Iron County register., 1922-08-03
RUTHIE
BY MARGARET MoULToN

day, Rob had choked back the Il love
you, Ruthie," that he ached to say,
and instead had murmured huskily, Il
must help dad to make good in return
for this chance he has given me-"
Ruth, her eyes misty, gazed across
the campus. And l must pay back
every cent to mother and my dad" she
whispered. 1T meant a lot of sacri-
flee to put me through college,
They both sighed and understood
perhaps what was in the others mind:
"When our debts are paid, we can
have our happiness together"
Ruth had gone to New York to
well-paid position as translator in a
big banking house.
That winter Ruth had an opportun-
ity to so to the Havana office of her
firm, and she spent year in Cuba
Rob went to New York to see her
when she returned from Havana
He spent an uncomfortable eve
ming in the tiny apartment Ruth
shared with her chum Kitty, a lively,
irresponsible girl, who Chartered and
giggled until her tiance came to escort
her to the movies. Kitty's fiance was
well-dressed, likeable chap, and Rob
felt a lurking suspicion that Ruth
probably knew many men Of that
type, smooth-mannered, cleverly tailor
ed, self-contident young men, as cap
able in their line of work as Ruth was
in hers. Somewhat reluctantly she
told Rob of her success; she was now
manager of the foreign department of
the bank and could speak five Ian
guages.
Ruth cooked something in the chat
ing dish that night, but Kitty and her
friend returned in time to share the
lunch, and Rob went home with a
despairing feeling that Ruth had out
grown him and the farm he was work
ing so hard to improve.
They kept up a desultory correspon-
dence. Rob felt glimmer of hope
when Ruth wrote that she was COM
ing home for a months vacation the
next fall.
Rob called at the Martin farm the
morning after Ruth's arrival. Mrs.
Martin opened the door and greeted
him cordially.
"Ruth's pretty busy in the Kitchen"
she said, smiling. Perhaps you'd bet
ter go out there, Rob. You know the
way"
A tempting smell of picalilli testi-
fed to Ruth's occupation.
Hello, Bobbie," she cried, gaily.
"This is like old times, isn't it? My
hands are too sticky to shake, so we'll
have to postpone That. You might help
yourself to one of those doughnutS
I just made, then sit down in that
rocker and be comfortable, and tell
me all the news. Dad says you're the
best fruit grower around these parts.
I understand you took all the prizes
at the county fair"
Rob grinned as he bit into the fresh
doughnut. you must come over and
see my orchard some day, Ruthie," he
said, modestly. "But why all this ac-
tivity on your vacationT"
you remember Kitty?" Ruth asked,
as she stirred her pickles. "Well, she's
going to be married next month and
live in our apartment. The furniture
is all hers, anyway. So I have to
find another place to live. I've de-
cided to give Kitty a unique wedding
present. I'm going to fill huge bar
rel with jars of home made preserves,
and jellies, and pickles, and canned
things. She needs something like
that, to offset the disadvantages Of
trying to keep house in such tiny
place. Why, this lovely, big sunny
kitchen would hold the whole apart
ment!"
Il thought you were mighty fond Of
New York;" said Rob.
Ruth began to fill the jars and her
back was turned to him, so he could
not see the twinkle in her eye. 81
hate New York." she replied. en-
phatically. "When I begin housekeep-
ing, it will be-well, it won't be in
New York"
That afternoon, Ruth went over
with Rob to inspect his farm.
ITS called Hammond Hill farm,
now" Rob explained proudly, as they
drove up the hill and could see the
rows and rows of sturdy trees. Later
they went to the packing house where
boxes of prize apples were ready for
shipment.
These are beauties ~ Ruth ex-
claimed, honestly, looking down at the
tempting Gravensteins before her.
"How would you like box of these
to send to Kitty, along with the bar
rel of goodiesY Rob asked.
"Oh, Rob, how thoughtful you are!"
Ruth gave him grateful smile.
"Do you still remember how to make
apple pies, Ruthie?'
She blushed. 'I-er-yes, (of course"
she stammered.
I'D like to have one of your apple
pies cooking in my kitchen, it's a
lovely, big, sunny one like Your moth
er's. I've had the house all fixed over.
Ruthie, all the conveniences a young
housekeeper would want" The
words came swiftly, and he grasped
hnr 40 hn