Glacier County chief., 1940-05-24

I ought to tell you something. I don't
believe Bob would have liked me if
I hadn't somehow or other reminded
him of his son Ted"
There was a still longer silence after
this. but it was less hostile.
At length the still figure moved.
Yes I had noticed that said the first
Mrs. Endicott.
Perhaps" Carol went on, encouraged
by even this slight response. perhaps
it's been disappointment to him that
haven't been more like you are. I've
noticed that he goes off more and
more on these long ski tours-that was
why I was trying to learn. I wish
you'd tell me something something
to help me with him. He's more like
you really than he is like me. I don't
definitely more like!"
You can hardly expect me to give
you a recipe for keeping husbands"
the first Mrs Endicott answered with
a grim half amused chuckle. "Since
I've so signally failed to keep my own"
Carol turned this over in her mind
for long time. The savage pain, of
ankle only throbbed in massive dis
comfort. but the pain in her mind
had grown more acute.
why did you stay here?" Carol
burst out at last. ITS made it so
terribly hard. I don't mean only for
us-though I've sometimes thought it's
why Bob hates ever to be in the valley.
cruel for you to go. on living here
alone-where you used to be together.
Why do you do 1t? Why don't you
go away somewhere elsewhere you'd
never have to see us-never have to
think about us anymore?"
1t seemed at first as If the first
Mrs Endicott was not going to answer
any more of Carols questions, but at
last she said stiffly:
ut was my home. One has a certain
feeling for any place where one has
watched the seasons change through
the years I have always lived a great
deal in the open air, one can here,
you know, winter or summer. The
She stopped, but Carol did not think
she had finished, and after a long
pause, she said reluctantly, as If the
words were being dragged out of her.
MY boys liked the place too
Carol was silent, but she was only
thinking over how she could best put
together-not an excuse, but a sort OF
reason for Bob's having left the first
Mrs. Endicott.
Don't you think" she. pleaded at
last, that it was really loving them
that made Bob like me? It's the same
thing, isn't 1t. perhaps that makes
him go off so. all alone to the tops
of mountains2 Don't you think he's
wanting all the time-and perhaps
only wanting-to escape from the
memory Of having lost them? Not to
have to think about them any more?"
Mrs. Endicott got up, went to the
door and opened it. looking out for
a long time into the clearness of the
night, swept clean by frost and sown
thick with stars.
IT thought I heard them coming"
she said at last turning back to Carol.
"One hears a long way off in this
clear air. am sorry I had no morphia
with me, was not on a tour, or Of
course should have had some with
me. You are a brave girl. otherwise
I could have been no use to you. As
to what you say, have sometimes
thought 1t might be partly true. He
needed to escape from his grief, where
as to me it was a sort of companion.
Here I and sorrow SIT suppose 1t
was like that. After 20 years Of mar
riage you will find certain integra-
ton takes place-and 1t IS difficult for
one person not to affect, and even to
invade. the personality Of the other.
IT have thought over what you have
said. I can't be Of any further use
to you I am afraid. except to tell you
that believe 1t Is worth while to