Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-26
A Maid and TUO Men
The Story of the Girl Who Vas Left Behind
By HAZEL DEYO BATCHELOR
Copyright. 1918, bu Public Lcd0er Co.

Ruth would probably remember all her
life that moment after the doctor had
gone when she crept into her mothers
room and stood gazing at the white
face on the pillow. There were several
things that Ruth noticed particularly
as she stood and looked down at her
mother, little things that had nothing
TO do with the momentousness Of the oc-
casion. The fact that Martha had not
pulled the outside lace spread down. the
profusion of smoked pearl hairpins that
her mother had affected. strewn over the
mahogany dresser. and the untidiness OF
her mothers clothes. which had beer,
thrown carelessy on chair. All OF
this Ruth noticed before she crept close
10 the bed and sat down in the big
chair that Doctor Bradley had occupied
| just few minutes ago.
Mother. dear" she whispered. her
hot tears wetting the pillow as she ben,
over it. Mother. dear, only get well,
and I'll do anything
A long time Ruth sat there and
waited over an hour She crainped her
muscles and forced herself to sit mo-
tionless in the chair, when suddenly
her mothers eyes unclosed and she
! looked up at Ruth dazedly.
Instantly Ruth slipped TO her knees
You feel better, dear?'
u
turbed look came into her eyes. "Oh. :.
she walled, like a child, ~ remember
now, you were going to sell your lovely
trousseau. the pretty things l bought
fer you. Oh, Ruth
But I'm not going TO do it, mother
| promise you l won't"
You're not going TO do il 2"
mo, dear, we'll keep everything: just
get well, and forget this headache al =
you'll see how happy I'll make YOU"
And you won't leave me, Ruth
ever?"
'"NO, mother, dear. never"
Mrs Rowland held her daughters
warm young hand in her own reassur :
ingly. ''Of course / don't mean that
don't expect you to marry" she went on.
But I was SO afraid that you would in.
sist upon going to France"
"Of course not, mother" Ruth re-
turned. repressing sigh. In very truth
she had thought of doing that very
thing. She had thought that perhaps
her mother would see things differently
after a time and that 1t might not be
hard TO persuade her. but she was quite
sure now that such a hope was .out OF
the question.
I'm SO tired" her mother said, turn
ing on the pillow, and smiling up M
Ruth weakly. II think I'll 20 10 sleep
now"
''Is your head better:"
Mrs. Rowland nodded, and as Ruth
bent over her, her eyelids slowly closed
and in u few minutes she was In deep
sleep.
And Mrs. Rowland was much better
when she woke up, and continued to i'm
prove every day under Ruths care.
Ruth gave up her work down town tenn
porarily and then discovered that it
would be impossible to 30 back to 1t at
ALL The first morning when she hap
pened to make mention OF 1t at the
breakfast table her mother put her on
with an excuse.
why, you promised to SO down town
with me this morning to match that
WOOL
Let me get it for you on the way
home. won't you?"
"Oh, no, want to select it myself"
But you really don't need me-
mother"
Il should. like your advice. don't YOU
want to go?" This last was asked
wistfully.
That's splendid then, and we can
stop for lunch at that new pastry
shop"
Ruth saw that her mother was goina
to give her no time at all. and gave In
with no more words on the subject.
The same tentative bandying back and
forth of words touk place the next day
and Ruth saw that her mother wat
going TO take advantage OF her in every
way. Either ahe would have TO give
up entirely the work she had enjoyed
SO much and that Just as she had been
making splendid headway. or else she
would have to 70 with her mother to the
meetings of the different clubs anu
help in the conventional manner. She
simply could not believe that life would
demand such a sacrifice as that from!
her. Surely. surely something would
happen soon that would open her
mothers eyes and show the way out
of this difficulty.