Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-01-17
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By Jane Phelps.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
BRIAN RETURNs-woUNDED
CHAPTER CxXxIx.


During those days of waiting, day
that at times seemed endless because
of her desire to see Brian, and ther
seemed all too short for the prepara
tions she wanted to make for hlm, Rutf
was so restless, so absorbed in the one
great fact that her husband was coming
home, that even Mr.. 'Mandel could SEE
she was untitled for work, and told hei
to remain at home until after Brian
came.
"But can you spare me?" Ruth ask
cd
! 81 will; and you are not to worry
about the business. Things are very
quiet just now, well get along nice
! ly. And ''-he hesitated just moment
then held out his hand with smile and
said:
81 rejoice in your happiness. l know
of no one more deserving of it.
"Thank you," Ruth replied simply,
but the look. she gave him showed her
appreciation, more than her words.
Mrs. Clayborne was delighted that
Ruth was to remain at home until Bri-
an came. She had been fearful her
niece would become i'll, so excited and
nervous was she. They spent much time
out of doors, driving or walking in the
park. Gradually Ruth became less ex-
cited, more quietly happy. The wealth
er was unusually warm and the change
from her inside work at the shop was
beneficial in every way.
Naturally both she and her aunt had
seen the notice of belated casualty lists
in the papers, yet Ruth had no thought
that Brian might be wounded again.
He had written just a few days before
the armistice was signed, and had said
he was in splendid shape.
His ship was in. Ruth and her aunt
had gone down to meet it, and altho
they were not allowed to go very near,
they joined in the cheering, while try
ing to discntangle Brian's form from
the thousands swarming on the decks
and leaning over the rail.
Then came the news that he was
wounded and had been taken to base
hospital Ruth and her aunt immedi-
ately set about getting permission to
have him taken home where they could
nurse him.
On the very last day but one, of
the fighting, he had been again hit by
piece of shrapnel, this time injuring
his leg so badly it would be some time
before he would be able to use it, still
longer before he could discard crutches.
There was much red tape, as is a.
ways the case; but finally Brian was
home. Ruth and her aunt listened
while the soldier told them stories of
the war. Almost spell-bound were they
when he occasionally, in a modest way,
mentioned his own part in it. Ruth had
asked permission to remain away from
the shop until Brian was able to get
about, and Mandel had quietly and kind
ly told her to stay at home as long as
necessary, but not to desert him alto
gether. Ruth laughed ut the idea. Her
work was part of her life. A very big
part.
Kenyon and Claire Roberts, Mr.. and
Mrs. Curtiss, and other friends of Brian
were constant visitors, and interested
listeners to stories of the war told so
by the young lawyer. 1t was
quite different from reading the news
papers, this getting all the facts first,
hand.
Mr.. Mandel called one evening. He
congratulated Brian ON his advance
ment,w sab is most courteous, kindly
self. Yet Ruth breathed more freely
after he left Brian had met his ad-
vances stiffly. 1t had been the first
time he had shown any of the old re-
sentiment, and it made Ruth unhappy
for moment.
In those days of his convalescence
Brian and Ruth grew nearer together