Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-12-11
Chapter XLiI.

Rutb tossed about in bed rcstlessly and
wondered about Tim. This was the hrst
time she had really ever been alone,the
frst tine in her life that she had not been
moro or less surrounded by people who
Ipcyy hcr Even when she had packed
ber mother and father OF 20 the South
,bcrc had bccn Mrs Bedding anda whole
village full of people with whom she was
ACQUAINTED Then when her house was
filled with roomers, she had almost never
been alone.
II was a curious feeling, which she nag
not yct learned to like. When she ieli
-, = was very late and so she over
slcpt the boarding-house breakfast hour
,bc next dav. Later she wandered out,
tired and feeling a little sick, to see more
IL was iii hers TO see' She stood on the
,.,rrer of the street wondering which
vs,. sh, wanted to go Here she was IN
New York. here was everything garound her
that she had dreamed Of seeirg and she
silddcrlv did not want To see anything
She wanted 20 go back home and CRY
YET she dishked the boarding house
she went into a nearby caic ana gov
cup az hot coffee and roll. That made her
feel quite different; the heat and stlmula-
tron cleared her brain and drove away the
bji,s She went back to the boarding
house for her guide book and map-and
falnd IN the hall a letter in Tim 5 wrltlngl
She tore il open trembling. IL was only
line. viii be up to see YOU tonight at 8
That dav she passed in feverish aim
Iesspess. She never knew what she saw
but she was dressed in her incest blouse
and her new suit, looking her best when
Tim arrived.
II was a curious meeting. Ruth held
out her hand, and they greeted each other
formally, like acquaintanccs. she iooked
up at him silently for moment. hls nice
dark ewes were not ready to squInt up
into n laugh. Tim was looking serious and
great deaf embarrassed.
'iWouldn't YOU like To sec show ne
asked. You've never been C real
theater"
Ruth nodded, and they started out.
Somehow in the air, on the streets, L
was easier to be casual. Ruth was glad e
the crowds. 1t took her mind off herself
and the strain Of being with I'M
All the ordinary talk, that seems neces-
sary when two people meet after long
absence. was over before the play. II
wasa light comedy that had been running
all winter and Ruth, in spite Of herself,
eniayeE il and vas over-awed at the sDler
dor Il the theater and the lovely dresses
az the women.
She chartered easily Of what she had
seen and done in the city, ard told him
al the happenings OF home, rs she had
told Mvra
But the play was over and they were
walking back, across town to the boarding
house. and the evening had flown. AS
tEcy went on into the darker streets, Tim
grew Quiet. and 80 did Ruth. ltwas coming
then something she feared but did net
Luaw.
II. whatever il was. came when they
stood in the dimly-it vestlbule 70 say
goodnight
"TH see YOU again soon" he said
.If YOU want II !" Ruth answered in
But why not? OF course ] do"
Il haven't congratulated ycu yet on
your engagement. 1hope you llbc- awiully
II was out at last A feeling Of relief
went over her that at least that was over.
II had TO be said-aDd now it was dcEe
wrh
re brick 10 say that Ruth, I'm
~ u sorry. l can't say anything. ex-
riaia ANYTHING. without being rotten 70
Nfyra-and il | don't explain Il makes i
look rather rotten 70 you
Please don't explain anything. Ruth
Ias
md trv.rC 10 avoid it. IT is natural Nyra
should fall il love with ycu. It's certain
IL natural YOU should fall IL love with
her She's very pretty and sveet-ard
Y on were free 70 do what YOU wanted
..But-she-I didnt t." Tim stumbled
along. He wanted TO tell how it had hap
uened he hadn't meant u turnfron Ruth.
He loved her. but be loved Myra too
Ruth was the finer of tie tro he had
fe't awful when il first happened. And he
was sure be would never love anyone but
Ruth-he wondered whether ne had hurt
her when he became engaged to Myra
Some OF this he told her IN short, DrOFen
sentences that meant little u her II that
moment OF agitation, but that she under
stood when she thought o. this evening
afterward.
SO ! didn't write. ! was q plain coward
Il couldn't, Tim ended Il dldn
think she would either. but she said il
was better for YOU to know. She doesn
know we-were engaged, or IN love
I'VE weren really engaged. Ruth said
wanting to soothe him, her pity coming tc
the fore as she saw he actually was suffer
ing "Of course, when ] heard IT. about you
and Mvra ] surprised little
In spite of herself her voice broke, she
leaned against the wall tears running
down her cheeks, hghtlng Tor ner con-
posure. And Tim, who never could bea'
20 see a woman cry, suddenly put his
arms around her II the old impulsive way
She welded 10 his strength, as she haC
20. and gave Wev to her tears. II was al
most like the night he said goodbye. Ht
kissed her face and her hands, and hel
mouth. holding her even tighter as ht
felt her relaxing il his arms, her lips cling
ing 20 his.
ruth" he whispered. Ruth don't
cry, love you, too He hadn't meant Z
say II that way-yet it was true he loyec
her and be loved Myra
"Oh, don T." she cried, and with the
strength of her desperation. pulled her
self free, and ran into the hall and up ths
stairs, out Of sight.
Monday-A New Friend.