Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-06-10
Margaret's Decision
Glendening's story continued

ing ner verdict, she said:
have to tell you this, Harry
and you must think what l sa.
is quite fair to you because I mus
be fair to myself as we'll.
Don't you see, dear, that ther'
are now at least three women II
your life? There is your wife
who, however. much you may dis
claim it, still has a certain holt
upon your affections as well a
your responsibilities.
She has become a habit-a1
everlasting and ever increasing
hostage OF conventionality
She means dignity, respecta
bility and certain place in thu
affairs and regard Of your fellows
Il don't think you're quite ready
to give this up.
Sometimes when you are tired
and out of sorts and you look al
me across this or some other little
table in restaurant while thai
plaintive music is wailing out Its
story of love and flowers you think
of Quito. that place of dreams, and
you picture a never ending court
ship there.
But you ought to know that
the companionship of lovers In
courtship and the companionship
of lovers In marriage is very diff
ferent.
You have never grown UP, boy
of-mine. You still have the long,
long dreams of youth. In fact, you
have dreamed too long, for you
still have that irresponsiblity that
picks up the pleasure Of today
to throw away when that one
of tomorrow looms up unexpected
ly.
You tell me that the episode
Of the American Beauty rose is
over.
That 1t might be an episode,
grant you, but l am we'll aware
and SO are you that there are
orchids nd chrysanthemums and
carnations and lilies and yiolets to
be picked in the garden of fair
women. There Is no end.
The whole world, wherever you
go, is planted with fragrance and
beauty of human blossoms which
are all waiting to be gathered and
worn In some mans buttonhole
and then, they are faded, thrown
awayn
She paused. The silence grew
ominous. l could not fathom the
look in her eyes. Fear, stalking,
cringing fear swept over me.
l saw myself alone without her
guiding influence and l cried out:
But you are not going to leave
me, Margaret? Tell me that you
are not. l can't live without you.
Surely you understand that love
you after the months that we have
been together. Why, dear, you
have never been out of my heart
Jim, old friend, 1t Is not a
pretty picture of myself that 1 am
painting but 1t is a true one.
Credit me with some courage for
It.
'Oh yes I have many times,
she rejoined in calm monotone
that carried a menace. 1 hold only
4 little place there. You may not
know it but your heart is clut-
.ered up with all sorts of rubbish
the kind that you feel that you
IAN throw away at any time when
you want to put something else
n It's place.
I am going to leave you and
20 back to my other Ilfe-a life
II hard work and constant en-
leavor. Perhaps-then-I, too,
But, Margaret. cried out in
rantic protest, you cannot send
ne out of your life like this. Is
,ur love SO small a thing that 1t
AN be thrown aside like an old
glove? You have told me too often |
hat you love me, to let me think |
low that you were telling me
that was not so. Will |
-ou never with to see me again?'
Yes, boy. 1 probably shall wish |
hours every day. shall wake up |
n the night and call your name,
'ut when l do my one prayer will /
ie that God in His goodness will
AXE from me every memory of
ou. l shall ask him to blot 1t all
ut. 1 hope the time will come
7hen 1t will be as If my love for
ou had never been.
Harry, you have never loved
nyone in all the world but your
elf. You are the incarnation Of
II
oh. Margaret,' 1 cried out In
nguish. How can you say that.
urely 1 have always been kind
D you.'
Yes, but only because you en-
)y being kind to me. When you
1T my little apartment on the
light that you asked me to go
18th you to Quito. was almost
ersuaded that you did really
we me, l was almost ready to
lake the flight into the realm
scandal from which l, at least,
light never return.
4 only asked you to keep me
/ your mind just ii days and let