Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-01
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CCoTT insisted upon taking Mrs. Row
~ land home, although she stiffiy said
that II wasn't necessary.
"Of course, It is" Ruth insisted.
"If Scott let's you wander around the
city alone 1t certainly is all right lot
me-" Mrs. Rowland said vindicuVeiy'
Nonsense, mother. you know 1t isn't
the same" Ruth said in matter OIL
fact manner that she was far from
feeling. She was very uncomfortaoie'
and in spite of the fact that she was
carrying things off as though nothlns
unusual had happened, she wouldn II
have given her mother chance OF TINS
kind for anything in the world. There
was no telling just where Mrs. Rowland
might tell of Il, not Intentionally, OF
course, but casually to some one or her
| friends. 1t would be so easy to say
something about Ruth's not being &C.
customed to denying herself things ana
the very thought of it made Ruth sick
to think of.
| When Scott returned Ruth was curied
lid in bed, a woody bath robe wrapped
about her. He came in and took her
in his arms, and waited for her TO
speak. Finally she did.
"Scott, aren't relatives awful?"
what makes you care so much about
it?"
Because 7 know mother and you
don't and hate to have her tell people
that we are so poor we don't nave
enough to eat"
ruth, that's foolish
90 Of course, she won't say 1t like
that. but she'll manage to suggest it,
you'll see
There was silence.
Finally, Scott"
"Yes, dear"
81 want to ask you something
what is it?"
How do you feel about women work.
ing?'
You know how ] feel
Married women 1 mean
Ruth, what are you thinking"
She twisted around to look up at him.
and the expression on his face made her
want to cry; it was stricken, shamed
Scott what is it?'
"You know what 1t is. I haven't
ried you've had to undergo some hu-
initiation because I don't mako more
money. I know you're not used to 1t
and | haven't forgotten how you fee
about women who work"
Scott was thinking of Ruth's scathins
words when Helen Townsend had an
nounced her intention of doing some
thing. In fact, every time the subjec
had been broached at all Ruth'sl atti
tude had been one of amused tolerance
You're thinking Of what l said
| aren't you?"
"Of course"
"But I've changed, dear; really
have. Do you suppose L could hav,
learned all the things I have and still
gone on with those old-fashioned ideas?'
Scott was silent.
, do you?"
"I don't know. Those things ar
either born in one or not. For instance
| / don't believe I could have acquired
r my own ideas about life. Ever sine
was a kid I've been different. l tol'
you how I used to quarrel with m.
sister, and it was all because l wasn'
conventional and didn't want to do tn
, usual things / can remember that sh
told mother once that / never wanted
: to do the things the other boys did. an,
it was true. I've always been differ
ent."
You're willing to have me work
aren't your
: Scott shook his head.
| why. Scott, surely you don't meal
| that"
Yes, do. If I'm not making enoug
I'll make more, but ] don't want you t
help"
| Then you don't look on me as
] companion" Ruth's tone was devil
dered; she hadn't dreamed that Scot
would object. To tell the truth she ha
thought to have a thrill in announG'n
;, the fact that she had made up he
II mind to work. Ruth, like all womeT