The Topeka state journal., 1908-01-09
THE EVENING STORY
The Return.

The Return.
by Martha Cobb Sanford.]
Life seemed to hold little of romance
for Ruth Jeffrey. as, with long drawn
sigh, she closed her desk at the end of
the day. What was there in it, after
all. she asked herself She looked
ahead and imagined one day following
another In unvaried monotony. She
Iancied she could see her hair turning
gray and the color fading from her
cheeks though for that it must have
taken very big stretch of the imagi-
nation indeed.)
And what return was Mfe making
her Tor all the effort that she was put
ting into 1T? A negative reciprocatfon,
at best. She was not compelled to
marry. She had proved herself capa-
BILE Of independence. It was five years
since she had entered upon her bust
ness career. Her vim and optimism
had made for success even beyond
her most sanguine antacipations.
Only a month ago she had accepted.
at practically her own terms, a position
that hundreds of women might well
envy her-and probably did. Surely 1t
was an unreasonable time for her to
feel blue and discouraged. There must
be some definite cause for her unrest.
Ruth set herself the task of discover
ing it.
Finally, with a somewhat shame
faced yet wistful little smile, she was
forced to admit that the disturbing un-
dercurrent began to ruffle her thoughts
about the moment that she had stood
by her Office window that morning and
from the height Of many stories watch
ed young man clad in a fur-lined
overcoat step out of his resplendent
motor car and enter the building.
Who the man was did not matter-nor
that he was wealthy. It was the wo-
man in the car who stirred old yearn-
ings in Ruth's heart. She had with her.
Tor comfort and inspiration through
the day, the memory of a mans fare
well kiss.
This pretty and refreshing bit Of SEN
timent in the midst Of a hustIng
workaday world Ruth had witnessed
nearly every morning. to be sure, since
she had been in her new position. But
never before had dt plunged her into
such an implacable mood Of discon-
tent. The result was evidently cumu-
lativa-
she pinned on her little tailormade
hat with gesture Of wholesome de-
termination, this will never do at all
It's my own fault. I refused him and
that's all there is about it. At the
time matrimony seemed such an obvt-
Gus, commonplace transaction in COM
parison with the allurment of inde-
pendence and now, well, it's no use
thinking about it. I may bump into
romance any day right around the cor
ner."
The wind on the night in question
was blowing a hurricane. When
Ruth tried to open the outside Of the
building she found the resistance too
much for her strength, and was
obliged to fall back a moment to re-
cuperate her forces.
AS she made a second attempt the
door yielded with suddenness that
almost upset her equilibrium. She
heard some one Immediately behind
of a masculine coat sleeve. fur lined,
holding back the door for her to pass.
Ruth thanked the auxiliary arm
mechanically, half conscious of a tingc
of resentment in her gratitude that she
should be in any way beholden to the
she envfed, also depended. But the
next moment, with characteristic inn
pulsiyeness, Ruth found herself chas-
ing a derby hat down the sidewalk.
from an imminent mudpuddle at the
corner something struck her fearful
blow, and she lost consciousness.
In the days Of delirium that follow
ed Ruth sometimes imagined that
heavy door was swinging back upon
her-that a man stood by and would
not rescue her. And again she would
shrink in fear from a plunging auto
| mobile that bore down upon her,
while the man and woman within tn
And always the man wore furlfned d
overcoat.
| When Ruth had recovered sufi-
ciently to be Interested in her sur.
| fragrant American Beauties by her
bedside.
WHO sent them?" she asked the
! nurse languidly.
"a gentleman, Miss Ruth"
What gentleman?"
Faint and weak though Ruth 8
voice was. the nurse detected in 1t a
note of suspicion.
HE did not leave his card, Miss
Ruth" replied the nurse, blushing at
| her own subterfuse, but Ruth did not
| observe her confusion.
| Why Mr.. Mcdonald did not wish his
| identity disclosed In connection with
| the roses the nurse did not know. But
he had insisted upon being an anony-
| nous benefactor. and it was not her
| concern to demand his reason for it,
What does he look like?" Ruth
persisted.
Hes young and very distinguished ed
! looking asserted the nurse, both her
manner and words bespeaktng un-
shakable conviction.
| And then came the crucial question.
Does he wear furlined over
coat?"
| mot always, admltted the nurse in
a pathetic attempt to save the situa-
| ton.
"I thought so," returned Ruth 81
! hate him.
That's only natural, suppose, dear
But you must remember that he isn't
really to blame If it was his car that
ran into you. After the accident he held
you in his arms all the way home SO
| that the motion Of thescar would not
| jar you never saw man more
| broken up over anything. He's been
here at least once a day ever since"
| Him. commented Ruth. His mo-
| tive is obvious. He's afraid I'll sue
him for damages. despise him. When
| did he send these roses?''
Every day-today. I mean. He's had
fresh ones sent every morning. It's
| very romantic, Miss Ruth, to INV way
L of thin1kinQn YaufIlred tho e<.~x