Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-07
CHAPTER III


ID UTH did want to confess TO Scott
~ that she really didn't care a great
deal about this friendship with Nick Car
son. woman-like. once she had scored
she was willing to tell him how. but she
wisely refrained and told him nothing at
all. She had begun this thing because
Scott had told her he wanted her to have
friendships with men, not because she
herself wanted any other man in the
world but Scott.
When Scott finally told her that he
had never liked the things said about
Nick Carson she had laughed.
what kind Of thingsr'
''Oh, his AFFAIRS with women. and so
forth"
do you know definitely of anything
dishonorable that he has ever done?'
''No."
}'Do you trust mer'
- "Of course, you daring"
Then why not give him the benefit
Of the doubtr
"An right. We will"
e. And again woman-iike. Ruth did not
know whether to feel gratifed at her
t victory or resentful that Scott had no,
seemed moro jealous and less willing to
give In.
Tho tea At Nick Carson's sisters war
o queer kind Of an affair. II Ruth had
objected to meeting strange types at
Betty's she certainly could not have been
\ Impressed with the people she met here
Mrs. Dayton was q young married
Eoman passionately devoted to the Bo-
. h.r 49, . ~
ering at her attractive house of inter-
csting people, men ana women who did
things In the world. on the Sunday even.
ing that Scott and Ruth first made their
Appearance at her place they we're taken
upstairs to the very top OF the place.
where an enormous room ran the length
of the house. Several people stood about
q girl chatted with two men by the side
Of . generously filled tea wagon. severa
,ceuplss danced to q sprishtiy new rec
ord. There was a gayety and abandon II
the air and Ruth unconsciously expand
ID to t.
She did not stop to think that II wa
because she wanted TO be there and be
cause she had been instrumental In get
ting Scott there that she felt as shs
OF place and awkward a. she had tina
night at Gene MAthsws's dinner.
As Ruth stopped uncertainty at tn,
top Of the staircase several peopl'
turned around and the next minute Nici
Carson himself came across the room
Followed by tall. dark woman
II was afraid you wouldn't come" HI
eaid. taking Ruth's hand In his an'
+ drawing her forward. Here she IL
POLLY, / want you to like her." and Rutl
found berself being introduced TO Mrt
Dayton and then to Mrs. Dayton's hus
followed his wifes fads because sh
wanted him to. and was literally bore
- death At these Affairs. He was
simple plodder. found It difYioult TO fol
4 low the gay witticlsms CT the crowd Al
Was not interested In the foibles OF IN
1sy. Polly Dayton's friends treated hir
With q certain nopchaIant tolerance an
4 Ut Il 90 1t that Ruth introduced Scot
almost ~ an afterthought IN the ez
citsnent she had almost forgotten hin
The two men shook hands and Ruth ir
uoluntartly compared them a. they stoo
fnoine each other. Scott, slender an
64r&. entirely the dreamer. Nick Caro-
njeo dark, but cioss-lipped. with ey,
. 1&st told nothing al ALL perfect
roouae1 ana typically the man of II
cFlA Hict Carson vac . new type
x Nh enl. tharsfsrA utterly fascinatin
- ~ ~ thnn togsthsr. Ruth fe
1ollivply fhat thsy would never !
<n1A Wonen know that sometime
~ wns - entirely idssligtic that
Nv va eDmeehing in Nick Carson