Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-12

DUTH and Natalie eventually left,
~ Croft's, but not before Ruth had
virtually pledged herself to return and
look again at the s95 suit. At the last
minute she remembered to tell the
naughty saleswoman that site would like
her husband to see it before she actu-
ally bought it.
Shall l put it aside for YOU? the
saIeswoman had asked Craftily.
Ruth flushed.
mo, | don't think SO, because ! am
not sure just when We shall be able TO
come in
And it was thus that she finally es-
capped, followed by Natalie.
Il don't believe you really wanted a
suit" Natalie said as they went down
in the elevator. Ruth fancied that she
detected "A mean little tinge in Natalie's
voice. Not for the world would she
have had Natalie suspect the real state
Of affairs and so she laughed uneN-
pectedy and agreed with her. ITO tell
YOU the truth, I don't know whether TO
get a gray or blue" she said. And
after | saw the gray ! thought 1t too
light"
Natalie responded instantly she was
too volatile to do otherwise. She really
wasn't deep enough to credit amy one
with secret IDEAS on any subject. Ruth
took advantage of this good humor on
Natalie's part and hastcned to say:
But | must have hat, and do
know just what l want"
And so they went into the hat de-
nartment and Ruth had hat after hat
tried on her tawny head and finally
bought one, a fascinating thing, neither
too large nor too small, the kind that
crushed down over one eye ana LETT nan
of the other exposed. IL was made OF
soft black straw and had fruit punched
up at the front. 1t cost twenty-five
fifty. 4
Then the two girls went to lunch alf
Natalie insisted upon paying the bin
after which she went home TO the Wv
apartment uptown. but not before Nata-
| lie had told her that she had Two teas
on for that afternoon
I'm going TO wear different dress
at each" she informed Ruth childishly
"and then I'm going to dinner with
Jack" she added shyly You used to
know him very we'll, didn't you?" she
| asked naively, looking up at Ruth viii
/ big blue eyes y
A sudden understanding pierced
through Ruth Was this child stu Jeal
Gus of something she CRuth) had nae
first? Had it been for that reason ina
she had invited Ruth to her engagement
announcement, and had taken the mrs
stem in the beginning of friendship
between them?
Ruth smiled into Natalie's wide blu'
ewes lust before they parted. Yes,
knew Jack very we'll" she said, wthou
malice "Some time when you come up tC
see me I'll tell you all about it. How
that"
Natalie's whole charming little fac
frightened. Evidently this was wha
she had most wanted and had beel
afraid to suggest herself. Ruth had
warm. enthusiastic feeling of respons
I'm her heart Perhaps, after all, sh
had misjudged Natalie, and yet WASH
It more likely to be true that II wa
not because Natalie cared so much 10
Jack as it was because her pride SUI
fered at having so many people kno'
how awfully he had been in love wit
Ruth Rowland at one time? She CAV
Natalie the benefit of the doubt, how
ever, and hoped for the best.
Once at home Ruth undid the strin
, that fastened her package and let I'll
= yellow crepe nightgown fall out OF II
wrapper. 1t was even loveli6r than
J had been in the store, and yet whe
Ruth put it away with the faded pin
and blue things ii hurt worse than
she hadn't anything new at all.
= She had charged the new hat on he
. mothers bill at Crofts. She kne'
quite well that Scott would be furiou
II he knew this, and she herself wa
fair enough to understand any feelin
he might have. 1t was Scotts idea
pay his own bills and those Of his wifi
, Even IL he weren't business man. Rut
knew that he would be adamant on an
, question that involved the borrowing {
money She was little bit ashame
! OF herself for being SO weak. for beln
afraid OF Natalie's opinion to the y,
tent of buying that hat Perhars soo