The Washington herald., 1916-05-21

a rut The sled. mustered. skidded
wildly to one side and turned turtle,
spilling its two passengers into the soft
snow. Clinging together. shot onward
by the impact of their fall, they rolled
over and over, until they collided with a
bang against the trunk Of a hemlock
tree.
The impact knocked the breath clean
out Of them Laughing, gasping, cough
ing, they brushed the loose snow out OF
their eyes and mouths. Then Blair man
aged to get to his feet, and, STOPPING
down, lifted Ruth.
She could not at once get her balance
and stumbled awkardly. She might have
fallen but that he caught her in his
arms. The movement involuntarily
brought their laughter-hushed faces
periously close together.
And, before he realized what he was
doing, Fleetwood Blair had kissed the
red. laughing lips that were so close to
his own.
The flush on Ruth's face deepened to
a food OF crimson. But before she could
speak or move, Blair caught her again
in his arms. and was exclaiming. in
''Oh, love you, sweetheart! You must
always have known how I love you!
Won't you marry me? Say you will,
Ruth"
For brief instant she wavered Then
her slender arms stole up around his
sweater neck, and he heard her murmur:
II think I've loved you ever since
| first saw you. Fleet"
A howl Of delight from a dozen throsts
broke in on their love-confession. The
other coasters, returning up the hill,
had come full in sight OF them. Drop
ping their sled ropes the boys and girls
bore down upon the embarrassed but
rapturous couple. yelling congratuIat tions,
shouting all sorts of delightful congrat-
ulations. shouting all sorts of delightful
nonsense, surrounding them and shaking
them tempestuously by the hand
Presently Ruth broke away.
Fleet" she called over her shoulder
let's go up to the house and tell
mother. She'll be ever so happy about
IT,"
Yes" Blair asserted. much less en-
Enthusiastically, lets go and get It over
with"
Meantime, Ruth was not the only mem
Der of the Alden family who was hear
ing an echo Of loves young dream.
When the young people trooped out of
the house, Mrs. Alden and Kendrick
seated themselves in front of the crack
ling wood fire. And Kendrick, holding
his chilled hands to the blaze, came at
once to the point Of his visit.
Mrs. Alden" he began abruptly, II
am plain business man. And I am past
the age for Romeo-taIk But I am in
love. Desperately in love"
Mrs. Alden glanced across in covert
eagerness at him. He was very evidently
In terrible earnest: and she wondered
that, at her age, she should have been
able so utterly to enslave his heart.
''Yes?" she said, encouragingly, as he
paused
you'll laugh at me for an old fool"
he went on, hesitatingly, "but-"
But true love is never foolish and
never old" she put in, helpfully
I'm glad to hear you say that" he
answered, because I was afraid you'd
laugh at me. I'm head over ears in love,
Mrs. .Alden-with your little girl Ruth"
The woman's heart stopped beating for
an instant, then thudded. violently.
There was a blur, a shock, over her
vision.
But almost at once. she was her calm,
shrewdly calculating self. once more;
planning, as ever, to make the best proft
she might, from what had befallen. And,
after that first shock, she felt no chagrin
that II was Ruth and not herself whom
Batson Kendrick loved. She did not care
for the man. She had no wish to marry
again. Ambition had goaded her to the
sacrifice. And now this ambition, it
s~CAAACdB NOuAd bt sTdllleu without SdCTl-
fee.
As Batson Hendricks wife, her only
childd would have wealth and high po-
sitton. She, the mother, would share
amply in these. She reJoiced in the won
derful bit OF good fortune that had fallen
in Ruth's path.
You see," Kendrick was saying, his
eyes still on the blaze, II used to look
on her as a child. But lately she has
phanVa6 Inf ct
woman. And she's stolen my heart I'm
a fool about her. I came out here today
to tell you so; and to ask her to marry
me. Do you think I have a chance?'"
A chance?'' gushed Mrs Alden I'm
deed you have! Why, my daughter will
be honored and delighted at your offer
II you doubt it, let me speak to her first.
TO prepare her for it. T.
You're certain there's nothing between
her and youg Blair?" queried the man.
They seemed pretty we'll pleased with
each other IN here Just now"
NONSENSE laughed Mrs Alden, re-
assurtngly. IF there was anything in
that I would know all about It Ruth
always tells me everything. She"
The living room door burst open. Ruth
and Blair, hand In hand, like two mis-
chievous school children, dashed into the
room. Straight up to Mrs. Alden they
went, their young faces alight.
Mother" cried Ruth, we're engaged,
Fleet and I. Honestly we are. II iust
happened. Aren't you glad1"
A meteorite, crashing down the Chin
ney into the fireplace in front Of them,
cound not have dumfounded the two older
people more, nor more completely have
shattered their snug plans Kendrick sat
moveless, turned to stone. Mrs Alden
sprang to her feet and purple with morti-
hcation, faced her daughter. She struE-
gled vainly for coherent speech. She
had only volition left to raise one arm to
ward of Ruth's impulsive embrace. She
felt her new-built castles OF ambition
crumbling into dust at her feet.
Why, Mother" gasped Ruth in stark
dismay aren't you glad? I thought"
mo-" sputtered Mrs. Alden, II am
not. II FORBID
Mrs. Alden" interposed Kendrick,
who, by fierce self-battle had rallied from
the blow and had recovered the nerve and
resource that had won him so many Wall
Street victories. Pardon me, may l
speak to you moment?"
He drew her aside. out of earshot of
the bevildered and crestfallen lovers and
whispered:
Don't oppose II. Gain time. Tell him
to call at 8 this evening"
The mother sought to get back her
compoeure; and to act on his advice in
which she had absolute trust, although
she did not understand his aim Turning
to Ruth. she forced a wintry smile to
her pale lips