Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-11-11
THE GIRL WHO
HAD NO CHANCE
Ry Marian RublAcam.
RICHES REFUSED.

~ L.
Ruth sent Tim away 1t the gaee Of
hsr house.
''You really shouldn't take tirns from
your work, the people might not like
Il. shc urged.
''But tell YOU often do skip out
for little" he answered. Lord, I've
sncaked off for An hour many an after
noon to watch a ball game. They just
thought ! was on An errand."
''Still. il doesn't seem fair, or right"
Ruth said, her serious blue eyes raised
to his,
"All right, Miss Conscience" he laugh
cd. ''I'll go back at once and work halt
my lunch hour. When do see you nextY'
Tomorrow evening" Ruth told him.
And with that promise he went away.
IL WAS with real feeling of loneliness
that the girl turned into the empty house.
Somehow the place had never seemed too
large for her before. She and her mother
and father were rich IN space at lcastl
Each one spread over two or three rooms
upstairs, while below the huge room known
rs the library" the parlor-usually
closed off the great dining room and
the kitchen, took up the entire floor.
Ruth had given Mrs. Beldlng small
room she usually used as her own little
study. She went up to it now, to make up
the cot that WAS to serve AZ her compan-
IONS bed. Then. mechanically, she went
about the housework, half-fnghtened at
the ringing morse her feet seemed TO make
in the emptiness.
She made up her bed and straighten-
I'd her own room. then stripped the other
beds and put away the covers. She gather
cd up and put away the scattered odd
and ends always left from any hurried
packing and rather sadly closed of the
big rooms used by her father and mother.
She had a feeling of having said long
farewell when she shut the doors.
Tim was TO come tomorrow night
she would give him an answer thenl
She had little doubt what she wanted
the answer 10 be-she loved Tim with
MI her heart. little wave OF pleasure
went through her at this. The very lone
liness Of the house, the prospect OF being
alone all winter, increased her growing
affection for the boy.
But OF course. IT was foolish to think
of marrying her common sense told
her that Tim had nothing, she had less
than nothing and she must make some
sort of career for herself.
Yet every hour that passed told her
she was more in love She WAS only realiz-
ing II gradually IL was too big 10 realize
IT once. So though she knew she wanted
t. SAY yes, her sense told her she should
saw no-that she should refuse the riches
offered her.
And when Tim came, she had not
made up her mind.
Little Mrs. Belding, a mouselike per- |
son who had been widow for years, and |
who filed out her tiny income by doing |
sewing. considered her duty as a chaperon |
finished by o clock and went up to her |
room.
Tim turned at once to Ruth. hi, arms |
out And Ruth went to him, and stayed |
quietly with her head against his shoulder. |
She felt perfectly happy, perfectly at peace
'Now tell me you love me, he said,
bus check against hers.
81 love you, she answered as obe-
diently A. child, and held up her lips
Then, he said ioyfully, "everythins's
"Ys," Ruth answered, "evcrythins'-
AL night
And, indeed, as lons A. his arms were
around her, everything was all right.
Ruth WAS conscious of nothing except
thst Tim loved her, and that she loved
him, and that IL was the sweetest feel
ing IN the world. She thought of moth
ing beyond the moment. She WAS supreme
ly happy.
But later. when they were sitting
before the fire, Tim mentioned the Car
lyle Street house again. And that brought
Ruth up 20 more practical consideration
Of the problem.
We can't do it, YOU know we can't,
Tint she told him.
we can when get a raise" Tim AZ
gled.
Not even then,' Ruth said.
''0f course, we would be poor at first
If YOU mind that
The girl for an instant felt hurt at this
remark.
Il wouldn't mind being poor" she
said finally. II am poor, I've never been
anything else-that | remember. Oh, YES,
when / was child, we had more money,
but never enough Ia be well-to-do. Only
| know, from my own experience here at
home. that we simply couldn't buy the
necessities of life, even after your raise"
Her face was almost childlike, as she
sat there considering the great problem
of existence, though her manner and her
common sense were those OF mature
woman.
'.Of course, ! won't stay at small
salary" Tim said. 'Ill get along-I1l I
make lot of money some day"
Il know you will, . the girl smiled at
him, q world of trust In her eyes. ''But now, |
this minute / mean, you aren't-and I
have work to do, too. So have to say
no, Tim have to say ] wont marry you
that is, that ! won't be engaged to
vou'
Il don't see what yof n,ean," Tim ,
was almost sulky 4,
Il can't say no, Ruth answered. BE I
cause love you too much. But | can't +,
say YES, because i know we simply couldn't :
marry. So I'm making compromise. 1
] m going 10 say no-for the time. And | /,