Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-06-28
And So They
We're Married
BY HAZEL DEYO BACHELOR
START THIS STORY TODAY

"WoULD you mind telling me how
w you and Scott can take care of
hinF' Uncle David's remark was dry.
well manage" Ruth said passion
ately. She was ready for open rebellion
now.
what do you think about II, Scott"
asked Uncle David. For moment the
two men looked at each other, the old
and the young, the successful and the
struggler, the one face shrewd and bust
nesslkc, the other keen and eager and
still full of dreams.
II think you're right about taking
Bobby where he can have advantages.
Scott said slowly. Ruth knew he was
right, she knew it was the only thing
to say, but for the moment she almost
hated Scott for saying It.
~ That's sensible" approved Uncle
David, 'and now as long as Bobby is
to be brought up by us, think It. is
just as well for your aunt and / to
decide what is best for him
Ruth cried herself to sleep that night,
but Bobby came to the funeral. He sat
close to Martha, and did not scorn to
hold her hand all through the service.
Ruth hated it all. She hated her
mothers friends coming up to tell her
how beautiful her mother looked, and
bnp h.
patronizing authority that Aunt Wini-
fred took, she hated the feeling of hav-
ing nothing to say about anything, she
even felt estranged from Scott.
Then it was all over, and a silent,
wide eyed Bobby wandered about the
house for the next few days. Ruth
ached for his tomboy roughness, his
teasing, the touch of his dirty hands.
1t broke her heart to see him this way
it broke her heart that she had to
see him go out of her life, for it was
virtually that. She knew that the
times she would see Bobby would be
few and far between after he became a
part of her uncle's establishment.
The furniture was disposed of sum
marily. Aunt Winifred said virtually,
I'VE had better have it stored for the
time being. You won't have room for
it in your apartment, Ruth" And
Ruth, inwardly writhing, had to ac-
quiesce.
Bobby had become interested in the
trip by the time he was ready to leave,
and Aunt Winifred bore him off in tri-
umph.
You and Scott must come and spend
your vacation with us whenever you
can" she said graciously when she
badc them good by. But Ruth, with
her arms tight about Bobby, hardly
heard her. Bobby was sobbing hard,
and it was with the sound of his crying
in her ears and a look of stern disap-
prova on Aunt Winifred's face that
Ruth saw the last of them.
The little apartment looked strange
to Ruth when she and Scott at last
went home. 1t seemed as though they
had been away for many moons, so
much had happened. Alice was still
there. She was very sweet to Ruth
and said very little to her. The first
night home long after Scott had fallen
asleep Ruth lay awake crying softly.
She did not know why she felt so ut
terly lonely but she did. 1t wasn't
SO much that she grieved for her
mother, although she would miss her
horribly, but it was everything COM
binGd that went to cause change. More
than anything in the world, Ruth de-
tested change.
The next morning at breakfast Ruth
had recovered to the extent of not be-
ing entirely absorbed in her own un-
happiness. She could not help noticing
that Alice looked very bad and ate
almost nothing. Instantly her thoughts
leaped to Bert. Could Alice have heard
anything more about him? How would
that affair end, anyway?
1t was a very silent trio that ate
breakfast Scott did not read because
the paper hadn't come. Outside the air
was raw and smelled Of rain, it blew
the curtains in and filled the room with
a chilly feeling.
The minute Scott had left for the
office Ruth turned to Alice inquiringly.
Something has happened?'
mo, that's just it, nothing has hap
pened,' said Alice, turning to Ruth
suddenly. I've been expecting and
hoping he would write. | couldn't be-
lieve he would just let me go like this.
o, Ruth, what shall | do?' And Alice,
practical Alice, wrung her hands to-
gether like nervous, hysterical woman.
Haven't you heard a word?'
mot a word since | came away"
1, "Perhaps you'll have a letter this
morning"
Alice shook her head. I've given
up hope now, but it's my own fault,
Ruth, whatever comes of this.
"Why don't you put your pride in
your pocket and write to him? You
came away, you know, it's really up to
you. Wait minute, there's the mail
now. I'll get it, there may be some-
thing for you
but there was nothing for Alice in
the mail, only a letter for Scott, with
he name of the apartment owner up
( In the corner.
In the next installment, another turn
cf the wheel of misfortune.