Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-03-12

for Ruth jeffrey as. with long drawn
sigh. she closed her desk at the end OF
the day. What was there in it, after
ali7 she asked herself. She looked
ahead and imagined one day following
another In UNMARRIED monotOny. She
fancied she could see her hair turning
gray and the color fading from her
cheeks, though for that 1t must have
taken a very big stretch Of the imagl
nation indeed.
And what return was life making
her for all the effort that she was put.
ting into IT. A negative reciprocatiou
ct best She was not compelled To
marry. She had proved herself capable
OF independence. IL was Ave years
since she had entered upon her bust.
ness career. Her vim and optimism
had made for a success even beyond
her most sangulne anticIpations.
Only a month ago she had accepted
at practically her own terms position
that hundreds or women might well
envy her and probably did. Surely II
was nm unreasonable time for her 70
feel blue and discouraged. There must
be some definite cause for her unrest.
Ruth set herself the task OF discover.
ing It.
Finally, with somewhat shame
faced yet wistfuI little smile, she was
forced TO admit that the disturbing
undercurrent began TO FufIie her
thoughts about the moment that she
had stood by her Office window that
morning and from the height OF many
stories watched a young man clad IN
i fur lined overcoat step out OF his re-
mplendent motor car and enter the
building.
Who the man was did not matter
NOR that he was wealthy. 1t was the
woman In the car who stirred old
yearninga In Ruths heart She had
with her for comfort and inspiration
through the day the memory Of q
mans farewell kiss.
This pretty and refreshing BIT oi
sentiment in the midst Of q hustlina
workaday world Ruth had witnessed
nearly every morning. to be sure, since
abe had been IN her new position. Bu
never before had II plunged her int
such an implacable mood Of discomfort
well" aha commented 10 herself 81
aha pinned on her little tailor made
hat. with o gesture OF wholesome de
termination, "this win never do at all
ft's my own fault refused him, ant
that's all there Is about II. AT the tim'
matrimOny seemed such an obvious
commonplace transaction In compari
son with tho allurement Of independ
since Sand now. well. it's no use think
Ing about IL may bump into 70
nance any day"
The wind on the night IN question
was blowing a hurricane. When Rutl
tried 20 open the outside door OF th
building, she found the resistance to-
much FOR her strength and was ObllgeI
to fall back q moment.
A. she made O second attempt tn
door yielded with auddenneas tina
alm0ak upset her equilibrium. Sh
heard some one Immediately benin,
her say, ALLOW me-" and was awar
Of q masculine coat sleeve. fur lined
holding back the door for her TO pass.
Ruth thanked the auxiliary arm me
ehanleally, half conscious Of ti1igo Q
resentment In her gratitude that sh
should Be in any way beholden to IN
man upon whom that woman. whom
she envied. also depended. But tn
naxt moment. with Characteristic I'm
pulsiveneas, Ruth found herself ehas
ing a derby hat down the sidewalk
just rs she was about to rescue
from an imminent mud puddle at tn
corner something struck her fearful
blow, and she lost consciousness
In the days OF dellrlum that follows
Ruth sometimes imagined that heav
door was swinging back upon her; tina
. man stood by and would not rescu
her. And again she would shrink 1
fear from a plunglng automobile tina
bore down upon her, while the ma
and woman within the car laughe
and kissed each other. And Away
the man were fur lined overeoat,
When Ruth had recovered sutii
GENTLY to be interested in her sur
roundtnga. she noticed FIRST the tai
fragrant American Beauties BY he
bedside.
swho sent themY' she asked tn
nuRsa languidly,
"A gentleman. Miss Ruth"
'sWhat gentleman
Faint and weak though Ruth's voic
was. the nurse detected In Il note o
suspicion.
~He did not leave his card. Mis-
Ruth.s replied the nurse. blushinR q
her own subteFfuge. but Ruth did no
observe her confusion.
Why Mr.. Mcdonald did not wish hi
identity disclosed In connection wit
ths roses the nurse did not know. Blu
hs had insisted upon being an anony
NOUS benefaeter. and II was not be
concern 20 demand bis reason for Il.
what does he look lIke9s Ruth pei
sisted.
Hes young and very distinguish
booking" asserted the nurse. both he
manner and words bespeaklng unshak
ahla conviction.
And then came the crucial question.