Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-14
CHAPTER Ill

! hFTERWARp, there were things said.
| "A and her mother cried, Ruth rcmem
bcrcd This fact seemed strange until
Ruth stopped to- think why and then it
seemed to fit in beautifully with her
mothers character.
BouLy stared at Ruth soemnly, ard
Ruth bent down and kissed him impul-
siv"ly. You needn't look at me that
way, you little owl" che remarked, I'm
not changed any"
But Bobby continued to stare as
though to deny the fact that she vas
not changed. and Ruth wondered after
ward If his accusing eyes were not right
in their dcnuncation. Hadn't she
changed? Wasn't she different:
Nlrs. Raymond kissed Ruth briskly in
her efficient way but when she turned
to Scott, Ruth noticed that her eyes
wcru wet and her manner much more
appealing. Since that moment When
they had knelt together Ruth had no:
looked at Scott. She remembered pug
nantly his kiss as he had caught her
close to him. II vase proprietary kiss
as much as to say, "Wcll, we are married
now you belong to mI " And Ruth had
mot 1t in the same way with cool lips
and not great deal Of response. II
waS always hard for her TO steel herself
, against responding to SCOTS kisses. his
lips were as iuSiStCnt and as hot IN their
demand as her own were to give him
what he asked, and they were quick to
notice the motive of his kisses, too. She
know that his thoughts we're far away
/ when he kissed her, and she resented
| the fact that his thoughts could be re-
| mote even white she was aware that Eer
| own thoughts had not been on tho Ccre-
/ mony any time that the minister had
/ been talking.
What did You say your uarrw waS?"
| observed the old minister. looking up
at her over his glasses and repeating the
little timc-wOrn joke that he had prob
ably us Il at weddings ever since ne had
first ofliratcd.
Ruth FndIay Rowland" Ruth re-
spondcd, promptly walking into the
trap
"Oh, Thought it WAS Raymond" he
| remarked dryIy. much TO tho amusement
| of tho rest Of th" party. and Ruth with
little start realized that he was right.
| Her name was Raymond. How strange
everything was Why wasn't she able
to laugh with the othcrG?
Then he signed tic paper with stiff
old fingers ana handed it to Ruth to
keep. Ilelpiessly she handed It to Scott
who put ii away in his pocket.
Then they all went ont of tho chapel
and into tho street. and all that Ruth
remembered attcrward was the scent Of
| white roses and lilies Of the vallcy,which
! she carried on her arm. a child shouted
as Scott hurried her to the waiting taxi,
| and another answered the shout. Sew
| oral children were standing in wait 10
see the bride and bridegroom, but Ruth
| did not notice them. Then she was alone
| with Scott for a few minutes as they
went homo for the wedding supper.
! Ruth kept wondering vaguely il things
| wouldn't have been better without amy
! one at the wedding, then Scott was
| drawing her into his arms and for u
! time SHE forgot everything. but his near
| ness.
Even then, however, when they were
! in the taxi and alone for the first time
with their new relationship, SCOTS at
! titudc remained the same. lie had
drawn Ruth into his arms. and she. lay
| there against his shoulder with her eyes
| half closed Tho sCcut of valley liiieS
| filled the taxi with sweetness. and Ruth,
| thoroughly in love with a man VINO iiau
| awakened every bit Of emotion there
was in her, could not understand why
| lie simply held her there against hlth'
| supporting her, instead of crushing het
| close, Finally she drew icrScll away,
and instantly Scott turned toward her
what is ii, dearest" he asked quick
| ly.
You seem SO strange she returned,
! looking at him with level eyes 10 YOU
know you haven't been like yourself
| since | met you today?"
Haven't l?' he qucried. looking into
| her eyes with that look in his own that
| she had grown to love, that sudden,
| leaping flame to which she always gave
! instant surrender. And then she was
| in his arms and Scott WAS whispering
things into her ear just as she had
thought he would tht instant they were
alone together.
Il wish ! could have had you as Jim
mad Helen" lie said finally. without
any of this fuss, just you and | flying
off together aud getting married. DO
you remember the way they did it?'
"Why, | Was there, you know" Ruth
returned. remembering suddenly AID
flushing deeply. Jack and I were the
only ones vino saw the wedding" she