Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-15


THREE months before. Ruth Rowland
i would have felt sense Of esaita-
ton In walking out anywhere with Jack
Bond. she would have been elated at
the fact that she felt well dressed; she
would have been buoyant at the pros
pect OF receiving admiration from pass
ers-by and OF knowing that Jack noticed
that admiration and was proud. ON the
day that she and Jack had gone TO buy
the ring she had been happy today. as
she walked out into the sunsine In her
new squirrel coat, and with JACK beside
her In his blue navy uniform. she felt no
sense OF citation. only a heaviness and Q
CONSEQUENCES that she must constantly
combat that guilty feeling.
II have surprise for you,' JACK sAio'
as they walked down the street.
Jack. what have you been doing
now7 Oh I hope It isn't something ex-
travaRant," Ruth demonstrated.
I'VE have 20 be estravasant once In
q while but walt till you see v. Even
you won't have the heart TO scold me-.
rs Il at the apartment" And Ruth
evinced a slight interest.
Jack grinned and nodded. They were
on the way TO the apartment 10 see
few Of the new things that had arrived
and to plan where to put them, and at
this surprise that Jack spoke OF Ruth
felt only a new demand on her gratitude.
for that was all that she felt any OF the
time.
Just as the sun had streamed in on
that first day when Jack had brought
her to the apartment. so II streau,ed
In ever everything today. only this tfme
the lovely little rooms were almost en-
tirely furnished. Ruth had helped to
select many OF the things herself. but
there was something that stretched
across one corner Of the living room that
| made her open her eyes In amusement
Something big and cumbersome, gleam'
ing and rejecting lights from Its pol
ished surface.
Jack" she 9asped; "a piano!"
He grtnned boyishly. delighted a.
her surprise and conscious that his selec
ton could not be disputed.
II hoped YOU would like IT," he ex
plained. "You see IT'S my wedding pres
ent to you. I wanted It to be a surprise
and yet I hardly knew what was safe Il
select for you without having you see 4
first. and 10 I asked your mother. and
we decided on the plano"
And mother knew all along7"
Ties, indeed. she helped select II. Sh,
said she knew you had always wanted {
piano: and at first I WAS afraid yo'
couldn't get a grand into this place bu
I picked the smallest one made"
"Oh. Jack. u n beautiful! I dom
know any one who has had such beau
iiful things given to her ~ I have.
Ruth hesitated. She knew that thank
OF q certain kind were due to Jack. an,
she dreaded giving them II was such al
effort to force her emotions Just now
when everything pulled at them, an,
way!
She turned toward Jack and suddenl
met his eyes. They held an expression
foreign to them, an expression that mad
Ruth suddenly conscious OF the fact tina
she was here alone with him in tn
apartment: a feeling that she had neve
felt about Jack before.
/. She stood still. uncertain what to Dc
and a little wavering smile broke owe
her face. The next minute Jack ha
cleared the distance between them an
had caught her In his arms. II was tn
first time he had ever lost control OF hi
own emotions, the first time ne had eve
been anything but dependable Jack. con
siderate and reasonable. Jack had al
ways that. u reasonable lover there ha
never been between them any OF tn
madness of two people who are divinei
mated.
His breath came hoarseiy and he sposS
disjointedly. His arms, about her. hei
her relentlessly close: she felt smcth
cred. afraid.
n Darling. darlins!" he muttered. fore
ing her head hack against him and look
Ing down into her eyes. Don't than
: me: love me! I would do anything fo
you to make you do that. don't war
! gratitude: I want everything you have I
T give-evefything. do you hear?"
3 Jack. please let me 60"
4 He laughed. holding her closer. The
: hs-besan TO kiss her w1ldly-ciose, pas
o ssonats Kisses that shock her and ALI