The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-04-27
Chapter 81.
THE NEW IDEA.

/ WV bOGA.
There comes a time Ia any situation
when the apparent limit of feeling
i has been reached. Ruth had reached
4. this state. And so, though she sat
on the porch with tears in her eyes
that were hot and that hurt, still, the
pain was no greater than what she
had been carrying about with her
for some months.
She had come, she felt. TO the place
where Tim could not hurt her any
more. Except for the fact that the
house was physically more comfort.
able, that there was more to eat and
nicer food-except for these little
thing-her life was so unhappy that
little bit more or less didn't matter.
She folded the letter into tiny
bundle and went out to the kitchen.
With casual air she raised the stove
lid and dropped the paper into the
into ashy fakes before she replaced
The lid
at was from Tim, wasn't TT" Mrs.
O'Niel asked
Yes, but he had nothing TO say-oh,
except that he has 4 new job and 4
raise Of $50. and that he's sending
friend here for room"
Nothing! l think that's a lot. $50
a week." Mrs. O'Niel paused for q
moment, long spoon in her hand
She was doing" berries for winter
use, cooking while she cooked dinner
so as to save time and coal as WELL
In such little economics and planninss
Mrs. O'Niel felt herself supremely eff
cient-and she was.
Il wonder if they'll get married
now" she went on, contemplating the
long spoon, dripping with the sweet,
sticky preserve.
Il hope so. They can afford to
now"
Ruth said this calmly, taking Off
hair with her band II think I'll have
bath before dinner. mother, if
there's hot water enough. l feel as
though l had lint sticking to me all
over, after a day at the factory"
Il don't doubt. Well, there's plenty
OF water" That was as near as Mrs.
O'Niel could get to an expression of
sympathy, even with her own daugh-
ter. But, so the girl should have plen-
ty of time, she delayed the meal and
she went upstairs to put out Ruth's
freshest dress, thinking the change
might make her feel better. But that
night Ruth decided to cut the grass,
so she came down in her oldest
clothes
And when her mother protested that
she had time to keep the place neat
the girl only answered thai it kept
her form getting round-shouidered,
since her work made her bend over
so much.
Ruth, meantime. had picked up &C.
ouaintanceship with one of the young
stenographers in the factory's ONCE,
and had made arrangement with her
to take three lessons in shorthand
each week, for 81 week But it went
slowly. Ruth had, she found, little
love for the queer figures she was
taught, though the science of them,
the careful planning so that each
stroke might take as little time, as
possible, began in time to fascinate
her.
The truth was, Ruth was toe tired
Z in the evenings to be able to do much
work
And the summer days dragged
along.
It's q shame" her mother would
often say; there are only seven even
ings in week, ard three of them
the rest of the time you don't go oct
much, and if a man does come and
call you give him no encouragement to
come again"
Il can't talk to NEST of them"
Ruth protested in sudden anger.
Mother, we don't speak the same
language. I'd rather read a good book
to father than sit on the porch with
some silly idiot. All any of Their?
want to do is to hold hands. And
they haven't an idea in their heads,
any of them.
But her father. who overheard this,
called to her, and Ruth, quoting down
at once, went out on the porch, where
he sat in his wheel-chair.
II don't blame you for the way you
feel about these boys and girls of the
town" he said gently. But after all,
Ruth. you can't bury yourself with
only your mother ard myself for COM
partnership. Being hermit is all
right for some people, but you are not
the hermit type. You're young and
we'll. Since for the present there 5
nothing better in sight, make the best
of what you have"
But what have -" Ruth asked
ITO be sure, there are people who
live on large estates near Marketown
who are pretty, intelligent. w;deawake
But they have nothing to do with this
sleepy place. They go to the city for
their ideas, their clothes, their amuse-
ments. They've clubs but only for
themselves. They wouldn't look at
me. unless had lot of money.
We'll, but think it over. Do what
YOU can. I'm sure there are boys and
- girls enough here to make up club
of some sort for wholesome pleasure.
Ruth answered nothing. She tried
TO fancy some of the young men on
Main street riding horseback CT
swinging a golf club.
But the words stuck in her mind
to bear fruit later.
I'D like to Go something to the
Of ', cha CniH