The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-31
Eoening Story
Starting in Right.
BY DORA NOLAN.

born and bred. A little of the city
dweller's assurance crept into his voice
while his arm found its way around
Ruth's slender waist. " You do love
me, don't you RUTH"
Yes replied Ruth RedfieId, trem-
bling but confidently.
So they settled their future under
the maple tree by the spring, with
an August moon looking down, And
the Transforming light of that heaven
iy body slurred kindly over the crude
and lovely aspects of the little New
England farm emphasizing the in
herent beauty of the scene. To Ruth
that moonglow typified Halls love for
her, which. shining down the path
way of her life, would transfigure
every sordid detail.
The next day Halls vacation visit in
the vicinity came to an end and he re-
turned to the city. I'm going to
plug hard to make good Ruth, and
ried."
Ruth, wonderfully happy, acquiesced.
She wanted time to dream over this
new element in her life and there
Would be SO many things for her
she dreamed! Things for herself and
the new home in the big city.
Mrs. Redfield took the news calm
iy; life mad taught her the futility
or taxing any news otherwise. You
tell joe,' Ruth requested, not meet
ing her mothers eye. And Mrs. Red
neld did that evening after Ruth had
gone to her room. Joe Hodges sat
across the table plunged in study, for
ne attended a nearby agricultural
scnooi doing the rough work on the
Redfield farm for his board.
Mrs. Redfield didn't raise her ewes
from the rags she was sewing, nor did
sne reply to the boys choking. I'm
giad for her." But after a while she
walked around the table and put her
hand on the bowed head. "All things
turn out for the best, joe" she said.
Goodnight"
Then Joe Hodges. clenching his toll
roughened hands. decided to carry on:
to stick to his plans for the future
with one change. There would be no
woman in them; If Ruth was not for
him then he wanted no one. 1t was
cha ra acteristic of Joe that he never
considered leaving the Redfield farm
but stuck on. working harder than
ever and trying to be to Ruth a kind
ly, helpful brother
Ruth informed her friends that her
wedding would take place the follow
ing spring. Hal wants time to save
enough so we can start in right" she
would add proudly. Were going to
have one of the most modern apart
ments, SO l won't be a slave to house
work"
There followed busy days when
Ruth, singing over the task, dyed varf-
Gus scraps OF material in bright col
ors and cunningiy fashioned them into
gay little rugs. Then word came from
Hal that he feared the rugs she de-
scribed wouldn't fit at all in the sort
of apartment he had planned to take.
Ruth put them away regretfully; but
in a few days bits of white material
and dainty laces took their place and
the singing raSJrOad
After another letter from Hal these
vanished also. Ruth elaborate1y ex-
planned to her mother that Hal had
advised saving her money and buying
everything in the city at the last mo-
ment. He says styles change SO rap
idly one can't be sure SO far ahead
that things will be right" Mrs. Red
fields lips came together in straight
line but she offered no remonstrance
in words.
AS spring drew near Hal received a
raise. Everything looks fine for the
big event to come off as per sched-
ule." he wrote. On the heels of this
followed less cheerful news. The rents
of model apartments had advanced
faster than his salary. Didn't Ruth
could afford what they wanted? Ruth
answered yes" as she was SO evident
ly expected to do.
Next Ruth busted her restless hands
with curtains, hemstitching them with
infinite care, happy in the belief that
they couldn't fail to fit into any simple
home. But Hal vetoed them, too.
when he came on for lis summer
vacation. Nobody uses plain white
curtains now" he explained with elab-
orate Kindness. They must match
the color scheme of the room they are
designed for. Wen buy them"
Joe overhearing this. itched for a
chance to lay his strong hands on the
slender city chap; to take him by the
collar and knock some sense into his
head. or some nonsense out.
When Hal left he assured Ruth that
they would be married by Christmas
sure. But the girls interest in things
seemed to lag. Christmas drew near;
Hal wrote that the firm declined to
give him a vacation then. Whenever
Joe's eyes fell on Ruth's listless face.
he harbored thoughts akin to murder.
But Mrs. Redfield's words recurred to
him: .'Au things>turn out for the
best"
So Joe just plodded ahead and car
ried out his plans. In March he fin
ished his agricultural course and
bought an abandoned farm nearby.
There was a dilapidated house on the
property, and into this he moved An
other hired man took his place on the
Redfield farm.
Ruth worked feverish1y making
Joe's house comfortable for him. She
brought out the gay rag rugs and the
hemstitched white curtains When
Joe attempted to demonstrate she an
swered that she had no use for them
and not enough to do to keep her
busy.
When the house was as complete
as she could make 1t, Ruth formed
the ha bit of spending an hour or two
each day putting it in order for its
lonely occupant. She chose the time
when Joe was at work in the fields.
One day he returned unexpectedly and
found her there, sitting in the middle
Observation-Disclosures
g The George M