Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-08-22
MRS. CLAIBORNE SENDS
FoR RUTH.
CHAPTER Kill

CHAPTER Kill
Brian really tried harder than usual
70 increase his clientele, and so his
income. But young lawyer without
broad acquaintance or influence never
has an easy time. And Brian Haekett
was no exception to the general rule.
50, altho h. would occasionally bring
home little extra monsy; his salary
was for long, lean periods all they
had to depend upon. And as he once
said to Ruth, when she had bemoaned
the fact they could not have something
to make the rooms more attractive, or
Iat least that they could not repaper
them, the salary of lawyers clerk
did not allow Of luxuries.
"Why be a clerk, then? Why not
strike out for yourseffi
"And live on nothing year in
stead Of what we now havel''
We have little more. at least you
might stand a chance of having some
thing in the future
"A bird in the hand is worth two
in the bush, - he laughingly assured
her, as he sat down to comfortably
read his evening paper and. smoke his
pipe.
He has no initiative" Ruth said
to herself. "He never will be diff
ferent in some ways"
Ruth, too, often urged Brian to
bring home his law books and study.
"You needn't tell me, Brian Hack
EFT, that you are so smart you could
learn nothing more. | should think
you would study every minute you
could get. The better lawyer you arc,
the more apt win you to become sue
cessful
cit wouldn Z make a bit of differ
ence with me, Some fellows are lucky;
they get all the pmms." "
g You got me, didn't youl' she tried
to be facetious. At the same time,
she intrigued herself that she must
make him see his mistakes, that no
one else cared enough to do 50.
Yes, dearl and that's all one poor
devil deserves
Bat Brian, she returned to the
subject, 4 You know how interested
in decorating was, rather you do
not know much about II. But | read
and studied for years 1t was q per
tect delight for me TO work cut new
designs, new schemes Of color. I
should think it would be the same
with you--enly that il would mean
stsl more, because with YOU there is
added the necessity of making it a
success, because il is our living. /
am sure il would mean a great deal
in the end. -
Brian finally commenced to bring
his books home, but he studied in a
perfunctory manner, always ready to
lay it aside at the slightest inter
ruptioa. Ruth watched, and kept 81
lent. Indeed. she was growing more
aud more quiet as time went BY, The
home upon which she could not make
any improvements, because Of lack Of
began TO get on her nervN.
The stark ugliness of il compared 70
the luxurious home she had left, made
lser sfeeg fek. Utmost naJseatti at
times. Then she would take herself
60 task, and be conscience stricken
because Of feeling so when Brian was
doing the best he could
Mrs. Clayhorne wrote weekly let
ters to Ruth. retailing all the news.
aever forgetting 20 add that Rachel
grievel for her baby and weuld not
be conferred; and that the house even
looked different now that she was not
there 70 arrange the flowers etc. she
mentioned also that she intended %
aaye her liviag room done over in the
fall; there had been leak, and she
thought she would have the .eoIoring of
The roem changed AZ te time she had
Il ceiling fixed. TAen she told Ruth
that she mnst get Brian TO spare her,
% plan the decorations for her .'Noa
will eve me visif by that time, she
bad added.
Ruth answered her aants letters
faithfnlly, aud wrete hrightly. Her
pride would not allow her to mention
the careful wav in which she had
Ia i've. - that Mrs Clayborue only
imagined how things were guing be-
esasc u what RasA omitted so say
Naw she failed t. mention Rachel 5
eeming % her, o. any ef the little
plans she bal madc before her wed
ding And nsyeg had she asked her