The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent., 1919-09-12

He did not even write to her. but
when little later he went to Burton.
town to work he was filled one mo.
ment with the fear that he might see
her by chance and then with regret
that he did not. But to have her see
him sitting there in the cobbler's car.
pet slippers was agonizing. Then
came the light. She too had her shoes
repaired while she waited. Then she
was bluffing. too. No doubt she too
had been spending her extravagant two
weeks vacation the same way that
he had. That was only a possibility,
still it gave Nathaniel courage and he
peered out Of the side of his mag.
azine.
But Ruth. though she peered over
at him when he was not looking, re-
fused to permit her eyes to meet his.
This Nathaniel felt sure was because
she had felt offended because he new
er had written to her. Well. that was
but natural, especially IL she had real.
~ cared for him. So when his shoes
were repaired he put them on and
left the shop and Ruth. determined
to write to her that very evening ask.
ing permission to come at once to see
her.
1t might he even that she worked
as stenOgrapher or something in his
plant" Perhaps she was daily under
the same roof. For there were thou.
sands of employees there whom he
did not know.
He walked along convincing himself
that this was true until after walking
toward his lodging house for two or
three blocks he felt distinctly con.
scious that someone was following a
few PAGES behind him. He glanced
over his shoulder. saw It was Ruth
and then turned abruptly about and
faced her.
"HellO, Ruth" he said. and Ruth.
though somewhat surprised, said
"HellO. Nahaniel." just as they had
greeted each other on the beach during
those wonderful two weeks of yaca.
tiOn.
Il followed you." said Ruth. 'be.
cause l realized that you must live in
Burtontown now and ut least wanted
to know where. did not think you
would turn and catch me.'
"NOw you KNOW" said Nathaniel,
eager first of all to explain himself,
"yOu know why didn't write to you.
l thought you had all sorts of money.
you know. and-well. had put up
bluff there ut the shore. and I knew
poor fellow like me couldn't marry
YOU because you see I thought you
had all sorts Of money"
Marry you." echoed Ruth with n
funny little grimace. So you wanted
to marry me?''
"Wanted TO-" argued Nathaniel. "you
know I did. Only Of course when
was thinking you had all sorts Of mon
ey l couldn't think Of it. Really it
never occurred to me till I saw YOU
there getting your shoes heeled that
you could possibly be anythin. but
awfully rich. Pretty good joke all
around. eh? I suppose you took me
for young bondholder, too"
would it make SD much difference?
faltered Ruth as they walked on
through the main street of Burtontown.
you see-well. father owns the ma
tority stock of the plant. and-well.
I'm his only daughter, hut he has told
me could marry just whoever I
pleased so long as loved him."
He married for love. and he wants
me to, too. And truly love you. Nat.
dear. When saw you this morning
just left the car and told the chauffeur
to go back home. and I trailed YOU to
the shoe shop and got the strings Just
to be sure it was you. And I was
afraid you'd feel silly and self-con-
scious sitting there in the old slippers,
so ] made an excuse to sit there too
In the other slippers so you wouldn't
mind. And 1t was so funny I lust
wanted to laugh out loud. And you
wouldn't speak to me. so then I got
little peeved Mt first. and then
thought maybe 1t was because YOU
were SO fused, so I decided wouldn't
speak to you. either-so as to spare
your embarrassment. But I followed
you as soon as could get my shoes
on"
And it was remarkable how readily
after that Nathaniel's rare ability was
discovered at the plant. His salary
took sudden leap upward. and moth
er and the girls down state never
guessed that Ruth had anything to do
with it.
Clock That 10 Never Wrono,