Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-09-23


could do for her.
Mrs. Curtis welcomed them warmly.
Scarcely had Ruth laid aside her wraps
before Mollie and young man appear
ed. He was the sort of man Mollie af-
fected, and Ruth had never known.
Why didn't he get his hear eut3"
Ruth wondered when they were intro
dueed; that it was part of pose she
had no way knowing, as men of Claude
Beekley's character rather his kind,
were unknown to her.
He was an artist, Mrs. Cutris had ex-
planned. And he, like Mollie King, lived
in that delightful place known as "The
Village, y where NOSE of the artists and
writer's eongregated, and she added:
F" Your HUSBAND used to spend most
of his time down there, as 1 know you
are aware. A charming place. / Just
love to 60 down there and dine. Altho
Mr.. Curtis says it is not dining-that
it's just eating. But he always will
have his joke"
Ruth had been furtively watching
Claude Beekley while Mrs. Curtis talk,
ed. She concluded that she didn't like
him. His manners were too free and
easy, and he didn I look, well-efean
His tie was greasy and he wan in such
contrast to the few men she knew
Brian, Mr.. Mandel, and those she had
met in her new business relation-that
she felt uncormfortably conscious OF it
when she tried to tolk to him.
Mollie King was in gay mood, and
altho her dress was just cheap vote,
costing perhaps ten dollars, Ruth had to
afmi' that size looked very sweet, s,d
that she was very well groomed, if her
escort was not. But then she recalled
that Mrs. Curtis had told her that Mol.
lie was different; that she liked her
better than any of the Bohemian class
to which she-Molie- beloneed.
The dinner was a very gay one. II
seemed to Ruth that every one talked
at once. Especially Claude l..-.lev.
Ruth was seated between him and Mr.
Wlls' and she could scarcely get a
word with her host, for whom She had
taken quite a liking. Then. too. Mr..
Beckley talked SO loud that. listen as
closely as she could, she missed what,
hnan and Mollie King were talking
about Brian sat between Mollie and
Mrs; Curtis, and as the hostess was bu-
sy looking after the comfort of bor
quests, it gave Brian the opportunity
to be confidential with Mollie. All
last he looked confidential
She had to confess that Mr.. Beckley
mad a certain ability in conversation.
lie seemed to have a superficial kno v.
Ledge OF almost any subject. Occas.
sionally he would say something which
might have interested her had she not
Denn listening so closely to catch wha,
Brian was saying.
a haven't had such a good time in
a year," she heard Mollie declare wifi
emphasis. Ruth wondered if il was
reference to the dinners she had shared
with Brian when she was in Philadel,
pbla.
Neither have II 1t was like old
times, Brian had lowered his voice.
but either because his mouth was full /
OF Tor some other reason, Becklev had
stopped talking for a moment. and Rutb
heard her husbands reply distinctly. /
she was shocked. Why, they hadn I
been married quite year vet. And !
brlan was telling another woman that
he baG had a better time with her than
he had had with his own wife in al
tho time they had been married or
course hesdidn t mean It'll He was only
ioking to be polite and had spoken ex.
tfavagcntly. Butt hurt, Just the
same. 0' 'i'0
All through the remainder of the din.
nor Ruth was so quiet that Mr. Curtis
asked her If she were i'll, and Mrs. Cur.
us gave her a sharp look, while coming
70 her help by declaring that no one
mad chance to get in word edgo.
vase when Claude Beckley was around
- d ask you oftenen, Claude.V she
'ald IN bantering way, 'eif YOU were.
NJ such a molopolist y
II promise not to say another word
7 llackett win stop making love ro
n Mollie. That's fair, isn't it. Mrs.
HaekettqV ~ -1''
"of course it isl" answerer Ruth. ,
her checks flushing at the innoeuons
youth s idea Of a pleasantly. fHo
should be ashamed of himself, ;, she ad.
ied With an effort to hide her embar.
3i lssment under the light persiflage in
winch 6er neighbor seemed past mas.
ter, and to which she was such q stran.
,Vr.
After dinner they were to dance. |
,Just SIX Of us and victrolla,'' Mrs
curtis had laughlingly remarked. oil
curse Brian would dance first with her
Ruth thought. But Brian immedia+elv
commenced to dance with Mollie. and
Ruth accepted the arm of her host.
Tomorrow-Ruth explains that Brian
nos not YET bought any clothes for her