The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1918-03-07
Amy Nair
Says"
- JOAN MARGls

81 - JOAN MARSH IL
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
per oyndScats.)
Julius Bates couldn't quite decide to
hls own satisfAction whether u was
because Ruth Ciapides was such On
unusualiy pretty 9Th o. because she
tas such an amazingly clever Illus
traitor that be was 20 completely fas-
cinated By her. and that before she
had been on the list Of regular con-
tyibutors 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 Il was
neither her cleverness nor her prettf
ness entirely; but mingled with them
her delightful naivety and lack Of
capitalization. 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 az
a cOuntry-bred girl. Surely she must
have known that she was very pretty
"a 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:
II am glad you told me so. I like to
be thought pretty and am glad that
You think So" Besides Ruth never
firted. And Julius was Just at the
Old.young age when he Ind convinced
himself that flirting was great waste
Of time.
She WINS in large measure still q
mystery to him and 20 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 90 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
fine points Of whlch-the careful elm
lnatiOn Of every accessory or orna.
ment which was not intrinsicnlly
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 dir Of
rep0se 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 II we
were all alone in the place. Amy
won't be back till oil 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
immodesty for the soft folds Of
fabric chung high ut the throat and
well down on her wrists. But-could
It really be p0ssible7-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 haG to ad.
init, 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 II for me. ! am glad you
like it-Amy Nair says"
But I'm not quite sure d." STAN
mered Julius. and then - Ruth stood
of and pivoted on her oriental slipper
for his full inspection he honestly ad-
mitted that II was extremely bsc0m-
ing-'0nly hardly conventional"
| There was supper. and after sup
per Ruth carried of the supper tray
and brought back the coffee In q
Turkish brass outfit that even julius
was connoiseur enough to admire.
From the folds Of her remarkable
house gown Ruth drew out Q little
metal cigarette box and opening It
deity with one hand she held 1t out
to her guest.
There 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 bis edit.
ing did, but even they had never re-
ceived him alone In their own apart.