The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1919-06-06

that was the end Of their romance.
He did not even write to her, but
when 4 little later he went to Burton
town to work he was filed one mo-
ment with the fear that he might see
her by chance and then with regret
that he did not. But to have her see
him sitting there in the cobbler's car
pet slippers was agonizing. Then
came the light. She too had her shoes
repaired while she waited Then she
was bluffing, too. No doubt she too
weeks vacation the same way that
he had. That was only a possibility,
still 1t gave Nathaniel courage and he
peercd out of the side Of his mag
azine
But Ruth, though she peered over
at him when he was not looking, re-
fused to permit her eyes to meet his.
This Nathaniel felt sure was because
she had felt offended because he new
er had written to her Well, that was
but natural, especially if she had real
ly cared for him. So when his shoes
were repaired he put them on and
left the shop and Ruth, determined
to write to her that very evening ask
ing permission 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 thou
~ =
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 con-
scious that someone was following a
few PAGES behind him. He glanced
over his shoulder, saw it was Ruth
and then turned abruptly about and
faced her.
Hello, Ruth" he said, and Ruth.
though somewhat surprised said
Hello, Nathaniel" just as they had
greeted each other on the beach during
those wonderful two weeks of vaca-
ton.
II followed YOU" said Ruth, "be-
cause | realized that you must live In
Burtontown now and at least wanted
to know where. l did not 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, l had put up a
bluff there at the shore and / knew
a poor fellow like me couldn't marry
you because you see I thought you
had all sorts Of money"
Marry you" echoed Ruth with a
funny little grimace. So you wanted
to marry me?"
Wanted to-" argued Nathaniel, "you
know l did. Only of course when ]
was thinking you had all sorts Of mon
ey / couldn't think of it. Really II
never occurred to me till l saw yor
there getting your shoes heeled thai
you could possibly be anything bu
awfulIy rich. Pretty good joke al
around, eh? I suppose you took mt
for young bondholder, too"
'Would it make so much difference? p
faltered Ruth as they walked OF
through the main street of Burtontown
You see-well, father owns the ma
jority stock Of the plant, and-well
Tn his only daughter, but he has told
me I could marry just whoever
pleased so long as loved him."
'IIe married for love, and he wants
| m An Nh
dear. When saw you this morning
Just left the ear and told the chauffeur
to go back home and I trailed you t.
the shoe shop and got the strings jus
to be sure it was you. And l wa.
afraid you'd feel silly and self-con
scious sitting there in the old slippers
so ] made an excuse to sit there too
in the other slippers so you wouldn'
mind. And it was so funny I jus
wanted to laugh out loud. And yo'
wouldn't speak to me, so then l 60
d little peeved at first, and then
thought maybe 1T was because yo1
were so fused so decided I wouldn'
speak to you, either-so as to spar
your embarrassment. But I followe
you as soon as I could get my shoe
on"
And it was remarkable how readil
after that Nathaniel's rare ability wa
discovered at the plant. His salar
took q sudden leap upward, and moth
er and the girls down state neve
guessed that Ruth had anything to d
with it.