The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-04-25
Amy Nair"
Says
1S$p
BY JOAN MARSH
(Copyright, I9lI- ~ the MctIure NeWspa'
per Syndcate)
BY JOAN MARSH

Copyright, 1917, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndcate)
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 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 it was
neither her cleverness nor her pretti-
ness entirely; but mingled with them
her delightful noiyety 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
Il 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 A.:
81 am glad you told me so. l like to
be thought pretty and l am glad that
you think So Besides Ruth never
1irtcd. And julius was just at the
old-young age when he had convinced
himself that flirting was 2 great waste
of time.
She was in large measure still a
mystery to him and so he was d0ubly
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 a
well furnished Studio" the details and
fine points of whlch-the careful elm
nation of every accessory or orna-
ment which was not intrinslcally
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
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.
81 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
ne got his first glimpse of her dress.
1t 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 soft folds Of
fabric chung high at the throat and
well down on her wrists. But-could
it really be possible?- 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 adj
nit, than the street costume of most
young women.
Ruth saw his scrutiny. ooh, my
dress" she said. isn't the color love
ly. It's read batik-from Ceylon. Amy
Nair got it for me. l am glad you
like it-Amy Nalr says"
But I'm not quite sure | do" STAN
mered julius, and then as Ruth stood
off and plvoted on her oriental slipper
for his full inspection he honestly ad-
mitted that 1t was extremely becom-
ing-"only hardly conventional"
There was supper, and after sup
per Ruth carried Off the supper tray
ana 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 a little
metal cigarette box and opening 1t
deity with one hand she held 1t out