Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-16

AFTER she stopped to think II over,
h Ruth wondered just why she had SO
desperately resented Jacks action. With
only ten days before the marriage cere.
n ony there was little wonder that he was
impa tent Besides. hadn't she made him
suffer enough anyway, and hadn't he
done his best to come up TO her expecta-
tions in every way?
Ruth argued with herself, and asked
her heart time and again what sht
had expected of marriage. Surely she
hadn't been such a little fool that no
real idea of what was TO happen had
ever occurred to her. What had she
thought of when Jack had first asked
her 10 marry him? Hadn't there been a
thrill Of any kind connected with her
promise to him? But that was too far
back for Ruth to remember clearly just
what her Thoughts had been on the sub
ject. Too much had happened In the
meantime, and all through Jacks atti-
tude had been one of extreme patience.
Ruth had never dreamed that he enter
tained such views on the subject of
marriage, because he had never given
her to understand that his nature was
anything but calm and lacking entirely
in impulse or quick desire.
And TO tell the truth, Jack had
changed that Is, he had changed some
what. Certainly his views of life were
bound to be slightly different with all
of the new things constantly arising in
It, and his attitude toward Ruth had
changed from mere acceptance OF good
fortune, to fear lest something happen.
after all, to take her from him and to
prevent the marriage from taking place.
He had left her at the elevator door
that evening with a muttered apology.
The trip home had been quiet, and when
Ruth had asked him to come up to din
ner, Jack had refused The memory OF
his face wiped of its youth and filled
with emotion, haunted her in the elt
yator. For the first time n throb of
pity filed her heart for Jack. For the
hrst time she realized how selfish was
her entire attitude of sacrifice. Wasn't IL
Jack who would pay after all, Jack
who was being deceived and who was
deserving of more than that from life?
BY tine time she reached the apart
ment she was filled with righteous re-
solve. She would telephone Jack and
tell him that she had been a fool. She
hoped he would go home, but suppose he
shouldn't. Now that she had made vi
her mind that she was treating Jack
abomlnably, all of his good points spranC
up ia defense of his action that after
noon.
Mrs. Rowland called from the library
as Ruth entered.
Just a minute, mother, ] want to tele-
phone" Her very tone of voice spoke
her agitation. She felt guilty and de-
pressed, she was anxious to make up to
Jack for everything.
Dear, / have something for you, and
/ want TO know how you like the sur
prise"
That was a reminder ofsall Jack had
Gone for her, and Ruth cringed under II
miserably.
81 must telephone Jack, mother" she
said again.
Mrs. Rowland came to the door OF the
living room. Her entire countcnance be-
spoke the fact that she was certalr
Ruth had done something to make Jack
angry and that she sympathized Wit
Jack. But Ruth was talking into the
telephone by that time, and it was not
possible for Mrs. Rowland to inquire
into the reason for this call of Jack just
sfter he had left her, until Ruth stoppe'
talking.
Ruth had given Jacks number to Cen