Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-03

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change or uproot this quality OF
hatred; not in q strong man.
The nurse still slept on the cot on,
the veranda. So Ruth was alone now
during the nights. The doctor had
decreed thus. The patients eyes, un-
attracted by movement Of any kind.
were more likely to close; and Ruth
needed sleep, long hours Of 1t. But
II she could not see, she could hear
the infinitesimal sounds Of the night:
the ticking Of the clock on the stand,
running water in some room a dozen
doors away, the light crunch Of pass
ing rickshaws, the snap Of q match
in the court, and the pacing Of the
man in the next room, her husband.
She had fallen into the habit Of
counting these steps. 1t took four
teen to make the length Of his room,
but always on the return he paused
midway for some reason. He was
thinking, then? All, she believed she
knew what.
Suddenly, one night, she heard a
new sound. 1t was the doorknob!
The white enamel fascinated her, for
she could see it dimly beyond the foot
Of the bed. Knowing how powerful
he was, that lock was nothing II
once he set his strength against 1t.
she became icy with terror. She was
about to summon the nurse when the
rattle ceased. She heard him walk
out to the veranda, and later she
sensed the faint odor of pipe to-
bacco. She looked at the clock. 1t
was nine. The doorknob was not dis
turbed again that night.
For five consecutive nights, how
ever, the knob ratified; always some-
where around nine, after the nurse
had retired. Her terror grew and
grew: 1t was setting her back. And
yet, how could she tell him? How
could she call the nurse and tell her?
On the sixth night. after the usual
pacing. she heard him turn the knob
again. but this time there came q
gentle rapping.
RUTH" he called.
She did not answer. She sat up
rigidly.
ruth, must talk to you"
Then she spoke. what is III"
1--WE got something to say to you.
and can't tell it to you while the
nurse is around"
Cant you tell me through the
door,"
mo. This thing has got to be
face-to-face business"
She got out Of bed, turned on the
light. and put on her kimono. Easily
five minutes passed before she, felt
strong enough to go to the door.
As she opened 1t and stepped back,
her shoulders were dripping. She was
80 weak that II he touched her she
must fall. But he did not enter the
room. He stood on the threshold and
stared at her miserably.
CHAPTER XVI.
His hair was rumpled; he had
thrown of his coat and collar, and
the shirt was open at the throat. His
shoulders filled the doorway: through
the thin texture Of the silk shirt the
great Quiescent muscles were con.
spicuous; and yet his air was one Of
abject helplessness. He ran his
fingers through his hair as IL to re-
assure himself. She was by now very
familiar with his gesture. a
1--WE been coward" he began, his
: glance rowing ana pausing. avoiding.
as much as he could her wide, star
tied gray eyes. But I couldn't nut
1t of any longer. I've got to tell you
what's on my mind. and I don't want
any strangers around. God knows
it's hard enough as It isl"
She might have been marble, for all
the visible effect Of those hating
words,
I'm the first place, want you to for
give me the wrong I've done you.'
"Wrong" The trend. so absolutely
at variance with what she had been
expecting, befogged her.
YEAH. didn't honestly mean
anything wrong, but I've done q
whole lot OF thinking lately. When
! asked you to marry me you weren't
yourself. You'd just been through
seven kinds Of hell. And I didn't
know that was thinking q lot about
William Grogan when I asked you;
but guess I was. When I said /
loved you, God knows that was
square and true enough. I guess I
began loving you from the first day
you walked past my cellar window:
but I didn't wake up to the fact until
You came aboard the Ajax. Yes, that
was honest enough. But deep down
somewhere / thought maybe I might
have a chance II you were married