Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-04-20


She could never get away from the
fact that she was the 'poor relation"
ENo. one in the family seemed to make
this apparent they. were all kind and
censiderate; but. "a some natures the
position of being dependent is espe-
Ssah tsals1 ssas times 9'1 s%'lf-
Ruth lived in q small country town.
and wishing to study designing at an
institute In the city. her uncle Vane
had offered her home with his fam
lily while she attended the school, as
her parents could not afford the ex-
pense of keeping her there.
Margie Vane, the only daughter,
was year or two older than Ruth,
and had been "presented" in society
the year before Ruth's coming There
were parties, dinners, and luncheons
in plenty. for Miss Yane to attend,
but Ruth felt she must make the best
of her time with her studies, so sell
dom mixed in the gaities; besides she
had not the wardrobe to appear at
these functions. OF course when peo-
pie were invited to the house for din
ners or evenings, she was always pres
ent. On one of these occasions she
met Glenn Beecham. He was q good
looking type of the young American,
and was rapidly becoming a successful
architect. Ruth noticed that he was
much attracted to her cousin Margie,
and proceeded to efface herself as far
as possible. But there was something
going on in the region of her heart
to efface. The mysterious attraction
which draws us to some individual soul
has never yet been very satisfactorily
explained by scientists. Ruth Bassett
was not the sort of young woman to
be fascinated by the first good-looking
man who came along, she was rather
too serious-minded for that, and she
had been brought in contact with
quite a good many in the Vane So
ciety; but Glenn Beecham seemed to
her different" The one we really
love is always different"
One evening she happened to be in
| the reception room when he called.
She was bending over a vase of red
roses, enjoying their fragrance, and
caressinglye errangiag th61etems as
he entered . ~,
'sYcu losS fi6wefsT' he said.
"Oh, yes, but especially red roses.
They are so splendid, royal, full Of
life!"
Their conversation drifted on to
| their work, architecture, and design
ing. The two arts had something in
common, kindred interest, and they
became engrossed in the topic.
81 want always to do beautiful
things" she said.
81 am building a beautiful house."
he added. "Now If you could only
put your beautiful ideas into the in
terror decoration"
At that instant Margie entered, and
Ruth caught an expression that seemed
to warn her to leave as soon as pos
sible. Clearly she was an interlOper,
poaching on her cousins preserves,
and it must not happen again. She
excused herself on the plea Of study,
and left the room.
Ruth was not left long in doubt as
to the state Of affairs between young
Beecham and her cousin. Margie did
not conceal the fact that she cared
for him, and for the other girl began
the slow torture of seeing the love
which was more to her than life with
held and given to another.
So 1t was that Ruth absented her
self from the room when Glenn Beech
am called, or once In a while, when the
temptation grew too strong fingered a
few minutes If only to see his face
or hear the sound Of his voice.
After even these slight glimpses of
him she found it harder each time to
concentrate her mind on her work, and
she prayed that she might be able to
put him out of her life.
There was to be little dinner dance
at the Vanes, and flowers for the dec
orations were coming in. Ruth saw
the maid taking a long white box to
Margie's room.
"They are from him." she thought.
81 wonder what they are.'
She was not left long in doubt fer
Margie called her in to see.
Look she cried. "Aren't they
beautifully"
every" said Ruth family.
Her heart thumped so hard, and
then seemed to stand still. She was
finding it difficult not to reveal her
feelings to the other girl.
In the box were splendid, royal, red
roses! The very flowers he knew she
loved! He had cared so little he had
Haunted his gift to another before her
| very eyesl She felt she must tear
them from her fortunate rival, and cry
out: "They are mine! mine!" But
she drew out Of the room quietly, won
dering If she could bear to see him
that night.
She decided that pride must come to
her aid, and she must not excite COM
ment by not appearing. so she dressed
her hair in the most becoming way,
and put on the only evening gown she
possessed, simple white crepe. She
was after all rather pleased with the
reflection in the glass of a graceful
little figure with beautiful arms, shin
ing dark hair. soft eyes, and q dis
hnctly adorable mouth.