Catoctin clarion., 1918-02-14
Amy Nair
Says"
o0
Hv loan MARSH
BY JOAN MARSH
copyright, 1917. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)

| per Syndlcate.)
julius Bates couldn't quite decide to
! his own satisfaction whether 1t was
because Ruth Claridge was such an
unusually pretty girl or because she
was such all amazingly clever Illus
traitor that he was SO completely fas-
cinated by her, and that before she
had been on the list Of regular con-
tributors to the small magazine Of
which he was editor for two weeks he
had found pretext to take her to
luncheon two or three times and once
to the theater. Perhaps 1t was
neither her cleverness nor her prettt
oess entirely; but mingled with them
her delightful naivety and lack OF
sophisticatiOn. For though Ruth had
quite obviously "arrived" in her work
she had in the year that she had lived
In the big, grimy city, lost very little
! of the refreshing candor and childlike
enthusiasm that characterized her as
q country-bred girl. Surely she must
have known that she was very pretty
II girl like Ruth could not have lived
alone in the city so long without hav'
ing been rather wearied with remind
ers of the fact-yet when julius had.
rather namely as he thought later,
| told her she was the prettiest girl he
had ever known. she opened her per.
fectly frank blue eyes wide and said: !:
IT am glad you told me so. like to
be thought pretty and I am glad that
sou think sO." Besides Ruth never
nirted. And julius was just at the
old-young age when he had convinced
himself that flirting was q great waste
of time.
She was in large measure still a
mystery to him and so he was doubly
pleased when she asked him to "cOme
to supper" In her small apartment
where julius had been informed she
shared quarters with that emlnently
successful novelist, Amy Nair. Julius
was relieved to know that Amy was
not to be present. The supper was
set for eight o'clock so that both he
and Ruth might dispose of their days
occupation before the little spread.
The apartment proved to be Just a
well furnished "studio," the details and
6ne points of whlch-the careful elm
lnation Of every accessory or orna-
ment which was not intrinsically
beautiful and the exquisite subOrdina-
ton Of tones to the decorative scheme
Of the whole interiOr-was rather lost
on julius. But there was an air of
repose and seclusion about the large
room - apparently the living room,
eating room and work room combined
that put julius In an agreeable frame
Of mind. Ruth responded to his ring
and explained that the "old nanny"
who kept house for her and Amy Nair
had prepared the spread and then de-
parted.
II thought we could be cozier If we
were all alone in the place. Amy
won't be back till all hours"
Then as she led him into the studio
he got his first glimpse Of her dress.
It was like nothing he had ever seen
before-surely not like the dress In
which he had first seen her. He could
not object to 1t on the score of
lmmodesty for the soft folds Of
fabric clung high at the throat and
well down on her wrists. But-could
1t really be possible ?-the ample folds
of the skirt somehow fell down to her
feet in two divisions and were caught
at both ankles In neat metallic ank-
let. Even that was not lmmodest but
rather more modest, Julius had to ad-
NIT, than the street costume Of most
young women.
Ruth saw his scrutiny. "Oh, my
Dress" she said. "Isn't the color love
". It's read batik-from Ceylon. Amy
Nair got 1t for me. l am glad you
like it-Amy Nair says"
"But I'm not quite sure do" stam-
mered Julius, and then as Ruth stood
off and pivoted on her oriental slipper
Tor his full inspection he honestly ad-
mitted that 1t was extremely becom-
lng-"only hardly conventional"
There was supper, and after sup
and brought back the coffee in a
Turkish brass outfit that even Julius
was connOiseur enough to admire.
From the folds Of her remarkable
house gown Ruth drew out little
metal cigarette box and opening 1t
deftly with one hand she held 1t out
to her guest.
'"rhere are several other sorts in the
large jar on the table," she said.
"Personally, l don't care for Turkish"
julius tried to conceal his surprise.
He had never even wondered whether
or not Ruth smoked. Other girls with
whom he was associated In his edit
ing did, but even they had never re-
ceived him alone in their own apart
ments and then preferred a complete
assortment Of cigarettes. He felt the
suspicion of a frown involuntarily
come over his forehead but he fought
It back.
They talked about everything that
ehanced into their heads-more as
Julius had talked with some keenly
elert, clean-minded young boy of his
acquaintance; and as they talked
Ruth smoked nonchalantly-not in the
least languidly. At ten julius rose to
20. Somewhere in the back Of his
mind he recalled that he had read
that although women who live alone
may receive callers unchaperoned
those callers must never remain after
ten. Ruth urged him to stay-still as
q young boy would have done when
he had not had enough conversation,
rather than as young woman wish