Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-19

WHEN Scott began TO mend he
w mended quickly. One day he was
sitting up and the next he was out of
bed dressed and chafing to get out of
doors. The first day lie was up Gene
Mathews telephoned that he was COM
ing. in.
'I'll bring Betty if I may he said
TO Ruth.
Come along" said Ruth. He's so
cross that I'd welcome any one. He may
brighten up when he sees you people"
And so they came, and the four young
people had quite a merry time together.
Suddenly Betty turned to Ruth.
BY the way" she said laughingiy.
"Who was the handsome man / saw you
at tea with the other day."
There was a silence which Ruth broke
after a moment with a nervous little
laugh. She felt absurdly guilty Scott
was looking at her and she felt like a
paniclSy little girl.
Where were your" she fenced.
Just a couple Of tables from you"
Betty returned. She wished now that
she hadn't spoken. There was some
thing in the atmosphere that she felt
was strained and tense. Betty had
made the remark lightly enough. al
tnOuRn Sne nau DeeI near tHOubh "
see some of the little byplay that had
gone on and had wondered a little about
il. She had seen the tense look in Nick
Carson's eyes and the almost frightened
nervousness that Ruth had betrayed.
Scott felt a wave of some emotion
sweep over him that. brought with it
faintness. He was not very strong as yet,
and anything of the kind would have
caused such a feeling, but he crushed it
resolutely back. The one question up
permost in his thoughts was the fact
that Ruth had not mentioned the fact
that she had had tea with Nick Carson
alone. For that she evidently had done
this was obvious from what Betty had
limited.
That there was something behind all
this was very evident, and Ruth felt II
incumbent to say something. SO she re-
marked lightly, "That was the day had
lunch with Polly Dayton, Scott. She
got corralled at the hairdresser's and
left me 20 Nick"
"Oh YES" Scott returned as though
he remembered the entire incident. And
then Gene introduced another subject
and the situation was partially saved
( When Betty went with Ruth into the
bedroom to get her things she turned
toward her impulsively
Ruth dear, / hope | didn't do any
thing tactless. I'm afraid ] shouldn'
have said anything before Scott, but
YOU know I meant nothing wrong
A sudden resentment toward Betty
filed Ruth with perverseness.
"Of course you did nothing tactless,
she returned, "how could you imagine
such a thing? You act as though
was trying 10 deceive Scott. Isn't that
rather sordid?'
Betty drew back flushing. Il thought
that Scott seemed surprised" she STAN
mered. "Please forgive me, Ruth, fol
interfering"
"Scott has his engagements will
women" Ruth went on coldly, little
cruelty, for she knew that Betty woulo
understand the allusion to that luncheon
party which Ruth had always yesented
"Naturally / do the same" she finished
you were certainly mistaken about th
way Scott felt
"Why, Ruth how can you imagin
that I thought anything of the kind?
Betty's tone was so hurt that Rutl
brought herself up with sudden reso
luton TO say nothing more. Hadn't sh
almost lost Helen Townsend's friendship
through Just such a Misunderstanding a
this? And besides, what possible goo
could come through antagonizing Betty
81 don't really think So" she sal
quickly. I'm just cross and horrid to
day, Betty. l told Gene over the tele
phone that Scott was as cross as a bea
and I think I'm just suffering from tn
reaction. I'll be so glad when he can ge
out and around again. He minds ter
ribiy being confined to the house"
And SO II was in that way that tn
, subject was dropped, but Ruth kneV
, that Betty had not forgotten It, an
, Betty knew that for some reason Rut
had not told Scott of this tea engage
ment. Who was this good-looking man