The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1911-01-14

| Early in the afternoon jamie, her
| Usually laughing fair face sober and
| thoughtful, was putting the last holi-
| day touches to the solid beauty OF the
! old house. From an open door she
could hear her mothers gentle voice
and the heavier tones of the family
cook In housekeeping consultation
/ She had just arranged some splendid
| chrysanthemums to her satisfaction
when her mother called her.
jamie" she sair, your father and
are worried about Ruth. Do you
know what the trouble is? You've
noticed how thin and fretful she is
and her college work has been very
light In the two days she has been
/ home she hasn't been herself at all
| Sometimes sister can get at things
| better than q mother. l wouldn't ask
/ you to betray confidence, of course
| but I'm anxious" Jennie, in her elder
| daughterly fashion. came to put an
arm about her pretty mother.
( I've noticed-and she cries at
night when she thinks I'm asleep But
| she hasn't told me a thing, and
! haven't dared act as if were worried
J She's so of1sh, and declares she's per-
/ fectly well. You don't suppose It
could be about-Russell? Since he's
! ben at Harvard this year-we don't
know what they may have written.
didn't say anything to you, but last
! fall at Mans party Ruth did dirt aw-
! fully with Allan, and could see Rus
! sell was furious; but they both went
away in a few days. and l rather for
J got 1t. Don't worry, mother. and I'll
/ try to find out"
The older sister failed to find the
once sparkling, happy Ruth in her
room, or in the library, or anywhere
/ about the house. Finally going on an
errand to the sewing room on the
! third floor, she heard a queer noise
/ and hastily opened the door. Ruth
| lay full length on the rug, her face
hidden in her thin little hands, her
dark curling hair falling about her
/ crimson bathrobe. The slender figure
was shaking with sobs. She became
aware of her sister. who knelt beside
| her. She went on crying.
Ruth, 1 will know what's wrong!
You'll make yourself ill-why. child,
you're burning with fever"
I'D like to be dead" mourned
{ 1SUIA- LII oO 11ASCi dOAC anu IL LII I
thing a girl can talk about Do go
away"
rs it about Russell?" persisted
jamie. 81 saw how he acted last fall.
Tell me, dearie.~ What's been going
on while you were at school. Does he
write to your"
I'VE had an awful quarrel-after
Mans party. he was-horrible'
81 suppose so-you acted with Allan
in a way to make him horrible, if he
cared. Ruth, none of us could make
you two out. If you were engaged
why couldn't you come out and say
so? 1t was hardly fair, dear"
That's just it," f1ared Ruth, sud.
denly sitting upright on the rug I'VE
i know both of US cared-awfully!
/ But, Jans-I'm ashamed to tell even
you. He never-asked me right out
to be engaged, and still he would not
let me out of his sight And he acted
as If he owned me. 1 knew he was
jealous of Allan, and it came over me
that l had been SO devoted to Russell
that perhaps a little danger of losing
me would make him-ten me he
loved me-if he did. I was tired OF
being neither free nor engaged
wouldn't have gone to college at ali
fl had been sure" The girls
face burned with anger and shame
We'll, he just wrote one horrid little
note. l know 1 acted scandaIously
that highland his last night, too
He was to take me home-and went
with Allan right under his eyes AL
he said in the note was that he had a
little self-respect-as well as a heart
and that he would not be played with
and when wanted him would
please send for him! Imagine me
sending for him!"
jamie gave soft little laugh before
she spoke.
If he hadn't cared desperately he
wouldn't have dared to be so rude. He
came home this morning-did you see
the paper? Perhaps he will come to
see you. OF course he WILL
Ruth shook her head.
Constance wrote me from Cam
bridge that he's been simply devoted
to that Sylvia White-simply devoted
l wish / didn't care-I despise my
self because I do-Tm sorry came
home. l can't be naturaI-and 1 Ger
tainly don't propose to make am
advances. If he does call, shall not
see him-but he won't! Oh, jamie
do you think he WILLY"
jamie rose and pulled her sister t.
her feet. and drew her down to bel
own room.
''Of course he willard you viii
see him. The world knows how he's
been at your beck and call lince you
were in kindergarten. And / wan
you to take hot bath, lie down /;