Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-10
And SO They
Were Married
By HAZEL DEYO BATCHELOR
Copyright, 1919. bv Public Ledger Co.


TNoR two or three days after this
II Scott acted several times as though
he were on the point OF telling futn
something. Each time happened 10 De
directly after they had been referring
in some way to the previous SUNDAY
once Ruth said curiously:
What were you going to say?'
"Why?"
"Oh, nothing, only was certain you
were about to say something"
Scott grinned. Guess you must nave
been mistaken
one night not long after this Ruth
awoke In the middle of the night, a thing
she seldom did, and wondered vaguely
what had walked her. She lay still on
her pillow only half awake and then
suddenly heard a strange sound from
the bed across from her
She raised herself on one elbow
'"Scott. dearest, what is it?'
She slipped out Of bed and turned on
the electric light in the rose-colored
lamp. For a moment she was blinded,
then she saw in the soft glow Scotts
face on the pillow unnaturally flushed.
He was breathing hard and once In q
| whila he uttered queer little groan.
of which he was apparently unconscious.
for he was in a deep sleep.
| Ruth bent over him tenderly.
Dear. are you i'll? Scott, wake up
and speak to me"
Slowly he opened his eyes, they were
very bright and his hands were not and
! dry. Ruth's heart gave a queer leap
| and seemed to turn in her breast. This
was the first time in her life she had
ever faced illness alone. In her own
/ III 1.a.l Il
Married, she was on her own. Head
Of the family, she had never stopped
to think what would happen IL either
of them happened to be i'll. And worse
still she had not faced a possible life
without Scott. 1t stared at her now as
a probability, and she was stark
frightened before it.
Scott was speaking now. Dearest
what are you doing up?' He tried to
rise; "Oh, feel so funny. I wonder
what is wrong"
Don't you feel well. dear?"
"No, ache, and my mouth feels dry
Guess I'll get a glass of water"
"Well, I'll bring it to you. I'm up
dear, why shouldn't To- as he protested
And then she was on her way out te
| the kitchen.
Her hands trembled as she gropet
in the dark for the ice pick. Every
thing seemed more than usually hor
rble in the night. Hitherto II she hat
anything to worry her, she had turnet
to Scott. Now Scott was Ill and sh,
must be brave and self-reliant
She cracked several small pieces o
Ice, got out a glass and filled 1t with
waters which. she carried back to th'
bed. Scott drank it all eagerly ant
asked for more. Then he dropped bacl
on the pillow and groaned a little.
my back hurts SO terribly" he said
81 can't seem to get comfortable"
Ruth looked at the clock. II pointe'
to 3:l5. She simply could not call VI
the doctor at this hour she would hav
to wait till morning, and yet Scott ha
a raging fever; she was sure of It, an
all the rest of the symptoms that wen
with grip, II not the dreaded influenza
She filled a hot-water bottle and pu
it to his back, and then she brough
cool water and bathe his hot forehead
and his face and hands. Finally, nut
tering occasionally, he dropped of int
heavy sleep. Ruth dozed off an
then woke up again with a start, eac
time feeling more than ordinarily guilty
At Z o'clock she was telephoning 70
the doctor. and at 8 o'clock she ha
Scott freshened up, as we'll as the roor
itself, and was waiting for the doctor.
It was a strange little Ruth VIII
opened the door half an hour later.
, subdued woman, not laughing. radian
girl. Her lips trembled as she explaine
matters to the doctor. and then waite