The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-05

possessed but one pair of shoes. Then
she was bluffing. too. No doubt she
too had been spending her extravagant
two weeks vacation the same way that
he had. That was only a possibility,
still it gave Nathaniel courage and ne
peered out of the side of his magazine.
But Ruth, tho she peered over at
him when he was not looking, refused
to let her eyes to meet his. This
Nathaniel felt sure was because she
had written to her. Well, that was
but natural, especially if she had really
cared for MIN. So when his shoes was
repaired he tied them on and left the
shop and Ruth, determined to write
to her that very evening asking per-
mission to come at once to see her.
1t might be even that she worked
as stenographer or something in his
plant" Perhaps she was daily under
the same roof. For there were thous-
ands of employees there whom he did
not know.
He walked along convincing himself
that this was true until after walking
toward his lodging house for two or
three blocks he felt distinctly conscious
that some one was following a few
PAGES behind him. He glanced over
his shoulder, saw it was Ruth and
then turned abruptly about and faced
her.
KUN, ne SulQ, ana
tho somewhat surprised, said Hello,
Nathaniel" just as they had greeted
each other on the beach during
those wonderful two weeks of vacation.
II followed you," said Ruth, be
cause 1 realize that you must live in
Burtontown and I at least wanted to
know where. I didn't think you would
turn and catch me-
NOW you know" said Nathaniel
eager first of all to explain himself
you know why L didn't write to you.
i thought you had all sorts of money
you know, and-well, 1 had put up a
bluff there at the shore, and l knew
poor fellow like me couldn't marry
you because you see /. thought you
had all sorts of money"
Marry YOU" echoed Ruth, with a
funny little grimace. 80 you wanted
to marry me?"
Wanted to-" argued Nathaniel
you know did. Only of course when
1 was thinking you had all sorts OF
money l couldn't think of it. Really
IT never occurred tome till saw you
there getting your shoes heeIed that
awfully rich. Pretty good joke all
around, Ell? I suppose you took me
for young bondholder, too"
Would it make so much differ
ence?" faltered Ruth as they walked
on thru the main street of Burton
tOWIAs L VI SSS"Well, 1dIHSF owns
the majority stock of the plant, and
well, I'm his only daughter, but he
has told me could marry just who
ever pleased so long as 1 loved him
He married for love, and he wants
me to. too. And truly I love you
Nat, dear. When I saw you this morn
ing I just left the car and told the
chauffeur to go back home, and ]
| trailed you to the shoe shop and got
the strings just to be sure it was you
And Twas afraid, you'd feel silly and
self-conscious sitting there in the old
slippers, so 1 made an excuse to sit
there too, in the other slippers, sc
| you wouldn't mind. And it was sc
funny just wanted to laugh out loud
And you wouldn't speak to me, sc
then 4 got little peeved at first. and
then 1 thought maybe it was because
| you were SO fused, SO I decided
| wouldn't speak to you, either-so as
| to spare your embarrassment. But
! followed you, as soon as 1 could get
my shoes on"
And 1t was remarkably how readily
| after that Nathaniers rare ability was
I discovered at the plant. His SALARY
took a sudden leap upward, and
mother and the girls down state never
guessed that Ruth had anything to
| do with it.
ICopyright, 1919. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)