The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-17

"ouiu certainly die before she would
send for him under any circum-
stances. 1t had been a very young,
angry little note-but Russell was
Young and angry, too. She fell into
Presently she was aware of the
doorbell. for which she was not re-
sponsible. A little later the tele-
phone whirred and she sprang to an
sWer 1t, excitedly. Suppose he should
can her up? But it was only jamie.
would Ruth run to the little sitting
room upstair and see if she had left
tne windows open? jamie feared that
she had. That was all. Ruth went
soberly along the hall, rather vexed
with her sister. Nobody used that
room much, and she thought the err
rand stupid. What had jamie been
doing in there?
She opened the door, and the full
oiaze OF the low sun struck her eyes,
almost binding her. She stood there
blinking a moment, very sweet and
slender and flushed in her rose
dress, before she saw that big fire
burned in the fireplace, and that a
man rose from a chair and came to-
ward her.
"Ruthie-Ruthie-a YOU going to
forgive me?''
1t was Russell. but for a moment
she could not understand, and then
she began softly to weep, the tears
railing like a child's down her cheeks.
He took her into his arms, soothing
and comforting her. Asking her if
she did love him, whether she would
not marry him-though he knew he
didn't deserve it. He gave her no
chance for word until he had poured
out all his heart. But as she chung to
him he knew that he had his answer,
even before he made her say he was
forgiven.
but it was because 1 was desperate.
You see. I had promised both my
father and yours that would not say
word to you until we had been away
from each other at school a year. They
wanted us to be sure-and they would
not have you bound. They were
right, I suppose, but it put me in a
bad position. / could not have a right
to you-and yeti could not stand
to have you act so with Allan"
Ruth pulled away from him.
t"That was-hideous of me-but
what could I do? Follow meekly
about, letting you monopolize me
and nothing doing? It's a horrid
way to put it-but the girls all leased
to know if we were engaged-and I
had to show them 1 didn't care. You
can see how it was. Butt dol al
ways have-cared, Russell-you know
that" Pride made no difference
now.
ct was like you, Ruth, to be for
giving and call me up. 1 was just
starting out of the house to come
here, anyway, when they called me
back to the phone. I'm sure mother
thought 1 was insane, 1 was so happy
and relieved
what do you mean never called
you-I wouldn't if I died.
sNo, you precious goose said
jamie impudent1y from the doorway.
I'm glad our voices are SO much
alike. My, didn't he bite. 1 may
be a fibber. but I'm not a goose-like
you two-and 1 have no pride, per-
sonal or family, where it's a matter
of life and death. I am so glad you
are out of one kind of misery-and
into another. Shall 1 tell mother
you'll stay for dinner. Russell?"
Tell her anything-so long as you
clear out, jamie. You're nice per-
son, but 1 really don't want you just
now, though I do own your thanks
for two. Shut the door after yout"
jamie went, and went singing. She
ged her outrag
"Ruthie's all right-they had silly
quarrel, and they're making it up.
Russell will be here to dinner. He is
still sufficiently on the earth to con-
sent to take foodI" She danced away
down the hall, and the load lifted
from the mothers heart. Then she
sighed-she had no wish to lose her
daughter, even by a happy marriage
copyrighted 1910 by Associated Lit
erary Press.)