Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-22
And So They
We're Married
BY HAZEL DEYO BACHELOR
Copyright. 1919. by Public Ledger Co.
START THIS STORY TODAY


OUCH was James story. Now she
~ had come to tell Helen her good
news. Twenty dollars a week may look
like paItry sum to great many people
but to Jane it spelt wonders. She was
going to take a larger room in the
boarding house whore she was staying
she had explained
You know" Helen explained to
Ruth, "she has been managing with that
baby in tiny hall bedroom. Can you
imagine such thing"
AT that | don't see how it's pos
sible,' Ruth said incredulously. d
Helen pursed her lips. well" she
said thOughtfuly, anything is pos
sible if you have to do it. Jane had
to do it, and so she made a way. She
found a good landlady, fortunately,
who keeps an eye on joy
What a sweet name -
Yes, isn't it. 1t was just like Jane
to call the baby that. There was about
as much joy as you could put into a
thimble in James life when the baby
came. She's a canny little thing"
1T seems horrible for a child like
that to suffer as Jane has. | should
think it would make her fearfuIly bit
ter.
Does she seem bitter to you:'
Ruth shook her head.
'Ncll. she isn't bitter, not bit,
but she has n fault that will bring her
more unhappiness some day unless she is
careful
There was so much of prophecy in
Helen's voice that Ruth looked up al
most startled, wondering what that
fault could be.
IAN aesthetic fault" amended Helen
"untidiness."
Ruth could not help smiling. Tn
tidiness might be fault, but one could
never call it serious one.
"All right" Helen said quickly,
you re laughing ct me now. I'd like
to wager that some day Jane is going
10 suffer more through it than she has
this far"
And Ruth went home that afternoon
thinking about what Helen had said.
OF course Helen had exaggerated fright
fully, but she had been so sure of what
she was saying. In the meantime Ruth
intended to know Jane better. She was
an interesting type. 1t woul@be fun
to know her better, to ask her to the
house. 1t promised q diversion from the
general type of woman Ruth had known
thus far.
Ruth forgot Jane for week and then
suddenly remembered her and telephoned
IJolnr 10 tppNt. l.
could be reached.
We'll hunt her up some night, -
Helen suggested, and two nights later or
one of the evenings when Scott was tc
be out, the two girls went to hunt UT
Jane.
The house where Jane stopped was
the typical boarding house, not any
worse than most and not any better
1t had the regulation stone fight ol
steps leading up to the front door, ant
the regulation untidy maid of all worl
opened that door to the girls.
When Helen asked for Mrs. Knowle,
the girl pointed upstairs.
Door to the left back" she sal,
lacOnically, no expression at all on he
face, and Ruth and Helen climbed tn
stairs and knocked on the door desig
mated
Come in," called a chirrupy voice
James voice had delicious infections
1t sounded like spring morning, it wa
full of bird tones, 1t was charming t
listen. to.
Helen pushed open the door.
Jane was sitting on the floor besid
the couch where the baby was lyinI
. kicking. up its little heels. The rool
was unspeakable. Even Ruth sa'
that. In the corner was heap {
soiled linen, little dresses, crumple
socks, and on two of the chairs wa
piled clean laundry which had not bee
put away. Jane herself wore a dirt
old smoek over soiled underskir
She looked picturesque even now viii
her fame -colored cheeks and her blas
y g.