The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1911-01-14
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Thanks for Two
By JOANNA SINGLE
Copyright 1910. by Associated Literary Presz

while, and put on .Our rcse-coIored
dress. for ats certain that come Of
the girls viii be here before the
afternoons past Do Is say-you'iI
feel better just for having talked it
over. And you are largely to blame.
you know"
Jane coaxed the girl to do her bid
ding, and after her nap fastened her
| into the pretty gown. She, herself,
had on her street things, and pre-
pared to go.
Ruth. I've to do some errands for
mother. She is sleeping-she's\ tired
out And Nellie is helping cook
Would you mind answering the tele-
phone? There's nobody to do If until
1 get back Be good. And while I'm
gone think of the grand time you had
at school with Orville Metcalf and
several others-suppose some one
wrote Russell about it? Did you think
of that?'
This was new idea Ruth had,
| indeed, had the merriest of times,
for all her inward heart-weariness,
| at the coed college where she had
been so popular. She sat down In q
big chair and closed her eyes, and
thought what dear sister jamie was,
and how comforting it had been to
speak the old trouble out. But she
could never send for Russell = he
would have to come himself.
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 it, excitedly. Suppose he should
call her up? But It was only jamie,
Would Ruth run to the little sitting
room upstairs and see II she had left
the windows open?-Janie 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 er-
rand stupid What had jamie been
doing in there?
She opened the door, and the full
blaze 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
] burned in the fireplace, and that a
man rose from a chair and came to
ward her.
"Ruthie- Ruthie-are you going to
forgive me?'
1t was Russell, but for moment
she could not understand, and then
she began softly to weep, the tears
falling like a child's down her cheeks.
He took her into his arms, soothing
and comforting her. Asking her II
she did love him, whether she would
not marry him-though he knew he
didn't deserve It
ST was-horrid last fall, Ruthie,
but 1t was because I was desperate
You see I had promised both my
father and yours that l would moi
say a word to you until we had been
away from each other at school g
year. They wanted US to be sure
and they would not have you bound
They were right, l suppose, but Il
put me in a bad position. I could moi
have a right to you-and yeti could
not stand to have you act so with
! Allan"
Ruth pulled away from him.
THAT Aas-hideous OF me-but
what could 1 do? Follow meekly
about, letting you monopolize me
and-nothing doing? It's a horriC
way to put it-but the girls all teaset
to know if we were engaged-and
had to show them l didn't care. You
can see how it was. Butt do al
ways have-cared, Russell-you know
that" Pride made no differences
now.
ct was like you, Ruth, to be for
giving and call me up. l Yves JUS
starting out for the house to come
here, anyway, when they called me-
back to the phone. I'm sure mother
thought was insane, was so happy
and relieved"
What do you mean never called
you'll wouldn't If died"
mo, you precious goose SAID
jamie impudently from the doorway
I'm glad our voices are so much
alike. MY, didn't he bite! I MAJ
be a fbber, but I'm not goose
like you two-and I have no pride
personal or family. where it's a mat
ter of life and death. am so glaG
you are out of one kind Of misery
and into another! Shall I tell moth
| er you'll stay for dinner, Russen?"
Tell her anything-so long as yot
clear out, jamie. You're a nice per
son, but 1 really don't want you JUS
now, though do owe you thanks TO
two. Shut the door after youi"
jamie went, and went singing. Sh'
met her mother on the stairs, and hug
ged her outrageously.
.Ruthie's all right-they had sill.
quarrel, and they're making it W
Russell will be here to dinner. He Il
still sufficiently on the earth to con
! sent to take food"