Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1917-09-13
\ - ~ - ~ - ~ ~ ~ Nj ~ ~ III
|. DISCOVERING RUTH :


~ - N%AHA &HEHett
NJ mmmm IA W. mn ~ nama M W
Ruth gave last loving little pat to
the bowl Of sweet peas spreading their
fragrance through the cool. shaded liv-
ing room, and sm0otbed the snowy
cloth OF the tea table .charrnIngly ar
ranged for three. She sighed with sat
isfacti0n whensshe thought OF the PAN
try shelves and icebox grooming with
good things she and Mrs. Woodward
liked Ia the old days at home.
For Bob was coming back. Not 20
stay, but to take a months rest IN the
pure. fresh air Of the country where
he was raised. "Ruth,r called Mrs
Woodward over the baunisters, you'd
better get dressed. The house looks
all right now. and you've only is min
utes TN train time
"Yes, auntle, Tim coming. I've just
been wondering
wondering what, dearT'
.'wonderlng II Bob has changed any
If he'll notice that things are-oh. !
told you I couldn't say II. You see.
when people 60 away from a place and
get rich and are used to all sorts Of
things, and then come back, the old
things and the old people may not
seem 80 attractive"
She brushed back her thick wavy
hair into a roll at her neck where
Bob used to like II, and hurried into
dainty white dress and was Just
clasping the necklace Of seed pearls
that he had sent her for Christmas.
when there was the sound Of car.
hurrying feet and Bob's voice. Hello.
people. auntie. Ruthie. Hello. I say.
where are your
And IN an instant everybody was in
everybody eise's arms. Ruth's fears
flew 10 the winds. II wns Bob. their
very own Bob. home again. And hs
hadn't changed. except to become bet
ter locking than ever. and his clothes
somehow had q different look than Of
old.
Bob held her or AZ arms length and
looked her over and then turned her
slowly around. "Ruthie. you're stun
merit that dress just suits you. and
there isn't a girl In New York who
wouldn't give her right arm fer that
complexion OF yours And that hnir
Ruthie. you're a beauty Isn't she.
auntieT' and catching his aunt BY the
waist he spun her around several times
In spite OF her gnsplng protests, Just
as he had of old.
Ruth was radiansiy happy. Not
Bob had not changed az all
Tea was wondered affair. where
everybody talked NJ once and told ey-
erything that anybody knew.
II wns while Bob was picking up
crumbs that had fallen round the eho.
colate caka, that he said nonchalant-
iy-~so very nonchninntiy that Ruth
nricked up her ears at once-''Do you
know the Owens who had rented the
old Stephenson place on the hin for
the eummarf~
$40" said Mrs. Woodward. They're
not our kind, Robbie. They're society
folks and we're not. understand It's
very gay there--house parties all the
time and everything. The Rsrl's pretty.
they say. DO you know them. Bobbiel
They're from New York"
sYea. Mr.. Owens client Of mine.
i've been 10 the house several times.
ana they're all nice people. Katha.
rine IL pretty. She rides we'll"
'TDo y0u know her very weiiT' asked
Ruth.
aoh. yes. We ride together some.
times. It'R shout MI tho exercise gct.
BY. the way aunlie I'm having my
horse sent out tomorrow. There's room
IN the barn, Isn't there brought my
riding things along, thought this air
and these wonderful roads a pity 70
be wasted, now I'm here"
Before many days had passed IL was
clear 70 tho Girl and tho wofnBn IN the
little white house that more than 9
desire for rest had brought Bob home.
He was over at tho Owens or riding
with katharine most Of the time.
One day bob came in from ride
while Ruth was gathering eggs IN the
barn. She had on blue bingham
dress and her checks were the delicate
pink Of ophelia roses TO her Inten@a
amusement Rob came rlgiit up TO her
and kissed her deliberately on the
mouth.
''Bobbie, you mustn't do that again n
why mott couldn't help it,
"You~-yon care for another girl and
II isn't right"
bob fiecked thoughtfuily at HIS rid
INK boot with whip for moment be-
fore answering.
listen. Ruth. I WON'T kiss you
again until you say may. But an for
caring for any oBe else, 1--we found
out since came here that l don't.
thought did, but i've found out dif.
ferenfiy. You'll think Tn silly, Ruth,
know you think I'm just sort Of a
cousin, but DO you know I've fallen Ia
love with your But l don't think
knew 1t, quite. until this minute when
you looked az me over your shoulder
as came In. / feel as though I'VE
Just sort OF discovered you ali at once.
I wish you'd say you liked me little.
Ruthie."
II love you, Bobbie." whispered
Ruth.
Copyright. 1911. BIZ the Mcclure Nswspa-