The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-06-24
Chapter 101.
A LIE.


Let me go" Ruth repeated again.
Mo-" he whispered Kiss me-"
The girl struggled again. But her
struggles only maze him hold heI
more closely, She felt his lips come
nearer hers and she tried to hide from
him by burying her face against his
shoulder. And this for the moment
satisfied him. She felt his hand rest
on her head. then slip down TO her
shoulder, and so rest there an instant.
You must let me CO." she pleaded.
And feeling his arms losen, she pulled
away
But it was only to be caught sud
denly again. And Tim kissed her be-
fore she could turn away her face. 1t
was not the sweet affectionate caress
she had seen before, when Tim came
home to greet Myra 1t was the no.
impulsive caress of the old days-the
days when she and Tim were much in
love-when nothing in the world mat
tered beyond that when Ruth,
through all the hard work and dis
comfort of the day, had this evenings
visit TO look forward to, and Tins
love to strengthen her when she was
discouraged.
For a moment she forgot where she
was. II seemed only as though Tim
had run upto the big house on Main
street to read little, to smoke a
cigarette and talk, to put his hand
over. hers as it lay on the arm of the
chair, to tell her sentimental little
things as they stood by the fire to say
goodnight. She should be able TO hear
Mrs. Belongs footsteps on her way
up the stairs-there was always one
stair that creaked under even that
light little ladys tread
And Tim kissed her again.
But his kiss was-different. It was
more implsiuve, too impulsive. Or
was that it? She tried to get away,
though she still had the feeling that
she was at home. and ignorant, and
faced with The great task of earning
living, of saving a desperate finan-
cial situation, and that this man and
his love were the only sweet things in
life OF hard and discouraging work
and fight for education.
And he kissed her again. And again
Then she knew where she was And
with a sudden rush of clear under
standing she remembered she had on
the white negligee and that her hair
was hanging Her cheeks we're scar
let when she looked up.
Tim, please! You mustn't" she
began. He said something in answer
but she did not hear it. He took both
her hands and pulled her over to the
couch. and sat down by her. He held
both hands in one of his, and he sud
denly threw back his head to toss his
hair from his forehead.
It was a gesture that used to fas-
cinate Ruth to watch, it was a con.
queror's gesture. She waited now
knowing that with his free hand he
would smooth back the hair. And he
did. And all the old tenderness came
back TO her
Ruth dear know. I'll go in a
minute. | shouldnt-but can't helI
it,"
He vas elated, exalted, by his little
triumph. His eyes were shining. his
whole face had an animation it lacked
before-Tim was once more the bright
energetic boy she had adored-he was
the Tim of the old days
It threw its spell over her. the fas-
cination of watching this sudden trans
formation. A few moments before sht
had looked at him impersonally. crit
icising his bent shoulders and droop
ing head!
And he kissed her again, seem!
something of this in her eyes Fo
one long moment he held her agains
him. For one long moment Ruth for
got everything in the caress.
Then the phone rang.
Its sudden buzzing made them bot
start; it broke the spell Ruth spran
mp, her face white, one hand at he
heart
''Never mind. someone calling. Don
look so scared. Shall | answer?
Tim asked, much calmer than she wa!
She shook her head
Who can II be-" She picked u
the receiver Her hello" was so wea
that she had to repeat it three time
before she was heard. Then her fac
if possible. grew still whittier