Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-12-22
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER Ill.
Copyright, 1919, Star Syndicate,
Inc.)

(COpyrlgnt, 1918, Star SyHulcdlet
Inc.)
Mrs. Courtney was seated in her
own room, reading an interesting
novel. She did not look up as Ruth
entered, but finished the paragraph
on which she was intent
Ruth was accustomed to her
mothers. absorption in novels. Mrs.
Courtney had a romance-loving ma
ture and swelled in light fiction.
So the girl waited until her par
ent was ready to speak. And, as
she waited, she looked thought
fully at the calm face and delicate
features of the reader.
Mrs. Courtney had been a widow
for many years. She often said
that she had never put on colors
and never would. Soft grays and
various shades of purple were not
classed as "colors" and were. most
becoming to the wearer suiting
her calm face and silvery hair.
We'll, my dear" she said at last,
drawing long breath as she
looked up from her book, did you
| tapping the volume; lis certainly
Fascinating story. I am sure you
would enjoy it-or, if you would
not, Doris would. She and 1 like
about the same things, you know"
Yes, L know" Ruth admitted
gently. What 1 came up to tell
you, mother, is that Hugh Rodney
is downstairs. He wants to see
you"
Mrs. Courtney regarded her
daughter with quickened interest.
He wants to see me, you say,
Ruth? oh, my dear-is-it-what
does he
| She paused, as if expecting a re-
ply to her unspoken question.
IT think" Ruth suggested, that
he would rather tell you himself,
mother dear"
An eager light sprang to the mat
ron's eyes. She loved her chill
dren-and Doris was her darling
yet what mother does not long to
see her daughter happily married?
II will go right down." she said,
patting her soft gray hair with both
hands and glancing hurriedly into
her mirror. Are you coming too,
dear?"
Ruth Sits Alone.
Ruth shook her head. mo,
mother-it was you Hugh wanted
to see,-not me-"
She doubted if. the agitated pa
rent heard her reply. Already she
was on her way through the hall
leading to the stairs.
| Left alone, Ruth stood irreso-
lutely. She picked up the book
her mother had laid down and
smiled as she saw the name of the
author. He was a great favorite
with Mrs. Courtney, who declared
that she understood entirely why
| the sale of his books was phenom-
email.
He writes lovely stories,-so
sweet and wholesome-and yet SO
| very interesting!" she often said.
Ruth thought idly now that it was
we'll this man was a prolific writer,
for he afforded so much delight to
a certain class of readers. For her
! self she had tried to peruse one of
| his novels, but had been sadly
| bored by it. This proved, her
mother had declared, that Ruth had
no romance in her nature.
The girl recalled this structure
now with a dull wonder that a pa
trent should know her child so little.
Yet, the daughter was forced to
admit she scarcely knew herself
| this evening, she had spoken the
truth when she had said that she
was glad for her sisters happiness.
! Then why did she have this vague
/ feeling of depression, as If a bit of
+ bad news had been impaired to her?
Was it warning of some impend-
, ing disaster
Sitting down in the chair her
mother had just left, she tried to
analyze her own feelings. She loved
Doris. Everybody loved her, she
! reflected, remembering how tender
was the tie between the mother and
/ her elder child. Love was Doriss
right. Then, why was her sister
conscious of sense of deprivation
/ on learning that one more person
/ had succumbed to the girls charm?
| Was she so selfish that she could
not be happy in the prospect of her
| sisters marriage to man who
would love and cherish her?
No! Ruth was frank enough with
| herself to know that her depres-
sion was not caused by jealousy. OF
course, it would be lonely in the
home when Doris was gone, but
that loneliness would he harder for
! the mother than for the sister.
There was a much closer intimacy
and mutual understanding between
Mrs. Courtney and Doris than be-
tween the mother and her younger
child.
A Bitter Truth.
Ruth always had stood somewhat
alone. She remembered she had
confessed this once to Hugh Rod
ney. He had seemed to compre-
hend, now that his own mother was
dead. He had said that Laura was
much dearer to her father than he
was, fond as the older Rodney was
of his son. He had added that
| fathers always loved their daughters
better than their sons. He knew
! his father was proud of him and
depended upon him, but Laura was
his darling. Yes, Hugh had under
stood Ruth's loneliness.
Perhaps that was why Ruth had
| been able to talk herself out so
| frankly to Huph IN this a1hiaof of