Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-07
And So They Were Married
BY HAZEL DEYO BATCHELOR
Copyright. 1919, bU Public Ledger Co.

LNETA SEARS was the typical mar
l. ried woman OF q few years older than
Ruth's crowd. She was very much too
o,d for a child like Natalie Jergens, but
she was really friend OF Mrs. Jer-
gems, who liked to be seen and asso-
ciated with young women. Fleta Sears
had been married eight years. She loved
her husband after fashion and let
him shower her with gifts. They had
no children and plenty of money. Fleta
affected a queer manner Of dress that
always set her apart from the rest of
the women in any kind of a crowd.
This afternoon she wore the skirt OF a
winter suit and with 1t a brocaded vel
vet blouse of a deep orange that went up
to her ears and was tipped with fur
Deep fur cuffs swathed her hands to
the middle OF the fingers, and her hat,
which was of perfectly plain chiffon
velvet. dipped down over her eye on
one side and left a generous portion of
crinkly gray hair visible Oh the other
Ruth thought her stunning and unusual
and was instantly curious about her.
We're partners, see,' she said smi.-
ing at Ruth and swapping her brown
eyes merrly in an almost wicked little
way she had. Her smile was infectious
and Ruth instantly responded. She felt
somehow more at home with this
strangely garbed older woman than she
old with the uitra-smart younger crowd
that Natalie represented, with the intol-
erance of anything that did not con-
form with their very young idea of what
was ultra smart
Ruth played a good game OF bridge.
an unusually good game for girl of her
type, a game that was wasted on most
Of the other girls there who played be-
] a. hi I'D a lyaH RI
clothes, parties and men in between
times. They took in their tricks Ian.
quidly with a sweep OF slim young fing-
/ ers across the board as though it were
almost too much OF an effort TO do even
that. They deferred prettily TO their
partners and started apologetica1ly when
! they made wrong plays. Ruth played
with an interest that was visible and
Fleta Sears noticed il. When they hae
/ finished their first hand around tht
high score was theirs. and Fleta smiled
at Ruth again with the remark, We'll
partner we trimmed them"
II restored Ruth's confidence. She
felt somehow raised above the world o.
dress and ashion that Natalie repre-
sented TO tho world of brains in which
Fleta Sears had her being. 1t wa;
a most comfortable feeling and stayec
When the tallies were counted Rutl
discovered that her score was UNUSUAL,
high. She surrendered II to Natalie wh'
took it with a pretty little gasp.
You and Mrs. Sears. are the bes
PLAYERS here" she said in evident ad
niration. Most of tho girls ver'
frightened, to death TO play with you
A few minutes later Ruth. found her
self the possessor of a pale pink satii
csmisole and Fleta Sears was exclaiminI
over her leather bridge scores. Thei
came the engagement announcement II
the shape OF a giant cake out OF whicl
each guest drew a ribbon. Natalie's an
lacks names were written on the rib
bons In gold leaf letters 1t was a.
very young and very sweet, but Rutl
wondered how she could nave beei
thrilled at doing it herself SO short
time ago. 1t somehow seemed SO fool
ish and unnecessary now. She did no
feel any twinge either in regard TO JAG
and her congratulations were too Sin
cere and genuine to be misunderstood
Two tears stood In Nstalie's eyes whe
Ruth kissed her. Natalie was wonder
ing how Ruth could be so brave. o
course Natalie did not know that II ha