Arizona republican., 1922-03-19
Chapter "

Sam had spent a delightful week
with Robert Turnbull. then had
yielded to the wishes and advice, OF
! the specialist Mr.. Turnbull had called
! in and had gone TO a private sana-
torium to undergo treatment. The
| physician gave him assurance that
he would surely be helped perhaps
cured, although he never would be
strong.
Fix me up so I can earn my living,
| that's all / ask" Sam had replied.
Ruth was delighted.
Don't worry about the expense,
Sam she told him gleefully. II can
we'll afford it now. Just get as well
as you can and don't worry. We will
all be so happy if you can be
helped"
At the office all was going WELL
But Ruth was often worried because
OF her mothers complaints at home.
"Now that you are earning $4,000
we should live as members OF the
Peabody family should live" S
Wait until Ted comes. or until we
hear from him, mother. Then we will
go in town. Although / do not be-
lieve for a moment we will be any
more comfortable or any happier
than we are here"
1T win be more befitting our sta
ton, at least" Mrs. Browning replied
with her best Peabody air.
Ruth had provided generously for
her mothers comfort. A trim maid
now assisted with the housework, so
Mrs. Browning had ample time for
all things of which she had been de-
prived for years. Ruth never was at
home for luncheon. Sam was in the
sanatorium, improving slowly but
surely. So Susan and her mother
were alone.
Susan had been graduated from
high school and was to enter college
in the fall. Mary Browning often
went into town now to shop. to at
tend musicales and lectures. She
visited a few friends she had not
seen in her lean years because her
pride as Peabody would not allow
her to let them see her condition to
know that her husband had been a
failure financially.
1t was typical OF Mary Browning
that she took all Ruth lavished upon
her as her right. 1t had become sec
ond nature to expect Ruth to provide
all she needed. She had no more
scruple in spending Ruth's money
than il she had earned 1t herself
And Ruth never thought of resenting
the constantly increasing claims
upon her.
Ruth was very happy at this time.
Her work was succeeding far beyond
her expectations. Sam was going to
get we'll. Susan had been graduated
with the honoIs OF her class. They
had reason TO believe that Ted would
come home soon. Added to this Ruth
felt certain calm happiness which
she had not tried to analyze. Betty
had written saying her first baby had
arrived and was to be named Ruth.
And Hunter had sent many mes.
sages. Ruth wondered a little why
she felt so indifferent. Heretofore
when Hunter had sent especial word
to her IL had reawakened to a certain
degree the sentiment she had felt for
him. Now it might have been Ted or
Sam who sent her the messages. The
feeling of wonderment was followed
by one OF relief. 1t was nice to have
such a sisterly feeling for Betty's
husband to look upon him as one Of
her brothers.
She wrote that she was delighted
that her little neice was to be named
for her; that all OF them We're so
pleased that Hunter was doing well,
was prospering in business, and that
Betty was so happy. She sent her
namesake some wonderful gifts,
squandering her money recklessly
with an abandon unusual to her.
She spoke of Hunters success to
Robert Turnbull. knowing he would
be interested. He asked after Betty
and she told of the little Ruth who
had been named for her.
Once more she felt glad that she
could talk of Hunter so calmly, with
nothing OF the personal in her feel
ing for him she shouldn't have for
her sisters husband.
The calm happiness which she did