The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-07-08
Chapter 112
AWAKE

I'll not forget this time he said. |
You've wakened me. you've put new
ambition into me. want to do things
now, want to be something. / won't
let Myra make me lazy again"
Ruth smiled a little. Once she
would have thrilled to that speech, this
time it left her cold and cynical.
Il hope you'll do something and be
something" she answered, but her
tones were formal and polite. they car
RED no conviction. ALSO, for your
peace Of mind, that you'll forget me.
Myra has had that effect on you twice
before, hope she will again"
Forget you! Ruth, don't want to
forget you If l don't remember you
and all you've done and all you've
meant to me. how can be anything?
BE something by your own efforts,
beause you want to be. Don't lean on
a woman for your inspiration"
That's easy to say" Tim cried.
He came towards her again, and her
old nervousness came back. After all,
she had said what she wanted to
say.
Now it's time for you to CO." she
said. i've told you how I felt all
these years. I've told you don't think
I'm in love with you and that l may
be with another man. Gaby says this
IS the ghost of my old love for you,
and not a real affection at all. l
shan't see you again, so it won't
matter. You'll forget easily, perhaps
I'll forget in time. But I'm not as
l don't forget things so easily and
was very much in love once"
Langley Williams"
"Yes!" Ruth said. He made a step
again, and she drew back. MOI" she
cried. "Oh, don't know what I'm go
ing to do"
But the light Of jealousy was blazing
IN Tins eyes. II was the old story
over again-he forgot when she was
not there, but as soon as he felt her
affection had left him entirely, as soon
as he thought there was someone else,
the love he once had came back.
Or the sense OF possession came
back. and brought jealousy with 1t.
He reached Ruth before she could
say anything or even move, and once
more he put his arms tightly around
her and kissed her with all the old
passion, with all the feryor of those
days years ago when they were really
engaged and when all life opened out
to them as a delightful adventure, to
be embarked upon together.
Ruth did not move. She could not
for the tightness of his arms. But she
was not afraid this time, and she was
not fighting her own emotions and OWL
love. She felt his lips against hel
cheeks and her hair and her own lips
Once she would have held him tightly
too, and given herself up to his love
and his caress.
This time she felt nothing-not ever
a sense of wrong-doing. She simpl!
felt that an oldsfriend had gone tenn
rorarily mad and was insisting OF
holding her too tight, and that hi!
rearness and his kisses were very un
pleasant. But she could not get away
so she could only submit.
Then he released her, TO look at her
She stood off, facing him with he
straight, honest look, her cheeks red
her mouth slightly contemptuous.
I'm almost glad you did that" She
said. ut taught me something
wanted to know"
Tim probably did not hear her. HI:
brown eyes, always so nice and cheer!
and smiling, were alight with love ant
intense jealousy. He came and caugh
her again. She turned her head away
, and she could hear him talking to her
But his words were indistinct.
He might have been saying h
loved her. She hoped not. She didn'
want to hear. She wasn't angry, sh
wasn't afraid, she was simply uncom
Portable in the tightness Of his arm
and she wished he would let her go.
But Tim seemed to have lost the ser
sitiveness that he once had in sue
great measure. Her complete lack @
response did not seem to affect hin
He kept begging her to not turn he
head away.
After little she gave little shuc
der, purely because she was impatien
and tired and because she wanted hir