Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-25
And So They
We're Married
BY HAZEL DEYO BATCHELOR
Copyright, 1919, by Public Ledger co.
START THIS STORY TODAY


TIME next thing that Ruth heard
l. about Jane was even more like a
story than ever. Helen ran over to
Ruth's apartment one evening coming
in Just as Ruth and Scott we're finishing
dinner.
Helen looked white and tired and
very hot, and Ruth jumped up to make
her comfortable in a big chair in the
window with tall glass of iced tea
before her and small electric fan
turned on full tilt.
Sure you won't have anything to
nt?' Ruth queried.
Helen shook her head and regarded
Auth thoughtfully as she went back to
die table. After a moment she spoke.
''Do you know that you people more
= Gan any other married couple I know
aosc9 are strangely satistying?"
Ruth looked at Scott and laughed and
flushed. The memory of the visit at
the Moores was still with Ruth. She
could feel still all the old unrest that
he had felt then, the smouldering injus
sice of Scott's ready Indifference, the
eoolishness that might so well have been
&sagic il they had not loved each other
60 we'll. If Helen knew all of that she
might think differently about every
thing.
Perhaps Helen understood Ruth look
better than Ruth imagined she did, for
she said quickly.
"Oh, l don't mean that you are per
feet, and that you don't have plenty OF
y, adjustments and so forth, l simply mean
that you have worked out a scheme Of
living for yourselves and are happier on
the whole than any one else know"
Ruth met Scott's eyes across the table.
1t was true. In spite Of a great deal
that had happened, they were happy.
1mpulsively she reached hand across
and it was grasped and held tightly in
Scott's own. There was a moment S
silence, finally interrupted by Helen.
''But that wasn't all wanted to
say tonight" she said with a meaning
look at the hands. II came over to
tell you something that I am sure will
interest you Ruth, something about
Jane Knowles
"Talk to me while I clear the things
away, will you?" Ruth said jumping to
her feet. at won't take a second, and
just leave them for Ellen. No, you re
not going to help" as Helen struggled
to her feet, you've had a hard day
at the Office and so has Scott. But
tell me quickly about Jane, you know
how interested I am
well, James husband Is dead"
WHAT
yes Jane has had an official notice
from Washington. You see she hasn't
heard from him in ages, but then that
wasn't at all strange. She had no idea
where he was or whether he had been
injured or not, and in her own sweet
way which you will understand better
the longer you know Jane, she just
drifted not caring much, not thinking
about the future, just living from day
to day"
And he's dead?' asked Scott inter
cstedly.
''Yes, killed at Arras. His father
has known for some time, but he never
approved of Jane so he simply did MOI
tell her.
"And she's Free said Ruth softly
free to start all over again, to max,
something of her life. Isn't it splen
didF'
'If Jane only abides by her first mis-
take and learns her lesson from it, :
said Helen slowly. "Do you know,
looking at Scott. Ruth is a year olde
than I am, and yet she seems mucl
younger to me. She has the mos
visionary idea of life. Her head is VI
in the clouds most of the time
"And maybe it isn't hard living up t,
her IDEALS" said Scott, grinning across
at Ruth's face, which was a study q
that moment.
'For instance Helen interrupted
'I'll wager this minute that Ruth i
thinking me hard and entirely too criti
cal of Jane. Ruth sees only the ro
mantle part of her nature and none o
the defects in it,
"Why, what do you mean?'
"I mean that Jane has new chanc
to begin. She has a position that sh
has been trying to get for long time
with q good chance for improvement
She is free of her husband. If sh
wants to, she can make anything at al
of her life. Jane is charming, sh
is irresponsible, she is not deep, but sh
has a CHEEKY optimism that is a splen
did thing. Once l thought her suffer
ing had developed her, now l know /
hasn't Ruth simply sees the charm il
Jane, and does not look for deeper quail
tiles. Ruth doesn't see the danger
|s,gs ahead for Jane and little joy
"Of course, she's untidy and care
less" Ruth admitted but those ar
slight faults"
''Not IL they're ingrained thorough
into her nature. What wanted to tel
you, Ruth, was this. You can be
great help to Jane if you want to. Sh
admires you, and Jane is naturally yer
lovable. But she needs prodding, sh
needs constant criticism, and If yo
are going to do her any good you simpl
must not laugh at everything she say
as though she were lovely child. Jan
is a woman, with a woman's expert
ence and she has a baby"
ITnu.osrau yaua nv, tha .Ioh \