Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-10-19
By JANE PHELPS

!, "No-Beckly is neither common nor
vulgar really. Part of it is q pose, and
some of it habit. No--you dom under
stand his sort, Ruth. But he isn't bad
fellow"
"He may not be bad fellow. but /
shall not have him here again. His ia
miliarity is disgusting to me. i never
want to see him again. Did you hear
him hint to be asked again9p
"Yes. He's pretty hard up, and a
good dinner ism to be despised when
one is in that condition. 1t WAS a good
dinner Ruth. And they both enjoyed
lit"
elm glad if you were pleased.'
Ruth did not quite realize it, but had
she acted pleased to have Claude Beck
ly call her Ruth Brian would have
resented it and have been jealous. But
the fact that she did resent it--that
she showed her dislike for Becky so
plainly, made Brian feel that he could
safely have Becky around when he
was with Mollie. He had been most cir
cumspeet all the evening. Molle had
taken .her cue from him, and not a
word or look had passed between them
that could possibly have been constru-
ed to mean intimacy.
"Of course no one would believe that
1 cared anything for Mollie--that is,
in any way l ought not" Brian had
thought, "but Ruth might imagine
things because l have taken Mollie out
several times, so will be careful"
Ruth, knowing nothing of what was
passing in Brian's mind, was convinced
that she had been uselessly jealous.
"Bfian was lonely' she thought.
"He only took her out for company,
not because he cared particularly for
her. and she hugged this idea because
lit eased her mind.
When Ruth looked at her one letter,
the next morning, at breakfast, she gave
little squeal of delight.
ooh, Brian, Rachel is coming She
leaves day after tomorrow. am so
glad" Tears of joy came into her
eyes.
'tHave you told Crawford9"
ooh, yes, she understands. She has
known ever since she has been with
us that as soon as Rachel could come,
she was to go. She is going with Mrs.
Curtis"
'sUm--hope she won't blab all she
knows about us. !"
''Why there's nothing to tell, Brian.
We don't quarrel, nor gossip about
people. What else is there she could say
that you would care about9"
'sOh, she might talk about how hard
up we were when she first came to us
before you got your job" the sarcas-
tic tone creeping into his voice as it
always did when he spoke of Ruth $
work.
"Nonsensel You can't understand
what having Rachel means to me, Brian.
She has been with me even since | was
tiny girl, had entire care of me. 1t
is like having mother come to me.v
"Perhaps she will be discontented.
She II find New York flat very diff
ferent from Mrs. Clayborne's planta-
tion, and being the only servant also
some change from house where there
are SO many"
Brian could not explain the feeling
he had about Rachel Yet he wished
she were not coming. Her eyes were very
sharp. She idolized Ruth, as he knew.
He would feel she was watching him.
making sure he was doing all he could
to make Ruth happy. Not that he was
MT, but he didn t like the idea of crit
icism, especially from servant.
''Oh, she II be happy with mel Ruth
replied. Nothing could make her sad
now that Rachel was surely coming.
II hope so! 1t would be too bad to
lose Crawford and then have Rachel
want to 60 back. "
(Monday--Ruth Hopes Kenyon Roberts
Will Influence Brian for His Good.
!