The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-08-24


picture IF perpleXity. 'Thunder" ne
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?"
1T all depends on how well you !
know her."
"Humph! II I tell YOU all about it, |
will you help me with this matter OF
etiquette?'
agreed" And Mary Borden lis
tened.
well Ruth Hampton and grew up
together She was good pal ana
eyervbodv's friend; she appealed to
me because she had intellect and good
nature. | always have liked girls VINO
can really do something.
"Then after both mother and dad
wcre-sone, Ruth and her mother were
like sister and mother to me. SO when
/ took up law, 1t was with Ruth that
I Sunderland / do believe she could
have passed the bar exams when did'
Ind she been so minded. There was
mover ANYTHING more than sincere
friendship between US, 50 l have had
no ties to draw me back to Morton DUR
ing these busy years here in New YORK
it has been nearly three" lie hest
tatnd hut Mary BOrden'S twenty years
IN the business world had nodded her
svmpathetic nature into character bE
which harried men were ever inspired
to confidence.
"R,t." he continued, although was
fast fni letting Ruth, she was Vlvldiy
brought to mind this morning. Whlle
reading my newspaper | CHANGED on
q picture of her, and the announcement
Of her engagement. The picture doeSn I
look like the Ruth l used to know, but
! time, | suppose, does effect changes.
Now, Miss Borden, the really funny
part of my tale Is this: feel actually
| angry that Ruth has become engaged,
and I've concluded that I'm what you
might call, Neutrality-suspicious.! AND
thanks, awfully, but I've just decided
that I'll not write her at all-She didn't
send me personal announcement.
"Rut is it reasonable to expect that
of her? Do you write to her? Does
she know where you are?"
Peters flushed. "Well," he grinned'
"you've got me In corner. believe
It has been some eight or ten months
since 1 last wrote"
"May I see that paper. please"
BORDEN
busted herself some minutes in the
reading of the article in question. She
started to read it again. At sudden
exclamation from her Robert LOOKED
at her inQuiringly.
"Where did you say you used te
live?"
Morton, KY"
| "But. look, this notice reads. Miss
Ruth Hampton Of Berkeley, Call SO i
can't be your Ruth
Robert snatched the paper eagerl!
from her and for long time STUDIED
the cut. mo" he said at length
"there can't possibly Be two RutI
Hamptons who look sufficiently alik'
to be sisters.
"There has been time enough 70
them to have travelled clear around tn
world. for all my knowledge of Rutl
and her mother; so without doub
the simple truth is that they have gon
to California to live"
He sat a while in troubled silence
and at last tried to fix his attention o.
some briefs. It was useless. His min
wandered cOntinually;s and he aSke
himself over and over "Why do l care
why do care?" There could be bu
one answer!
AZ noon he lunched absent-mindedl!
Before returning he visited a Wester
Union office and sent a telegram I
tho postmaster of Morton. OF cOurS
the message was an inquiry reGardln
Ruth. But his conclusions of the mnrI
ing were confirmed by the ansWerin
wire sent collect Ruth Hampton an
mother left Morton last Octobe
Whereabouts unknown" And IL wa
now April. After some time spent
gloomy pensivencss he reused hllnsei
Robert Peters was not backboneies
and given to incoming. Frequently,
be sure, he thought and wondere
about Ruth; but ''the world is full
number of things'-and wise me
keep busy. Robert was wise, hen'
oblivious, and not troubled by slice
less nights.
Clean-minded, red-bloOdcd, energeti
Robert grew daily more alive to h
country's needs. SO by June he hs
enlisted, since, so he said, the la
schools are yearly turning out hu
dreds of young men as briilla
and as capable as T-further arg
ments were lengthy, supertluouS.
A few days before he was to lea
for camp he had his last case, sho
case. but rather difficult. There II;
been trouble getting lawyer for t
defense, 50 Robert did not know W
was to play opposite him, who had t
prosecution.
. The trial lasted three days. 7
D morning of the second day Miss Eu
. HAMPTON. counsel for the defense,
cejyed a fragment bouquet and NJ
asking if Mr. Robert Peters might G
[ that evening OF course, for obvi"
IL.