Tombstone epitaph., 1918-07-21
A Legal
War Bride
Copyright, 1915. by the Mcclure Newsps-
per Syndicate.)
By ELIZABETH FORREST

Robert Peters, attorney nj law. with
a newspaper In one hand, pen In the
other. sat before his Office desk. a very
picture Of perplexity. Thunder" he
finally exploded. dashed the pen onto
the desk. and swerved around to his
startled stenographer.
"What is the proper thing to write
to an engaged girl:'
ut all depends on how well you
know her.
"Huinph. II l tell you all about IL,
will you help me with this matter of
etiquetteY
agreed" And Mary Borden lis
tened.
"well. Ruth Hampton and ! grew up
together. She was good pal and
everybody's friend; she appealed 10
me because she had intellect and good
nature always have liked girls who
can really do something.
Then after both mother and dad
were-gone. Ruth and her mother We're
like sister and mother 70 me. So when
| took up law. it was with Ruth that
I sutherland I do believe she could
have passed the bar exams when ! did.
had She been so minded. There was
never anything more than sincere
friendship between Us. 81 ] have had
no ties 20 draw me back 70 Merton dur
Ing these busy years here in New York
it has been nearly three" He hest
tated. hut Mary Borden's twenty years
In the business world had nodded her
sympathetic nature into character by
which harried men were ever inspired
To confidence.
But" he continued. although l was
fast forgetting Ruth, she was wildly
brought TO mind this morning. While
reading my newspaper l CHANGED on
picture of her and the announcement
# her enga cement The picture doesn't
ook like the Ruth used To know, but
time. suppose, does effect changes.
Now. Miss Borden. the really funny
part of my tale j. this: feel actually
angry that Ruth has become engaged.
and I've concluded that I'm what you
might call. well-er-jealous. And
thanks. am fully. but I'VE just decided
thu. I'll not write her M all-she didn't
send me personal announcement
But is il reasonable TO expect that
of her? Do you write TO her? Does
She know where you are:'
Peters flushed. well" ne grinned,
-,suve got me in a corner. believe
IL has been some eightsor ten months
since ! last wrote"
MAY see that paper. pleaseT
Certainly Then Miss Borden
busted herself some minutes in the
reading of the article In question. She
started to read II again. At a sudden
/ exclamation from her Robert looked
at her inquiringly.
where did you say you used TO
live!"
Morton, KY"
Put, look, this notice reads. Miss
Ruth Hampton Of Berkeley. CAL so II
can't be- your Ruth
Robert snatched the paper eagerly
/ from her and for long time studied
I the cut. NO" he said at length,
There can't possibly be two Ruth
Hamptons who look sufficiently alike
to be sisters.
There has been time enough for
them TO have travelled clear around the
world. for all my knowledge of Ruth
and her mother; so without "a doubt
the simple truth is that they have gone
to California 10 live"
! He sat a while in troubled silence.
and at last tried To fix his attention on
some briefs. II was useless. His mind
wandered continually; and he asked
himself over and over why do ] care.
why do care:" There could be but
one answer,
At noon he lunched overwhelmingly.
Before returning he visited Western
Union Office and sent telegram TO
the postmaster Of Morton. Of course
the message was an inquiry regarding
Ruth. Put his conclusions Of the morn
Ing were confirmed by the answering
wire. sent collect Ruth Hampton and
mother left Morton last October.
Whereabouts unknown" And ii was
now April, After some time spent in
gloomy pensiveness he reused himself.
Robert Peters was not backboneleSs
and given {" incoming. Frequently. 10
he sure. he thought and wondered
about Ruth; but "the world Is full of
a number of things"-and wise men
keep busy. Robert was wise. hence
oblivious. and not troubled by sleep
less nights.
Clean-minded, red-bIooded. energetic.
Robert grew daily more alive to his
countTy's needs. So by June he had
enlisted, since, so he said, 'the law
schools are yearly turning out hun
dreds Of young men as brilliant
and as capable as Further argu-
ments were lengthy, superfiuOus.
A few days before he was to leave
for camp he had his last case, a short
case, but rather difficult. There had
been trouble getting a lawyer for the
defense, SO Robert did not know who
was to play opposite him, who had the
prosecution.
/ The trial lasted three days. The
morning Of the second day Miss Ruth
Hampton, counsel for the defense, re-
reived fragment bouquet and a note
asking II Mr.. Robert Peters might call
that evening. OF course. for obvious
reasons overlooked In Mr.. Peters
taste. he might not" The morning Of
he third day history was repeated.
That night he called.
-