The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-06-25
Chapter 102.
AN lNTERIUDE.


The door closed, and the lock click
ed as it fell into place. Ruth was
alone. She dropped to the couch, her
hands pressed against her cheeks,
staring at the door. She was only
conscious of tremendous silence and
the beating of her own heart.
Then she wondered whether it was
late, so she got up and went to the
window. From there she could see
over the buildings to the great clock
in Madison Square Tower. its face
outlined in light against the dark sky.
1t was only half past ten-the
chimes began sounding as she looked
out over the city.
So the whole second half of his
visit had taken much less than half an
hour, She could not believe this, and
stared at the clock face again to make
sure. Then she stood looking from
the window-the city made an ihumi
mated map below her. From her high
window she could see over all the
roofs of the nearer buildings, far down
to the tip of the island where the
great mass of skyscrapers were, and
on each side the moving lights of
boats going up and down the two
rivers.
1t was a gorgeous view which she
never tired of, but tonight she did not
take it in as she stood and stared from
the window. She was too busy going
back over the events OF the last half
hour.
What mad idea was in Tins mind?
And what madness in hers, that she
should let him kiss her?
Tim was married. That meant he
was absolutely the possession of the
other woman, and that there was not
the slightest excuse for even the most
casual caress.
And he had kissed her-several
times. 1t was true she had fought
against it-but once, just once, she
had yielded. Down in her mind she
knew that fighting did her no good, it
only made him hold her more closely.
but even that did not excuse her to
herself.
She still stared out of the window,
full of shame. She had yielded to one
kiss-feeling all the time that she was
back in her old home, and that she
and Tim were engaged again. And
yet Tim had been married some years,
and she had wronged Myra by giving
into that one caress. Not even the
knowledge that Myra had wronged her
years before made Ruth excuse her
self now.
Madame IS still up?"
She jumped at the sound, and turn
ed to see Marie standing in the door
way between her little boudoir ana
the living room.
Il raped, but there was no answer.
The curtains kill the sound" Marie
said apologetically.
How long have you been here?'
Another fear came to her heart, the
guilty fear of being overheard-and
misunderstood!
only one instant, madame. / am
off duty Saturdays. l only now came
in. I thought madame's suit needed
pressing"
Never mind it." Ruth answered
Marie could enter the boudoir from
the other corridor, Ruth remembered.
She wondered whether the little
French girl was telling the truth, or
whether she had been in the next
room and had overheard.
But the girls face gave no hint of
anything but concern as Ruth turned
from the window and came to the cen
ire of the room.
But you are ILL" she exclaimed
You have been crying"
NO, just feel tired. I'm going to
bed"
u will bring you some hot milk
that will help you sleep"
And Marie went away. Ruth turned
out the lights and went to bed. But
once more she could not sleep. She
stared into the dark while her heac
grew hotter and hotter and a violent
pain began over her forehead
Not even the glas of hot milk Marie
brought in soothed her. After the
maid had gone, she still lay awake