Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-04

HUMAN nature is funny thing.
Il Scott's very objection to Nick Car
son had made him the more attractive
in Ruth's eyes Until then he had been
diversion, something to take her MIND
off herself. There was one good thing
about Ruth's meeting with Nick Car
son, however. He had restored her
sense Of balance. That afternoon she
had been timed. not sure of herself !:
now she was confident OF her charms,
sure of her attractions. Scott had OBJ
jected to her knowing this man. That
sounded like jealousy. What other rea-
son could there possibly be?
"Of course" her thoughts ran illogi-
cally, "if he had been stupid and un-
attractive, he would have been utterly
safe for me to know. But l notice
that when Scott chooses friend, he
is careful about her looks. If Betty
had not been so attractive, 1t isn't
likely that Scott would have cared
half so much about knowing her" Which
! conclusion was hardly fair to Scott. and
Ruth knew it, even though she would
not admit 1t even to herself.
That evening was like old times.
Ruth and Scott both forgot about Alice
and the impending tragedy of her life.
Once Scott did mention It, and his
| face sobered. Ruth had been packing
his travelling bag and some trivial lit
tie thing had suggested the divorce.
.I know we ought to feel terribly
said Ruth, but somehow l can't feel
sorry for Alice. Scott. The only feeling
I have IL one Of gladness for Bert"
"But Alice is my sister. after all.
Scott returned. Il can't help oeing
sorry that she has spoiled her life.
haa kn0w Ruth.
Alice will be a bitter, disillusioned
woman from now on"
There was a short period of reflection
and thought on the subject, and then 1t
was forgotten in the delight of being
together again in utter comradeship.
Neither of them remembered that the
news of Alice's divorce had done a
| great deal in restoring them TO their
old status.
II was not until the next morning
when Scott was drinking his second
Gun of coffee that the subject of Nick
| Carson WAS broached. II either of them
had remembered the fact that they had
not settled the question of Ruth's meet
| ing with Carson. neither had said any
| thing till Scott mentioned casually, by
the way, sweetheart" as though he had
never thought of it, till that very mo-
bment and then not at all seriously. 81
really mean what i said about Nick
Carson"
Ruth's heart leaped suffocatingly.
| why had Scott suddenly mentioned
Nick Carson? Was he really so jeal-
GUS?
',what do you mean?" Ruth queried
| innocently.
IT don't want you to see him again.
I want you to promise me that you
won't. Believe me. dear, I'm not saying
| this because Of any foolish reason"
''why Scott. you talk as II you actu-
ally suspect me of liking the man more
| than I should, and never saw him till
this afternoon
| Scott flushed a dull red. 'Tt does
sound foolish" he admitted. "But just
the same I'd feel a lot better about It
II I heard you say you were perfectly
| willing not to see him again"
! "And II did say lust that, what
good would it do? How can 1 tell
whether or not I'll ever see him again? p
| Scott was silent. The thought had
! suddenly occurred to him that he was
! prolo4ging an incident that might have
been caused by the nerest chance that
he was In fact keeping Ruth's mind on
the subject through constant suggestion
Of II to her.
WELL" he said finally. well Just
| drop 1t then. You know how I feel.
simply don't want you TO be friendly
with him. that's all" Which was an
unfortunate thing to say, because he
gave no reason and Ruth had said al
most the same thing to him not long
ago without accomplishing anything.
You're going?" Ruth breathed. COM
Ing around the table to him and forget
ting everything else. 1t was their first
separation. Half an hour later she was
| lying face downward on the davenport
| sobbing desperately. wondering how she
was going to endure not seeing Scott for
at least three DAYS. 1t wasn't until late
afternoon that she remembered anything
about Nick Carson. Then II came to
her suddenly that she and Scott had
not really decided anything. She hadn't
promised anything either. not that she
would have, even IL Scott had pinned
her down TO It. Scott himself had made