The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-11-10

9@Sl
Il THOUGHT YOU KNEW IT" HE SAID.
to the fields and to the woods all
afiame with red and gold and breathe
Gods sunshine In freedom and con-
tent
And Just then she met Roger Roove.
"My, but it's good to see you back
again. he said. Are you on your
way to the settlement"
"Yes," Ruth stated. "for the last
time"
He looked at her In surprise. "For
the last timel WhyT"
'Oh, It's such an eternal grind trying
to drag people up who want to stay
down and trying to keep children clean
who want to be dirty, trying to push
back waves Of the sea with broom"
"Why, Ruth"-his tone showed his
intense stonishment-"when you left
us in the spring you were an optimist.
and now you have come back pessi-
mistl 1 believe you are joking"
mo, I'm not" Ruth declared. "Tm
In dead earnest. This summer I've
been living up among the hills, and /
want to go back-I want to go back
and forget the city and these hideous
streets. After all, why am RESPONSE
BILE? Why should not live life of
ease as well as other people7"
He shook his head.
"Don't expect me to answer" he
said. but something has change you
awfully. And you might as well tell
me what 1t is, because I'm going to
find out If you don't"
"Well, if you must know" said Ruth
slowly. "I've had proposal"
He glanced at her quickly, and his
face took on graver lines
'Then you're in lover" he asked
quietly.
am not sure" Ruth reflected.
whether I'm In love, butch, we
can't talk about it here, Rogerv'
mo; 1t is pretty public" he admit
ted, "but l haven't any classes for an
hour or two, so why can't we have
lunch together In the settlement cot
fee houseT
The coffee house, quaint and com
Portable, with its Russian coppers
glowing red against the dark wood, its
smooth brick tiles, its somber tables
and chairs, brought forth an exclama-
ton from Ruth.
Its 80 good to be at home again.
she said as Roger drew out chair for
her by the window and took seat
opposite.
$50 you think Of It as homer he
asked, his dark eyes reading her spar
king face.
"Oh"-her eyes grew startled-I be-
neve dol A minute ago l was so de
pressed, and now-1 think it is the
spirit of the place that rests one, Rog-
er-to feel that these poor foreigners
can come here and find something ia
nailar in strange land of strange Gus
toms"
Roger smiled thoughtfully as he con
suited the menu. "But about that pro-
posaI," he reminded her.
"Oh, yesg' Ruth slipped off her
gloves and folded her hands before
her on the bare table. "The-the man
is rich, Roger. He has two automo-
biles and country place and a house
in town, and-and he sent me box of
candy nearly every day. and flowers
and books. and drove me through the
country in his big car, and-oh, had
the time of my life, Rogerw
The man eyed her a little wistfully.
''Pm glad you had such good time, !"
be said, ''but-but we shall hate to lose
you from here"
"But you can't blame me-" she said
feverishly. Surely you can't blame
me, Roger. I'm young, and I've given
the Eve years since / left college to
work among the poor people Of this
neighborhood. and my heart has been
in it, and I've been glad to do 1t, but
now-oh. l want something of ease and
beauty and brightnessw
He tried to speak lightly.
"You have earned it." he said, land
of course the man is-Prince Charm
ing"
Ruth shook her head mo; that's
the trouble" she faltered "He's not
very young and not very handsome,
and he's very dictatorial, Roger"
but you love him."
"Oh"- Ruth hesitated as the wait
ress brought them their omelet and
bread and butter. Then when they
were alone again she said, Il don't
believe l love him, but l love the
things he can give me-"
Roger flung back his head, his dark
eyes flashing.
"And you think you can be happy
with a motor car and house in town
and complacent husband? oh, Ruth
Ruth, where are your dreamsY
She stared at him with pale face
my dreams?" she faltered.
Eyes; the things that we planned al
college. We were to give our lives tC
others, separately at first because
each Of US must be very sure that we
wanted to live for humanity, and then
If love continued, we were to be mar
ried and have our home in an apart
ment near the settlement and carry or
our work together"
They were alone in the dim corner
and suddenly Ruth reached out heT
hand across the table
'Oh, Roger, Roger" she cried, "why
didn't you say that before | went
away7 Why didn't you. RogerT
Il thought you knew it." he said
with his big hand over hers. "Have
you ever doubted 1t, Ruth?"
Eyes," she confessed. "ln the spring
when went away was SO tired-so
tired of bearing the burdens of the un-
happy, with no happiness for myself
and it seemed that-that If you had
cared, Roger, you would have said
Let's bear it together, RUTH"
"And T'-his voice was deep with
emotion-'sI was so afraid that you
were tired of me that didn't dare
speak. Oh. You see what misunder