Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-09
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CHE stood with her hands against
~ George Everctt's breast pushing him
away from her; now he dropped tho
arms that had gone out to draw her
close to him in pity for the terror writ
ten all over her face.
1T was Rcatrice," she gasped.
What of it," he asked reassuring-
ly.
'You know what she'll Think
"Tet her think
"Oh, how can you be so careless
about it when it matters 50 much? She
will think | stole out here to meet you.
She saw us standing that way. Oh -
And she buried her face in her hands.
Again George Everetts arms went
out, but this time Ruth evaded them,
sprang into the house and fled down the
corridor to her room.
She opened the door noiselessly and
was about to close it after her when
she saw the door just across the hall.
Wnlcn nuu cNluthtIS peNh "j"i'
suddenly. 1t would not have been no
ticed if Ruth's eyes had not strained
after it in the darkness. If she had
! held out any hopes that the white robed
figure she had seen staring out at the
balcony a few minutes before might not
have been Beatrice they were gone
| now.
She slipped out of her coat and flung
! it on a chair. and then. fearful that
Scott might think it strange that her
! long coat should be out she CROPPED her
way over to it in the darkness and
| carried it into the closet. She stood
for a minute at the open window. and
then suddenly flung her arms out to the
darkness.
ooh, what a tangle it all is" she
! breathed, half aloud. She stood still
minute looking out; then she went
softly over to the bed, undressed and
slid in. She shook and trembled when
Scott spoke to her.
Ruth
ooh, you frightened me. I thought
you were asleep"
Where have you been?'
Il COulQn steep, 30 slole ouI u
the balcony for some air"
She lay there beside him waiting for
another question. Her heart whispered
that perhaps he would explain. that be-
fore they slept perhaps the tangled thing
might be put right, but he said nothing
more and soon his regular breathing
told Ruth that he was asleep. To a
woman it always seems the strangest
and most callous thing in the world
when a man is able to sleep after a mu
tual misunderstanding while she lies
awake and agonizes over it. Never
theless, it is nearly always so.
Ruth lay awake looking out at the
stars for long time. When she
finally slept. it was with the sleep of
utter exhaustion, and she did not awake
at the usual time next morning. Scott
had gone downstairs without her and
she hurried through her dressing
Something told her that she ought to
be downstairs so as to refute anything
that Beatrice might say. If only Bea :
trice would say nothing, the whole
thing would pass over. but Ruth did
not hope for such luck as that. She
/
her because she had firteG with George
Everett when Grace Lovett had cOnsid
cred him her own especial property.
At the breakfast table every one
greeted her as usual. Thus far every =
thing seemed to be all right and she
avoided SCOTS eyes and slipped into
her seat. The conversation took its
, usual course. what they were going to
!, do today. whether or not it would rain,
lust the casual things exchanged be-
) tween guests. Suddenly Beatrice looked
!, full at Ruth as Mr.. Moore said some
thing about not having slept well.
: II don't think Mrs. Raymond slept
WE'LL" she remarked.
l Ruth felt her cheeks fame.
: "Iow's that?" came Mr.. Moore.
voice. "Why she's blushing." Hi,
, voice was amused. What have you
been up to, young lady?"
Beatrice had fixed her cruel young
owes on George Everett who was alsC
: visibly embarrassed.
t "perhaps George can tell us some
thing about it," she observed coolIy.
| Rnth's innocent little visit to tn,
a balcony began to take on sinister
=. Iook Beatrice would never believe tha
Ruth and George had met there acci
! dentally, never in the world, and fo
5 tbot matter neither would any of tn
0 others. She wondered what Scott wouI,
n think. what he was thinking now.
ibe believed this of her, 1t would throw