Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-05-15
EOve'S e@%%e
IL Masquerade
BY Idah McGlone Gibson
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EVerythinQ-and Nothing.

Clavering paused to glance al
his friends. Noting the intense
interest with which they were fol-
low his reading of Glendening let
ter, he resumed:
While Alice was babbling all
sorts of childish things to me
was deciding that l wouldn't &c
to play with the boys and girls out
on the lawn. Instead / would
persuade Alice to stay in the house
with me and in some way, some
how, | would manage that hand
holding business.
grew hot and cold as l thought
of it.
l called myself sillybilly for
wanting to hold her hand and
called myself billy-silly because
don't hold her hand. l began
almost to wish / had gone out
with the boys to play ball; and
then as abruptly l changed my
mind for | knew that never in my
life had | been so deliciously hap
py.
My thoughts were arrested by
something she was saying:
II don't want to go play Lon
don Bridge, do you, Harry?"
l turned and looked into her
face. Jim, can close my eyes this
minute and see the innocent ex-
preston of her childish, > trusting.
loving eyes, all dewy with a new
emotion, just as plainly as saw il
so many years ago.
AS | write, the thrill comes
back to me. wonder II a man
ever forgets his first love. l won
der if it doesn't sfways seem &c
him the sweetest and purest and
best-provided he doesn't marry
her.
There you are Clayering," In
terrupted Davis, quickly selling
his opportunity, that proves my
point, Harry should never have
married. He, like every other
great lover, believes that the cure
for love is marriage"
"Oh, what Is the use of being sc
cynical, John?" exclaimed CIayer-
ing bit irrtiably. you ought u
know that there is a very beauti
full affection that grows out Of
similarity OF tastes, Of pride il
family, of mutual partnership il
lifes affair, and above all, in thu
habit of being married.
I'VE must learn that marriag,
does not mean the selfish gratifi
cation of ones whims or one'i
pride, but it does mean a partner
ship, helping along the growth o.
happiness in the world, and the
spread of decency.'
''Herel Here! It's all very wei
for you, Clavering, being bache
lor, to advance such old-fashionet
theories, but don't you know tina
man is and always was polyga
nous There is lot of truth in tn,
remark one Of my witty friends
a senator at Washing gton-onc,
made He said; Every man prac
tice polygamy except the senator
from Utah"
Clavering joined in the laugh
that followed, then continued
reading;
81 remember, Jim, answering
Alice very quickly: OF course,
don't want to play with other chill
dren. l want to stay here with
| you
With a sudden courage | man
aged then to get hold of her tiny
hand; and Jim, l can feel 1t al
this moment. All cool and soft
and flowerlike, 1t lay for an in
stant within my palm, and then
like curling petals, the tiny fin
gers clung about mine.
L think so, too, Harry, and
know!' she whispered. You're the
only one who did not laugh at me
when / was so unhappy in school
| the other day.
eagerly clasped her little hand
tighter. III you want me to, Alice
Ill bust Bnl Tenants nose fol-
him. He was yellow dog not t.
tell teacher he was to blame,
Think so, 90, Harry. and
will speak to him again. You
would have taken the blame
wouldn't you?'
Alice took the osmewhat uncer-
tain smile that hovered over my
lips for the assertion that would
have done so.
Many times. Jim, in the past
| few months, while l have been
thinking about my past life.
have thought of how Alice accept
!