Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-24
And So They
Were Married
a. .,. Episode 3-(Jealousy)
BY HAZEL DEYO BATCHELOk
Copyright, 1910 BY Public Ledger Go.

CHAPTER XIV

lAIOTHING more was said about NOV
~ ing. although Ruth never looked
/. around the apartment these days with
out thinking of what Scott had saio'
I Were the rooms SO small and unattrac-
tive, was the neighborhood SO common
place, or was 1t, after all. just ScottE
Ruth began to imagine herself a per-
feet wizard of diplomacy. Not by worn
nor action did she allow Scott to glimpse
her true feelings. although II the truth
be told, nothing at all out OF the ordi-
!, nary happened, nothing sufficient 10
arouse her suspicious in any way. Ruth
kept away from Isabel these days and
fif Scott saw anything Of Betty he never
y said so. so the days were comparatively
kneaceful. The only thing that was dit-
trent was a certain aloofness In the
lr. certain something about Ruth that
pbbed her of her usual spontaneity and
Xkten made her irritable when she had
kHways been sweet tempered. The old
t.1Inny, carefree Ruth had become sud-
emily a woman, and what is more, a
|1oBtless one.
One morning Isabel cornered her at
he telephone.
'What on earth is the matter with
E46u, Ruth, haven't seen you since that
&teght at the restaurant"
3 2t'Oh. I've been busy"
d tf<s'Busy?" Tho tone was incredulous
t<Dusy at what? You haven't any
E4hing to do"
I don't know. I have a house to
R31nke care of. I haven't a maid, you
\ 1lnow." Ruth wondered why she sounded
&npologetic. why taking care of her
4bartment did not seem like enough
So keep her busy.
" - house indeed" laughed Isabel
tslightly. You're developing domestic
xAraits all of a sudden, aren't you? That
3baby place oughtn't to take you ten
Eminutes a day to keep in order. BY
{lthe way, what I really called you up
3about was to tell you that Helen Town
{Isepd has a job. Isn't she foolish with
6ell that money!"
IA Ruth wasn't in the humor for gossip.
Wand inconsistency enough she did not
e care to gossip about Helen over the
"a Telephone. even though she was hurt
Asand angry that Helen had not told her
4 about the new job.
s.b, What kind of work is it?" she asked
isabel
with an advertising concern OF some
y kind, believe. Think of It, Ruth. reg
~.Of course 1t was all right for Helen
u to do war work. plenty of women went
ii crazy on the subject, it was almost a
n fad while It lasted, but for Helen to
4 keep It up. how foolish"
!. z .Isabels viewpoint sounded crude. and
y almost heartless to Ruth 1nvoluntarily
4 she refuted It.
fe "Helen didn't do 1t for fad
A "Oh. perhaps not After she married
n Jim Townsend people expected her to dc
vi anything crazy"
m Ruth, who had known of the very deer
y love that had transformed Helen from
i a selfish society butterfly to thinking
\ suffering woman exclaimed aloud at this
Isabel how can you? Jim is dead
how can you speak that way about him?
why I wasn't speaking any way
kahout him. Don't be such a little spit
fire. Jim Townsend was all right; nc
one thought he would ever set the worlt
on fire. He simply had no idea Of bust
ness and making money"
Money isn't everything"
ITS whole lot, you'd miss it il
\ you didn't have pretty clothes and every
\ thing you want. OF course. Helen won
4 live on what she makes. Her fathe
\ wouldn't allow such thing"
Il have an idea that she will" Rutl
4 said slowly.
Well, perhaps: as said. she's queer
Heaven knows she's changed beyon
recognition. She used to be quite funny
She's so serious these days that In
quite afraid of her. This time next yea
/ suppose she will have forgotten to b
smart, and will be wearing fiat heele
shoes with the best of the workers Wei
4 I must stop. dear; do run over and se
!. me soon, won't you? Bill bought me tn
loveliest new fur stole. Good-by. don
N forget" And Isabel rang off as Rutl
X with a short good-by hung up her owl
~ end, and turned away to the living room
81 ,Ieabel's talk had left her more rest
IA leAs than ever. How could Isabel spea
M that way about jim? But then, hadn
&ehe, Ruth, felt exactly the same wa
III 6shen Helen and Jim had first bee
|l&nfarried? Ruth tried to think back an
|&to visualize the night she and Jack Bon
{AAd seen Helen and Jim married. Sh
vmember a the shudder of disdain ths
= ha felt for the cheap furnishe
vi, i'm and Helen had taken fc
40 time before Jim left for ovel
3lAseas. .he remembered wondering no
III e'Hlen could do 1t. and then she ha
H seen Helen's face all transigured as 81
II met Jim's eyes. That was in the o.
days. when Ruth had not understoo
ii what 1t was to really love man II
M himself alone; when for a time she ha
ia fancied herself in love with Jack Bon
That was long time ago. and she ha
ia come long way since then She hs
|E known what It was to love as Helen di
4 she would have married Scott II he ha
had nothing at all. but now she Wi
~ facing more change. She had been ma
Varied a few brief months and alreat
lt2Ecott was interested In other wome
at least she Insisted that he was. !
TOR herself where did she belong in Il
10 hsw scheme Of things? Certainly not wi
III 6eott's Bohemian friends. and not wit
Rher own friends either. IL they thoug
gxSnd felt as Isabel Carter did about lii
AMI (Tomorrow-Buth Plans Surpri
- Is Surprised HerselD.