South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-27
RY Joan MARSH.


illustrator that he was so completely
fascinated by her, and that before
sho had been on the list OF regular
contributors 90 the small magazine
OF which he was editor for two
weeks he had found pretext 20 take
her 20 luncheon two or three times
and once 20 the theater. Perhaps
u was neither her cIeverness nor
her prettiness entirely; but mingled
with them her delightful naivety
and lack Of sophisticaton. For
though Ruth had quite obviously
arrived" in her work she had in
the wear that she had lived in the
big. grimy city. lost very little OF the
refreshing candor and childlike en-
thusiasm that characterized her as
n country bred girl. Surely she
mus, have known that she was very
pretty girl like Ruth could not
have lived alone in the city so long
without having been rather wearied
with reminders Of the fact-yet
when Julius had, rather namely as
he thought later. told her she was
the prettiest girl he had ever known,
she opened her perfectly frank blue
eyes wide and said: Il am glad you
told me so. ike 70 be thought
pretty and I am glad that you think
so" Besides Ruth never firted.
And Julius was Just at the old
Young age when he had convinced
himself that flirting was great
waste OF time
She was in large measure still a
rnysterv TO him and so he was
dcubly pleased when she asked him
70 come 70 supper" in her small
apartment where Julius had been
informed she shared quarters with
that eminently successful novelist,
Amy Nair. Julius was relieved TO
know that Amy was not to be pres
ent. The supper was set for 8
o'clock 50 that both he and Ruth
might dispose OF their days occupa-
tor before the little spread.
The apartment proved to be just
a well furnished studio" the de-
tails and fine points Of which-the
careful elimination OF every Access
sorry or ornament which was not
intrinsically beautiful and the ex-
quisite subordination OF tones to the
decorative scheme Of the whole in
terior-was rather lost on Julius.
But there was an air OF repose and
seclusion about the large room-ap-
parently the living-room, eating
room and workroom combined-put
julius in an agreeable frame Of
mind Ruth responded TO his ring
and explained that the odd NAM
my" who kept house for her and
Amy Nair had prepared the spread
and then departed.
Il thought we could be cozier If
we were all alone in the place. Amy
won't be back till all hours"
Then as she led him into the stu
clio he got his first glimpse Of her
dress IL was like nothing he had
even seen before. always the con-
scrvative street dress when he had
seen her before He could not OBJ
Jet 70 IT on the score of immOdesty
for the soft folds Of fabric chung
shlgh at the throat and well down on
her wrists But-cOuld II really be
possible ?-the ample folds OF the
skirt somehow fell down TO her feet
in two divisions and were caught at
both ankles in neat metallic ank-
let. Even that was not immodest-
rather more modest. julius had TO
admit. than the street costume of
most young women.
Ruth saw his scrutiny. "Oh. my
dress" she said. Isn't the color
lovely? It's real batik-from Cey-
lon. Amy Nair got it for me. I am
GLAD YOU like it-Amy Nair says
But I'm not quite sure I do
stammered Julius, and then as Ruth
stood off and pivOted on her orien-
tai slipper for his full inspection he
honestly admitted that 1t was ex-
tremely becoming-'only hardly
conventional"
There was supper, and after sup
pcr Ruth carried of the supper
tray and brought back the coffee in
a Turkish brass outfit that even
Julius was connsioeur enough 10 ad-
nlire From the folds of her re-
markabIe house gown Ruth drew
out little metal cigarette box and
opening IL deity with one hand she
held IL out 10 her guest.
There are several other sorts in
the large Jar on the table" she said
Personally. I don't care for Turk
ish"
Julius tried 20 conceal his sur
prise. He had never even wondered
whether or not Ruth smoked. 9th
er girls with whom ne was associ-
ated in his ediung did, but even
thev had never received him alone
in their own apartments and then
prOffered a complete assortment OF
cigarettes He felt the suspicion
OF a frown involuutarily come over
his forehead but he fraught IL back
They talked about everything that
CHANGED into their heads-more e.:
Julius had talked with some keenly
alert. Clean-minded young boy oI
his acquaintance: and as they talked
Ruth smoked nonchalantly-no in
the last languidly. At 10 Julius rose
20 go. Somewhere in the back OF
his mind he recalled that he had
read that although women who live
alone may receive callers unchaper-
oned those callers must never re
main after ! %. Ruth urged him tC
stay-stiu a young boy would
have done when he had not hat