
ter | had crawled into the narrow
bed in Mrs. Chesters room told
myself 1t was not true. But lust
as | was assuring myself that |
had dreamed the episode | heard
someone come up and knock at
Theo's door. Theo's voice answer
ed, saying; Eyes, | want a pack
age Of cigarettes. Then | knew 1t
was true, for there was the same
ugly tone in his voice that had
heard few moments before when
he told me not to be fool.
| was sure that he had sent for
the boy purposely SO that by his
raised voice he could make me un-
derstand that he knew that had
gone across to sleep in Mrs. Ches-
ters room and resented it.
Suddenly l felt myself shaking
and sobbing. could not keep sill
ent any longer Mrs. Chester came
over to my bed and put her arm
about me.
"Virgie, don't cry dear, | know,
| know. am not so old that |
cannot remember. Someone has
turned your world upside down
for you. Every girl that goes out
into the world sometime comes up
on the same experience.
"oh. don't say that, Mrs. Ches-
ter" l protested brokenly. "That
makes 1t worse-a great deal
worse. l don't want, to think
that every girl has to have her ,
heart broken" .p
1t is a part of life, dear. to
ihatter illusions. | expect that Is +
The reason we want to shelter our
girls within the confines of a
lome. Wherever men and women
ire thrown together day after day
whether in work or play. l be-
ieve it is absolutely true, that if p
hey are not each interested in v
else, they will become e
more or less interested in each S
ther The sex instinct is not to (,
70 denied" Ii
But he said he loved me, Mrs. r,
hester" cl
Il think he does, dear. think Il
e loves you as much as Theodore
tratton can love anyone, He has Il
)yed many women Just that al
lueh, but never one of them CO
nough to divorce his wife who is I'll
wing back In little town in al
ew York state" al
"Oh, Mrs, Chester, YOU don't ia
iean to tell me that Theo is mar
ed?' sobbed why, he told me
Q loved met
oh, my child. every woman in th
his world. some time in her rrfe, at
ust learn that few men think stl
necessary to mean marriage W
hen they speak of love. W
II have ben watching you, my N
'ar, ever since you came on the IA