Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-06-26
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CCoTT found her there at her mothers
~ bedside sobbing her heart out in the
bedclothes. He lifted her to her feet
tenderly and led her out of thereon
Dearest, you mustn't give way like
that"
II might have been better daugh-
ter" Ruth sobbed. ~ might have tried
to understand mother instead Of always
being impatient with her views
Scott held Ruth close and wondered
a little bit about life. In way Ruth
was like Bobby, fearful of change and
what It might bring. It was not grief
90 much for her mothers death as 1t
was sorrow for her own conscience that
her treatment Of her mother had not
always been considerate. And yet taxed
with so selfish a thing Ruth would have
denied it Indignantly.
Ruth always remembered the next
day as a sort of deadly nightmare. to
be passed over as quickly as possible.
They had telegraphed for her mothers
brother, Ruth's Uncle David and tele-
gram came early the next morning that
he and Aunt Winifred would be there as
soon as possible. They arrived the fol :
lowing evening and proceeded to take
charge Of everything. In a way Ruth
was glad, in another she resented it
terribly. Ruth hardly remembered her
Uncle David only that hes was her
mothers brother and very wealthy. She
hadn't remembered Aunt Winifred at
all. but she found her now a very
we'll dressed, rather snobbish woman
with a desire to take matters into her
own hands and to patronize Ruth and
Scott, Martha. who resented all in =
trusion, began to hate Aunt Winifred
on the instant. Ruth had sent Bobby
over to her own apartment. where Alice
had promised to look after him. so that
he was out of the way when the west
erners arrived.
Ruth was utterly tired out with the
strain of seeing to things. She was SC
Save for that once she had not given
way at all. 1t was not as though Mrs
Rowland had been a companion to Ruth
some one whose influence she would
miss out of her life. 1t was more as
though a precious child whose fault:
we condone because they cannot bt
helped, had been taken away.
There was q certain bluntness abou
Aunt Winifred that was very trying
She had hardly been there an hour be
fore she asked about Bobby.
We've sent him over to our apart
ment.' Ruth explained.
"What are you going to do abou
Bobby. Ruth" asked Aunt Winifred
81 don't know, cant we wait til
after it's over to talk about it?' sh
pleaded.
Nonsense, Aunt Winifred retortet
briskly. You want to face things a
they are, don't try to avoid the truth
Your Uncle DaviG and can take Bobb,
back with us. We planned it on tn
train coming east"
Ruth sprang up. 20, no" she pro
tested. Scott and don't want Bobb
to go away"
"who to take care Of him here?"
Martha Ruth wavered unprac
tically.
"I.ook here. Ruth, did you know tina
your mother had not left any money
She has been living on her capital TO
a long time. Your uncle advised he
against it. he advised her many time
to move into a smaller place. but sh
was too proud to let any one know an
she refused to change. So you see ther
isn't any money to take care of Bobby
The things will have to be sold an
Bobby can go back with us.
Ruth was silent. The enormity of
all was sweeping over her. She ha
that same feeling that she had ha
when she was first married. the feel
ing that she was being swept away fror
her childhood moorings. She locke
about the room wonderingly. Every
thing seemed so familiar and dear
She had known this apartment for
great many years. 1t had been
stable as her mother and Bobby an
good old Martha. She had come her
from college on her vacations, her littl
room was still kept for her, and no.
everything was to be changed. No
her mother was dead. her mother VIII
hda almost never agreed with her, bu
whom she had loved dearly. Bobby
naughty Bobby, was to be taken ava
to forget all about her no doubt. an
Martha who had been with them for S
many years, was to go, where?
And then she remembered Scott