Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-09-21

idea. Why should she do things that
were disagreeablc and so save thirty
or forty dollars month (Which a ser
want cost thom), when she could 40
something she really loved to do and
earn forty weeks There was no ar
gument at all that she could see.
No, if Brian were foolish enough to
be hurt, why he would have to be.
for while, until he became more reas-
enable. He would come around after
a while, just as he had about the NOV
ing. When he had seen that it was
feasible, he had been very nice about
it. She never dreamed that he had
consented simply and solely because Of
her remark that it would give HIM a
better standing. She had thought it
might have some weight of course; but
that he would have absolutely refused
to move had she not put it upon that
score, she had no idea.
The dinner was to be at seven o.
clock. Ruth took particular pains with
her dressing, and she looked very chic
and lovely. She wore a dark blue chif-
fon with a girdlc and trimming of
Oriental-l looking stuff, with slippers
and stockings Of the same shade as her
dress. She also, at the last minute,
slipped her pearls around her neck,
She had not intended to wear them, but
she would look her very best because
pretty Mollie King was to be there
She had wished, while dressing, that it
had been a very formal affair So she
could have worn one of her lovely din
ncr dresses She had scarcely worn
them at all, she thought regretfully
They would be out of style soon.
my, but you look nieel" Brian had
said impulsively when she joined him
"That's a stunning dress"
Ruth was so pleased at the compii
ment that she forgot all about Mollf.
King, that she had really dressed tC
outshinc her; but intrigued herself that
she had made herself attractive simply
for Brian.
~ am so glad you think I look nice
The Curtises are your friends and ]
should hate to have them call me 9
trump"
"No one could ever say that about
you" Then, a thought striking hin
for the first time, he asked: CHOW
much did that dress cost?"
"Aunt Louisa paid two hundred dol
lars for it. OF course that did not in
elude the slippers and stockings "
Open-mouthed, Brian stared at her
Tn all the months they had been mar
ried the cost of her clothes never hat
been mentioned. He had not the slight
est idea Of the cost Of such clothes al
Ruth wore. He had asked the question
now only from impulse.
IT'S lovely, isn't it?" Ruth won
on, "Aunt Louisa bought it at thu
same shop she has bought her owl
clothes for years. The one where mos
of my trousscau dresses were made
" And did the rest cost as much?
! "Why-yes, most of them. Somt
more. Why?" Ruth never talked o.
clothes.
How in the world are you goinl
to set any more when they wear out
Any more Of that kind I mean." "
Ruth laughed heartily at his fright
! ened expression.
J "Oh, | guess wen manage to ge
them someway."
q" Not that kind, Ruth" he said So
berly, "I never dreamed women
clothes cost so much" Then, his fac
lighting, "You must find out whef
Mollie gets her clothes. She alwav
looks pretty and she has scarcely an
, money. viii you need any soon?'
He happened to think that she had sal
!, nothing about new clothes to him. an
she hadn't been working long enoug
: to do very much about replenishing he
wardrobe.
No, not very soon," she replied
But all the way to the dinner she wa
strangely quiet. Brian had known ne
thing about her clothes, their cost etc
, and she was his wife, How was
! ne was so well posted about Molli
Kings affairs. How did he know tba
Moliie had scarcely any money. The
her lip curled. The idea that she woul
wear the cheap sort of things Oil
IKE Mollie King would wearl It wa
ridiculous. :"
Sometimes Ruth forgot that she wa
no longer being supported by her ann-
Iomorrow-Ruth Overhears Bria
Tell Mollic King Things Which An
lnoy Her. -