The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-06-18
Chapter 96.
THE STRANGE EVENING.

Ruth felt so nervous about seeing
Tim in the evening that she could
scarcely eat the dinner Marie served
her in her rooms. Then she did some.
thing at which she always smiled
when she thought il over in later
years. All the conventionalism TO
>ich she had been trained told her
it was wrong to see Tim, since he was
married and since she still cared for
him. All her common sense told her
that this was the very thing she
should do-for then she might become
acquainted again with the real Tim J.
and she might learn whether ii was
love, or the remnants of a youthful
Illusion
For Tim had changed greatly, and
so had she-and she knew she must
for her future peace of mind. find out
more about this new man. This she
could not do while Myra was around
to monopolize the talk
But she was still so much afraid OF
the personal element. so much wor-
ried by the conventions-thats she de-
liberately put on one of her old
dresses that was not becoming and
did her hair in the old-time way, in
method that Marie had taught her At
least she was not making herself de
liberately attractive, she thought.
Time came about s o'clock. He had
been at a boxing match that afternoon,
and had gone TO dinner with the fell
lows some of the men in the office,
he explained, and he felt rather rum
pied and mussed
el - Ill - l..
when I'm so towsled," he apologized.
But Ruth smiled and said it was
all right She did not say that she
liked to see his dark brown hair
thrown about. In the old days Tim s
careless dressing had been one of his
charms. 1t made him so much more
like small boy, quality that had
always appealed strongly to Ruth
It's like the old days, isn't it," Tim
asked once. Only We should have
the open fire instead of steam radia-
tors, and that rug with a hole in it,
in place of your grand fixings here
Ruth did not answer. The old eve
nings by the open fire were such a
precious memory TO her that ii hurt
to have them referred to in this casual
cheerful manner.
We used to read together a lot, "
she said finally, getting up and going
10 the table where some books lay
Tim, have you read this? 1t is just
out-lm sending it home-to some
friends-this last came out after a
slight hesitation.
Nope" answered Tim cheerfully
Il don't get much time to read
This will be the novel of the sea
SON Ruth went on. It's really worth
while. | have some new war books
too"
You've got lot of highbrow stuff
here too" Tim also had gotten up and
stood now by the table. Maybe
ought to read more. Myra says thai
after l have had a full day in the
office, my head is too tired to read
so she takes me to the movies. Some
times l read magazine through
The talk dropped. The girl hac
never realized how great a part book:
had played in their lives at home. o.
was it that? She tried the war as :
topic-everyone talked little else, sht
found Tim knew much less than she
and cared nothing. She tried the the
atre-but Myra hated the trip dow
town, so usually they went to movies
Tim answered-Tim had lost interes
in her work at home, her own min
was full of it.
There were awkward silences
Eventually they drifted into a cha
about people they knew, PRESENT.
they were talking of themselves. Thi
was the one thing Ruth wanted t
avoid for as she remembered il later
it seemed the only topic left, wher
she and Tim could meet on Commo
ground.
You don't say much about YOU
self Tim remarked once. Got an
dark secrets, Ruth? Myra says 70
are looking so pretty and fashionable
she is sure you've got all the beau
of the town"
"BeauX'-it was the one word Rut
hated more than any other-she hate
it and the vulgar meanln attache
to it, II seemed TO imply all sorts
common things-"flirting' and "spool
ing" the deliberate fascination OF an
man for the sake of ones persons
vanity, empty, silly talk, She hate
Myra for having used the word an
Tim for having repeated it.
Don't look so mad" Tim said, bul
ing out his pipe and getting ready
smoke. Il only wondered whetht
YOU were engaged. You are prett
you know"
Does everyone have to get ma
ried?" Ruth answered, her tones free
ing cold