Arizona republican., 1922-02-28

father. her lady mother who resented
her poverty not for itself so much as
because it was beneath the dignity of
a Peabody to be poor; her brother
who had so wholeheRrtedly given
himself 10 his country and was now
broken in mind and body S result;
her dear little sister Susan who
showed so much promise and must
be given her chance surely no girl
ever had greater incentive to make
good.
This was as Ruth thought of it.
Her father really gave Ii no
thought at all He slid along from
day TO day, telling himself and others
how he had been moderated and that
some day he would find a firm who
would appreciate the services OF
seasoned man instead of some young
whippersnapper who knew nothing
of business.
Her mother-fretful, complaining,
missing Betty. the favorite daughter
because she was a Peabody in looks,
always wondering why life had
treated her SO cruelty when she had
tried to he a good wife and mother
gave voice 10 her thoughts along
these lines.
thought. He loved Ruth was proud
OF her. and seldom let her sec the Bit
terness in his. heart. Bitterness
against his father for his incompe-
tencv, against the government for
which he had given his young man
hood with out, as he now considered
IL. the proper consideration. Not that
Sam Browning would rot have done
right over the very thing he had
done before That was his patriot
ism. But when he had done il. 1t
called him terribly that his helpless
ness should be a drag on the girl. his
sister, when the great nation Tor
which he had fought might take the
burden off her shoulders.
Betty had always thought herseh
abused because OF their poverty.
But as far as the family life went.
their expenses, etc, Betty was now
eliminated.
Then came susan guy little tall
ented susan the life OF the family.
,ybo nursed her ambitions in secret
and who adored Ruth. Susan. whose
thoughts were all sweet and unset
fish, who wanted to help so badly
that 1T hurt" as she sometimes told
sam. And who wrote gay or sad
little poems. and hid them fearing
some one would laugh at her at
tempts. but with determination
deep in her heart to some day be
poet. -
Ruth looked around at them all
with love-lit eyes. Then sihed as
she thought of how completely
Iolisa's marriage had cut her ott
from the family. and how awful 1t
was not to know where Ted was
With seventy-five dollars a week
she would soon be able to lay aside
something TO pay off that nightmare
mortgage and assure her parents
home But she realized she must be
firm with them while she smiled
rather sadly at the idea.
Firm with her parents
"The dears," she said TO herself as
she stifled a sigh. They are nota-
in but children. both of them. l teel
older than either"
Was IL any wonder that she so
cheerfully accepted the responsibility
Yet Ruth was not unhappy.
There was a sore spot in her heart
when she thought Of Hunter Worden.
but It was gradually healing and at
no time had she. allowed herself 10
feel bitter becadse OF her quickly
ended romance. And she was in
ordinately pleased and proud OF her
advancement, yet humble al the
same time. The firm had shown
great kindness to her. enormous
faith I'm her ability She must not,
would not disappoint them.
This was her mood when she took
possession Of her office two days
after Betty and Worden had been
married and left them
(To be Continued.
Prince OF Wales is exempt from
. L. I, af