The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-04-14
Chapter 40.
CHANGED FRIENDS.

The sudden, unexpected change in
Myra's voice over the phone, CON-
bined with Ruth's nervousness, made
her feel suddenly unwelcome, suddenly
strange and awkward with Myra-a
curious condition to exist now be-
tween two girls who had been bosom
friends since they could first walk and
play!
When did you get in?" Myra asked.
Ruth told her, and added that she
had been so fusy with her aunt that
she had not time to look up anyone
she knew-and felt amused when she
considered that the only people she
knew" were her two friends from
home.
Then Myra's voice came back more
cordially-in fact, with a sudden high
pitched cordially that puzzled Ruth
more than the former CONSERVATION.
We'll, darlin" exclaimed the voice,
Its too sweet to hear you again. Do
come up and see me right away"
How can I get there?" Ruth asked.
her curiosity getting the better of her
nervousness.
"Just a minute till think. You're
in the station now, you say. Well, you
go up Fifth avenue"
The directions came slowly and
jerkily, there was quite obviously a
consultation between Myra and some
one else as to whether Fifth of Madi-
son was the easiest way to come. Ruth
caught the tones Of mans voice
could it be Tins? Was Tim with Myra
now? She did not want to see him
vet She certainly did not want to
have to face him for the first time
when he and Myra were together.
But she could not be sure who it
was. The voice was too faint to catch
through the phone. Finally, when she
understood just how she was to reach
the little apartment, she started on her
way.
But her hands were cold and her
face was hot. 1t must be Tim-if he
and Myra were engaged. Who else
could it be? She must see him, but
she did not want the dreaded encoun
ter to take place so Immediately.
However, when she entered the tiny
apartment, Myra was alone; and this
was an immense relief to her visitor
"Darlin I'm just too glad to see
you." Myra rushed over and embraced
Ruth enthusiastically, kissing her on
both cheeks. Its too nice of you to
come like this! OF course wei knew
YOU we're here You and mother botl!
wrote and l sent my address TO you
But | didn't expect you would look me
up!
Obviously Myra was fearfully EN-
barassed. Ruth opened her eyes III
surprise.
WHY not?" she asked. Why not
indeed-wasn't Myra after all her best
and oldest friend? But Myra did no
answer this question; instead, she sa'
down on the deep cushioned couch
and piled the tea table and It's lamp
a little closer.
Ruth had been proud Of her ne"
suit. and thought she made a very
good appearance, but she felt her III
significance painfully as she looked al
ner old friend Myra was dressed ID
a long, clingng gown of sort satih
50 draped that every fold caught the
light and cleaned, Her white neck
and arms were bare. Her lovely solo
hair was piled high up on her neao
and her lashes were amazingly long
and black Ruth learned later tha'
this was done with paint. she was
really exuuisitely beautiful. highly ART
ificial, very expensive looklhs'
Ruth sat on the other end or tne
! couch. and gradually little OF Tn
unexplainable reserve dropped away
AS they thawed out Myra' S hlgh keyed
manner changed too. and she talked
in the way she used to at home-eX
cent for new phrases and mannerlsms
which Ruth credited to her ne" CIT!
associations.
Mvra was so thoroughly reflector
of the person she was with, that she
was incapable of keeping up one char
acter when the model of that char
acter had been removed. Under Ruth
honesty and sincerity, she dropped
back now to the sort of girl she mac
been in Marketown.
Ruth told of places of interest sn(
had visited. Some of them Myra kne"
most she did not.
Il suppose | should have seen them,
she remarked. But, of course, see
new things every once in awhile trot
ting about No. I've never been in the
acknowledgements Emily had all the
MAGAZINES, what did l want? Or
we'll. architecture doesn't interest me
No. | haven't seen the Museum.
expect it has a lot of things that Woulc