Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-12
THE STRANGE EVENING.
Chapter 96

,n,n,, az which she always smiled "he,,
-. Thought II over in later years. ~.
,ha conyentionalism to wmch SIG "
boon trained told her II was "iohe
see Tim. since he was hihfiie 80
atnc. she still cared Tor hih' an no
common sense told her that 'lis "a
~, ,.r>, thing she should do-for theh
sba might become ACQUAINTED asaiii
,,-ith the real Tim. and she might ieath
whether il was love. or the reiiiii'h''
af a youthful illusion.
For Tim had changed greatiS' anu
so had sho-and she knew she must
or har future peace of mind. una OUT
r,ors about this new man. This she
could not do while Myrs was uiou'i"
to monopolize the TALK
M. .be was still 20 much afraid or
a. ,orso1al element 80 much worried
~, tha couventions--that she deliberate
n, NM on one of her old dresses that
vas not becoming and did her hair in
the old-time way, instead OF the softer
moro becoming method that Marie had
taught her At least she was not max
ing herself deliberately attractive, she
thought
Tim came about O'Clock He had
hean at n boxing match that afternoon
and had gone to dinner with the rel
lows some OF the men In the ofllce
he explained. and he felt rather rumpled
and mussed
IT'S shame TO call on lady when
I'm SO toyrsled he apologized
Uut Ruth smiled and said IT was all
light She did not say that she liked
~ soe hts dark hair thrown about In
the old days Tins careless dressing
had been one Of 1is charms. II made
quality that had always appealed
strongly to Ruth.
..It's ike the old days. ISN'T ~
Trrn asked onoe Only we should
have the omen fire instead Of steam
radiators. and that rug with tho hole
tn Il. in place ~ your grand hdngs
here
Ruth did not answer. The old eve
4trgs hv the omen fire We're such a
precious memory 20 her that u hurt 10
ave them referred 70 in this casual
cheerful manner.
We used 20 read together lot. she
said finally. getting UP and going to
ne tahle where some books lay. Tim.
naV. vou read this Its Just out-i'm
4srdiaF n home-to soma friends
'his I9sf ,arne out after n slight hesi-
ttuou.
~
don zet much time TO read.
Thie WIN he the novel n the SCI
an Ruth went on It's really worth
,bu,. I'VE some new war books too"
You've got LOT of highhrow stun
ere too. Tim had also gotten up and
.tood now ~ the table. Maybe
aught a. read more Nfyra says that
,ftcr I've had a full day IN the Office
nv head IS too tired 20 read so she
axes me 70 movies. Sometimes / read
4 inagaziue through"
The talk dropped. The girl haC
never realized how great part books
had played in their lives at home. Or
was IL that She tried the war as
toric-cveryonc talked little else. sh'
found Tim knew much less than she
and cared nothing She tried the the
atre-hut Myra hated the trip down
town 50 usually they went to movies
rim answered. She made var1ou
ether cforts-Tinl had lost interest il
aer work at home. her own mind wa
'ull Of n.
There were awkward si4encc
Eventually they drifted into a cha
bout people they knew. presently the
we're talking OF themselves. This wa
the one thing Ruth wanted 70 avoic
.eemed the only topic left, where sh
and Tim could meet on commo
ground
You don't say much about your
self Tim renlarkcd once. Got an
dark secrets. Ruth Myra saws your
looking so pretty and fashionable she
sure you've got al the beaux Of IN
town
"Beaux"-it was the one word Rut
hated more than my other-she hate
and the vulgar meaning attached
Z II seemed TO imply ali sorts {
common things-"firting' and "spoor
ng tho deliberat, fascination of al
nan for the SAX, of ones persons
auity. empty. sill talk, She hat
Aiyra for having Used the word ar
Tim for having repeated 1t.
Don't look SO n4d. Tim said. pui
NJ out his pipe snd getting itready
srnoke I only wondered whether yc
we're engaged. You are pretty, yo
now"
Does everyone have 70 get ma
led" Ruth answer ed. her tones free
~ cold.
30" TIM answ, red. cheerfuliy III
Dashed 4 did didn't want 10. bf
guess IL was a good thing
Ruth's anger fairly famed 81
'urred and faced Tim.
DO YOU think that's fair way
peak Of your wife,"
Maybe not Nyra wouldn't car
She knows"
Ruth suddenly found she did n
want L. hear what Myra knew. 81
sank down on the couch.
Please go home, Tim" she sal
4 know I'm rude 10 ask, but l dor
eel well feel-very badly"
All apologies at once for not havii
aoticeo she looked III. Tim put on
eoat and said goodnight. Ruth we
nto her room before he was even o
% the apartment. She slipped in
her negligee. and pulled the pins fro
her hair. 10 ease her headache.
Her outer door opened and. thinkil
was Marie. she went into the hvil
-oom again. Tim stood in her doc
way--his hand on the knob Of me ST
op~n door.
Monday-The Crisis.