The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-09-30
UNTANGLED
BY W. A. PEACH.

use of Its employees. The girls were
seated about. talking or reading. Ruth
was the only one to whom no young
man OF the many men In the great
building had seemed to turn an inter-
ested eye--that Is, no man of the kind
she wanted to know.
The girls had joked her about the
situation so much that when Mary
Kennedy had come to her and showed
her picture of whimsical masculine
face. handsome In clean, pleasant
fashion, and told her that he came
from her town upstate, she had said
glIbly:
"0h, yes, know him; he's an old
friend of miner
And she did not know him from
Adaml
You do?" said Mary. swell. that is,
ne. He Is n friend of Freds and is
coming in on the evening train-just
in time to go TO the dance; and you
can take care OF him. All the other
girls are tied up"
And Mary. walking gayly away, had
announced to the gathered girls that
at last Ruth was to have beau.
Thinking 1t over in her room, Ruth
felt tears come to her eyes: but
glance at the clock startled her into
action. She got out the simple dress
that was her sole evening gown, and
with unwilling fingers prepared her
self for her ordeal.
She went alone to the hall where
the girls were giving the dance--a lit
tie, lonely, and somewhat pathetic fig-
ure. She was welcomed with smiles
and questions. as he good looking?"
May ! see the snapshot?" "Is he an
! old flame Of yours?" and similar que
| rles were asked her. She forced her
self TO smile In n tantalizng way, but
her heart was not as gay as her smile.
The dance began, and TO her sur
| prise she found she was asked to dance
more than ever before. She wondered
why.
The fateful hand moved around on
| the big hall clock to the train time.
then TO little after. Perhaps, he
would not come; and she prayed that
her hope might be true. She had
about reached the conclusion he had
not. when slight confusion at the
door drew her attention. and she saw
Mary bearing down upon her.
| Ruth. he's come and waiting. As
long as you know him. just get him
and give him n good time" Mary said.
"This Is my favorlte dance"
Setting her will to the effort, she
went down the hall and up to tall
young fellow who was watching her
with an odd expression on his face.
She stopped before him, panic
stricken until she saw the brown
friendly eyes looking down at hers.
She held out her hanG and he took II
In close. friendly grasp.
"Mary had just time TO say Hello !
I'll get friend Of yours--an old one =
Are you the one? I hope So" he ad-
ded.
II was enough. Forgetting that he
still held her hand, she blurted out
the whole miserable story. He listened
soberly-she was bit frightened at
that-and then spoke the words that
| pi"ubht SohiS BenNc W hci rtoihy
heart.
"We ought to be old friends II we
aren't. Let's dance. That music Is
great" he said smiling
She drew n long breath and swung
with him into the dance.
-Four hours later It was tired but
supremely happy little girl that crept
into the small bed In the ballroom. aft
er long examination at the mirror
and the old verdict, "What homely
pug nosel II / could get rid Of that |!
Never mind-I have had one good time
that no one can ever. ever take away
from mel"
At the office the next day. she was
the subject Of much interest. But she
parried all comments that were sug-
gestive. HE goes home today" she
said quietly.
But he did not. She was called to
the telephone at noon, and his pleas
ant voice asked her to promise the
evening TO him. In a voice that must
have been faint to him, she agreed.
Then the wonder days began--gold-
en-, glorious days when hearts are find
ing their way TO each other in a union
that even death. supreme over all else.
can never sunder.
And then came the last evening.
They were alone In the little recep-
tion room. He was standing and say
ing simply: II must 90 tomorrow.
Before / go, Ruth, want to know
something; can you grow to love me
while am awayw
She could not find the words though
her lips moved. The keen. searching
strength came into his eyes. Sudden
ly, something strong and steadying
went about her. and from his shoulder
she was looking up.
"But nobody ever loved mel" She
whispered, dazed and confused, and
shaken by what had entered her life
| with overwhelming force "Just see