Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-15
THE GIRL WHO
HAD NO CHANCE
Chapter LXXlI.-
BY Marian Rubincam.
Copyright. 1910, by the Mcclure Ncws
paper Syndicate. Now York City.

Chapter LXXII.
Ruth cried most of her nervousness
AWAY. and Langley sat quietly hol ding
her until the hysteria went out of her
sohs and she was calmer. He WAS so
tall that when he impulsively gathered
her up In his arms, she curled up on
his lap like "A small child She remem-
hercd afterwards that he did not even
try To kiss hcr-hc simply held her un-
tl she stopped. d.crying
Then she looked up and little feel
ing of self-consclousness came over
her. She stirred, and he let her go at
once In fact. he picked her up and put
her back on the couch, throwing the old
knitted blanket over her feet.
Then he sat on the edpe of the couch
and took her hand. There was something
very sweet and big brotherly in the way
hc had chosen to show his sympathy
Ruth was too unstrung az the time to
think about 10. but Afterwards she realized
how gentle sad competent and dependable
be was and how he had almost charmed
AWAY some of her nervousness
Tell me about your Father mean
when he was young, he begged. Ruth
began 20 talk k-aud IT was comforting to
talk about the little man she had loved SO
dearly.
"Ho always knew whatever bothered
me | never even had TO tell him. she
ended her story. But always did tell
HIM. even things | couldn't tell Mother.
Except about Tim. And that was So
we'll big and serious and he was Ill and,
after all it's pretty hard 20 co nfess you
cared about n man who didn't care about
YOU"
Tim" Langley repeated the name
for the frs, time Ruth had told him
about her love affair and he had told
her about his: indeed. after the exchange o
condolences, their friendship had grown
the warmer But either Ruth had never
mentioned the name. or else Langley had
not taken any notice of IT.
Tim" he repeated. Now remember,
that WAS the first name of the young chap
| did out Of Job in one office in New York
Cny-the chap who gave me letter TO
YOU
That's the one
Yes | remember now | felt badly
about losing him his place, but he WAS
not needed in that organisation, and
I found him place in another firm.
Where he liked it go well that he
worked very had, and wss raised in
salary until he could afford TO aet married
so, indirectly. caused you to lose
hiftl-st tftAsf A VIE the hltdbh VN MfNsh
he could marry the other girl Langley
stil held one Of Ruth's hands. But he had
settled himself more comfortably on the
couch. and WAS staring now at the Are
1T wasn't your fault" Ruth put IN.
mo, / was only playing Fate's little
game for Fate, he eaid. HE was rather \
ikeshle chap as l remainder, though he
uss not particularly good At the work in
thst first Job
II don't suppoee Tim could work
hard AZ anything be was not interested
iu," Ruth unused, also looking into the
FIRE HE wae very essy going, rather
car~less-but nice"
After moment she added:
Il thought he was wonde ful.'
We al do-vhen it's frat loves |
don't believe a second love is ever 40
romantic. I can't tell, | never GOT over
the first affair."" the man confessed
"Nor J. Langley, it's too bad we can't
fan in love With each othert'
Ordinarily, Ruth could never have
ssid this, brt tonight, after his sympathy,
after the rackine night that had passed
before. she could cav it-i,set a. abe could
SIT there on the couch half covered with the
rug. and let him hold her hand. There
vss no sentiment IN IL, only warm and
Mother wants us TO fall in love,
Father did. be almost said eo-he-be- |
fore" Her voice broke again, as she |
recalled the last words he had SAID to her. |
Il used 20 think it was a shame that my |
interest 10 Tim, who isn't hundredth as |
good a. YOU, should keep me from falling |
IN love with YOU"
And | used to wonder why | never |
felt romantic about YOU when YOU are /
40 superior to the brainiess little child /
that broke me all UP"
There was silence again. Then Ruth /
said:
Il think, after all, YOU are alch rare
fr,end that IL would be shame to spoil il
by falling in love
Langley smiled-still holding her hand
II used TO be pretty cynical about
| never knew a real friendship was possible
between a man and wonnan-Ruth, If
you like me 20 as friend, will YOU do
something TO please me-
Yea"
after the funeral, 90 TO New York
In two weeks YOU can arrange your work
- YOU can leave, and YOU must have q
rect and 8 change. You'll have plenty OF
money, for you've some coming from
Rlley's Office, YOU told me. / want YOU to
get as far away from this sort of life as
possible, for shout three weeks. Will you9"
The girl nodded, not knowing what
that casual suggestion was to bring out,
MonGay--Another Spring Comes