The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1918-02-15

julius Bates couldn't quite decide tc
his own satisfaction whether 1t was
because Ruth Claridge was such M
unusually pretty girl or because she
was such an 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
ness 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
country-bred girl. Surely she must
have known that she was very pretty
"a girl like Ruth could not heve lived
alone In the city SO long without hay
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 ard said:
II am glad you told me so. like to
be thought pretty and / am glad that
you think so." Besides Ruth never
fllrted. And Julius was just at the
old-young age when he had convinced
himself that flirting was great waste
Of time.
She was In large measure still
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 eminently
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 q
well furnished Studio" the details and
fine points Of which-the careful elm
ination 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 "o1d 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 it ON the score of
immodesty for the sHft folds of
fabric chung 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 immodest but
rather more modest, julius had to adj
NIT, than the street costume of most
young women.
Ruth saw his scrutiny. ooh, my
Dress" she said. "Isn't the color love-
Iy. It's read batik-from Ceylon. Amy
Nair got it 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
for his full inspection he honestly adj
mitted that it was extremely becom-
ing-"Only hardly conventional"
There was supper, and after sup
per Ruth carried off the supper tray
and brought back the coffee In a
Turkish brass outfit that even Julius
From the folds of her remarkable
house gown Ruth drew out a little
metal cigarette box -and opening 1t
deftly with one hand she held it out
to her guest.
There are several other sorts in the
large jar on the table," she said. ,
Personally, 1 don't care for Turkish"
Julius tried to conceal his surprise. /
He had never even wondered whether s
or not Ruth smoked. Other girls with
whom. he was associated in his edit ,
Ing did, but even they had never re-
.nI--nd him ,aInna in fhpir nHrn nm # | ,