Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-26
CHAPTER XIII

DUTH knew Just as soon as she met
AS that look In scott's eyes that she
had gone too far She had been so angry
at what she had considered Scotts
thoughtlessness in bringing some one
home to dinner without letting her
know. that she had simply allowed her
own thoughts to show in her attitude,
without stopping to reason as to whether
or not she had cause for her anger.
Instantly she began to capitulate. II
Ruth had been married little bit longer
she might have clung to her rancor +;
now 1t was tragedy to feel that Scott
disapproved of her to the extent of look
ing at her calmly and dispassonately.
Never since he had come home from
France had her eyes met his with any
thing In them but love and happiness. A
momentary glance into her own heart
showed her intolerance. and instantly
she resolved to make the best Of things.
Therefore she allowed herself to thaw
out of her Icy manner. and when Gene
Mathews made clever remark she al
lowed herself to laugh outright. He
responded instantly. In his heart of
hearts he understood Ruth's attitude.
tractiveness he would have set her
down as commonplace. He had gone
home to dinner many times with other
of his friends and had met with the
Same cold aloofness as she had proffered.
but somehow he had expected Scott to
marry some one different. When he had
met Ruth the artist heart of him had
leaped at her warmth Of coloring, the
tawny hair, the great wide eyes set
rIrdar he lou 10 bn
ing mouth belied by the flrmness Of the
chin. She was lovely, more than just
pretty. and decidedly the girl for old
Scott, had been his first idea Then had
come Ruth's cold reception so typically
domestic, and his heart had dropped.
Now she was slowly warming up, he
felt sure. Perhaps his first quick esti-
mate of her had been too unfair. Her
conversation and her ideas of life will
quickly show her real self, he mentally
resolved, and beginning with a leading
question, he proceeded to lead her out.
He was a fascinating talker. They
talked of his own life and he laughed
as he told Ruth that he had no order of
procedure.
"I never know in the morning what
will happen to me before night" he con-
fessed.
1T must be fun" Ruth said involun-
tarily.
'"Do you think yuu would like it?
There's no element of safety in 1t. you
know. You must have the heart Of a
gypsy in order to enjoy 1t at ALL"
Ruth's heart. throbbed suddenly with
n twinge of remembrance, When Scott
had been in France he had written her
many letters and confessed to her many
times his love Of wanderlust. And then
she had dreamed of a life lived ex-
actly as he had wanted to live it. Mar
riage, even for so short a time, had
utterly changed her attitude. Why?
Its just impossible to live that way"
her thoughts ran on. zones life must
have law and order about it. I know J
shouldn't be happy living as this Gene
Mathews does" And yet almost in the
same thought his life did seem fascinat-
ing to her. 1t had SO many possibilities.
Could she ever be happy living that way
II she had to? OF course, there was no
possibility of such change for herself
and Scott, but suppose there happened
to be7
Gene Mathews had been telling Scott
an old studio experience and Scott was
laughing heartily. Ruth came out OF
her reverie to hear Scott inquiring:
You still have the old placer"
Where is the old placer" she asked.
Down on Fifteenth street" he re-
turned. You wouldn't like 1t at all
It's shabby and we haven't even a bath
room"
mo bathroom?" Ruth's tone was in
credulous.
But you ought to see his big studio
Scott interposed. And his skyllght.
Why, it's worth doing without a bath
room just to have that one big room.'
Ruth looked around the tiny dining
room and beyond to the small and
dainty living room and for the moment
was discontented. She had loved her
place, but Scotts attitude and this
strangers satisfaction in a place so ut
terly different made her feel somehow
as though her own apartment must
seem distressingy new and modern and
bourgoise to both men. She felt uncom-
Portable and then irritated. Wasn't
Scott happy here? He had seemed happy