Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-11
And So They
We're Married
By HAZEL DEYO BATCHELOR
COPYRIGHT, 1910. By Public Ledger Co.
START THIS STORY TODAY

u a
w the outer room her face was still
burning and her heart was still filled
with resentment toward Mr.. Browning
How dared he treat her as though she
amounted to nothing at all, how dared
he say before Miss Ware that the posi-
tion did not require ability SO much as
appearance And, most of all, how dared
he quote her salary so that any one might
hear 1t was unbearable. She had never
been so humiliated. She felt suddenly
as though she would walk out of the
place and never come back, and yet her
reputation and her pride were both at
stake. How could she ever explain to
Scott, and she had openly boasted about
holding a position to ever so many peo-
pie.
While she was in the midst OF her
gloomy thoughts, a businesslilie woman
came in and over to the desk.
II want TO see Mr.. Browning I'M
mediately on business"
Ruth was so surprised that she blushed
furiously and almost stammered as she
asked.
"who, shall I tell hlm?"
Miss Scott, about a manuscript
Ruth summoIiing all her pride to her
aid, walked across the floor and into
the office that just few minutes ago she
ing was seated at his desk writing, Miss
Ware was not there.
Ruth delivered her message and Mr..
Browning looked up, an annoyed frown
appearing between his eyes.
Miss Graves will see every one who
comes about manuscript" he said CURLY.
waving his hand in the direction OF the
next room. Whereupon Ruth, with head
held high. walked into the next room,
where rather charming looking woman
looked up at her and smiled.
Ruth gained confidence, the smile was
so unexpected.
about manuscript" she said, smiling
back.
"All right, I'll be right out Miss
Graves returned quickly. And as Ruth
returned TO the reception room with the
message for Miss Scott, Miss Graves fol-
lowed almost on her heels. From where
Ruth sat she could see Miss Graves, al
though she could not hear what she SAID
Miss Graves was quite attractive, she
decided, and she must be quite clever TO
hold a position of such responsibility.
She was dressed badly, her clothes were
expensive enough, but they were care
lessly put on, as though Miss Graves
wore her clothes because they were
coverings, not because she liked the
looks of them.
Nevertheless, Ruth decided, Miss
Graves was thoroughly worth while. and
might make splendid friend. AS she
thought about it, the idea appealed to
her more and more until when luncheon
time came she was altogether impressed
with the idea.
More practical ideas occurred to her
however, ideas that involved lunch. For
81, Arc in, har fe
the problem of lunching alone. Never in
her life had she eaten a meal alone in
public place. She almost regretted hav-
ing turned down the invitation of Helen
Wares. Somehow the prospect of eat
ing with Helen Ware seemed quite pos
sible in her present mood. If it hadn't
been for Mr.. Browning and his detest-
able manner, she might recall her de-
cision. but of course it was out Of the
question now. Her cue 1ay in treating
Helen Ware with dignif1ed aloofness, a
manner that left no doubt of her
attitude.
All morning Scott dallied with the
idea of taking Ruth to lunch. Several
Stirnes he was on the point of calling
Y her up but each time he decided not
TO Ruth had taken matters so entirely
into her own hands that he felt some
y how that it would be better for her to
spend her first day without Interrupt
tions. If he had known that at II
o'clock, Ruth was facing the problem of
either not going out to eat or calling
him up TO ask him to take her out
somewhere, Scott would have felt DIFF
ferent about it.
At 1890, Miss Graves came out with
another younger woman. They were
laughing and talking and they walked
,.;rht h,y Jo,,th N,tth L.
ing at her. Several younger girls who
looked like stenographers came out
giggling and laughing, in cheap hats
and shoes. They looked curiously at
Ruth as much as to say, well, here is
some one who ought to be in our class
She probably doesn't get much money
and here she Is giving herself airs"
Helen Ware came out next, and she
smiled brightly at Ruth. "Mr. Browning
asked me to tell you that he doesn't
want you to leave the place alone. AL
ways be sure that some one is around
The office boy will take your place while
you are out at lunch" Then she nodded
and without another reference to her
invitation to lunch, she rang for the
elevator and a moment later was gone
1t had not been Mr.. Browning's In.
tention to class Ruth with the office
boy, but Ruth in her overwrought con-
dition naturally interpreted the remark
in the manner that hurt most.
II hate them ALL" she stormed over
and over to herself like an angry child
Tears sprang to her eyes but she clench.
ed her hands and forced them resolutely
back.
In the next tinstallment-"That First
Evening After a Day of Hard Work."