Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-10-02
BY OLIVE GREY.
= AnnAaHnnEa N "a w

| w "a - p - "a "a "a Ha "a - "a w
Ruth gave last loving little pat to
the bowl of sweet peas spreading their
fragrance through the cool, shaded liy-
ing room, and smoothed the snowy
| cloth of the tea table charmingly ar
ranged for three. She sighed with sat
isfaction when she thought Of the PAN
try shelves and icebox grooming with
good things she and Mrs. Woodward
liked In the old days at home.
For Bob was coming back. Not to
stay, but to take a months rest In the
pure, fresh air of the country where
he was raised. Ruth" called Mrs.
Woodward over the bannisters, you'd
better get dressed. The house looks
all right now, and you've only 10 min
utes till train time"
eyes, auntie, I'm coming. I've just
been wondering"
"Wondering what, dear?"
wondering II Bob has changed any
If he'll notice that things are-oh, i
told you I couldn't say 1T. You see.
WUCu pcOIIC ~ away 1AOih q pAoNO "ANs
get rich and are used to all sorts OF
things, and then come back, the old
things and the old people may not
seem so attractive"
She brushed back her thick wavy
hair into a roll at her neck where
Bob used to like 1t. 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, say,
where are you?"
And In an instant everybody was In
everybody else's arms. Ruth's fears
flew to the winds. It was Bob, their
very OWE Bob, home again. And he
hadn't changed, except to become bet
ter looking than ever, and his clothes
somehow had different look than OF
old.
Bob held her of at arms length and
looked her over and then turned her
slowly around. "Ruthie, you're a stun
ner; that dress just suits you, and
there isn't girl in New York who
wouldn't give her right arm for that
complexion Of yours. And that hair
Ruthie, you're beauty! Isn't she,
auntie?" and catching his aunt by the
waist he spun her around several times
In spite Of her gasping protests, just
as he had of old.
Ruth was radiantly happy. No!
Bob had not changed at ell.
Tea was a wonderful affair, where
everybody talked at once and told ev-
erything that anybody knew.
It was while Bob was picking up
crumbs that had fallen round the cho-
colate cake, that he said nOnchalant-
ly-so very nonchalantly that Ruth
pricked up her ears at once-"Do you
know the Owens who had rented the
old Stephenson place on the hill for
the summer?"
mo-" said Mrs. Woodward. "They're
not our kind, Bobbie. They're society
folks and we're not. I understand it's
very gay there-hOuse parties all the
time and everything. The girls pretty
they say. Do you know them, Bobbiei
They're from New York"
eyes. Mr.. Owens a client of mine
I've been to the house several times
and they're all nice people. Katha.
rine is pretty. She rides WELL"
'Do you know her very well?" asked
Ruth.
ooh, yes. We ride together some
times. It's about all the exercise get
By, the way auntie, 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 to
be wasted, now I'm here"
Before many days had passed it was
clear to the girl and the woman In the
little white house that more than a
desire for rest had brought Bob home
He was over at the Owens or riding
with Katharine most Of the time.
One day Bob came in from a ride
while Ruth. was gathering eggs In the
barn. She had -oh a bTte gihghaIn
dress and her cheeks were the defeats
pink Of Ophelia roses. To her intense
amaZement Bob came right up to her
and kissed her deliberately on the
mouth.
"Bobbie, you mustn't do that again y
"Why not? I couldn't help it."
"You-you care for another girl and
1t isn't right"
Bob fiecked thoughtfully at his rid
Ing boot with whip for moment be-
fore answering.
Listen, Ruth. I won't kiss you
again until you say I may. But as for
caring for any one else, 1--we found
out since I came here that I don't ]
thought l did, but I've found out diff
ferently. You'll think I'm silly, Ruth.
l know you think I'm just sort of a
cousin, but do you know I've fallen In
love with you? But I don't think ]
knew 1t, quite, until this minute when
you looked at me over your shoulder
as 1 came in. I feel as though I've
just sort of discovered you all at once.
wish you'd say you liked me little,
Ruthie."
Il love you. Bobbie," whispered
Ruth.
(Copyright 1917 by the Mcclure Newsne