Arizona republican., 1922-02-01
chanter TX

OnaDIGF IN
There was nothing of the air of a
martyr about Ruth Browning because
of her unselfish devotion to her fam
ily Indeed she was always careful
to be gay and cheerful, no matter
how weary, for fear they might be
hurt that she had to work so hard
for them Only Sam grumbled as he
saw her efforts when, weary. she was
not quite natural.
Often too. Mrs Browning would
have what Sam called one of her
"fits of self pity These were harder
for Ruth to bear than all her hard
work and selfdenial
II have come to point where
don't expect anything" Mary Brown
ing would whine, her eyes misty with
unshed tears. Long ago she had
stopped crying. She found it made
her eyes look weak, in a sense spoiled
her beauty of which she still was in
ordinately proud. ITS what | must
look for, l suppose, after shaving for
such a family all these years. A man
loses his job and sits in the corner
and smokes" A glance of disdain at
Henry accompanied the words. But
there is no stopping for me. There
may have been time-when hoped
that / was at last going to have
things like other women" here she
INTERCEPTED a sob" but that times
past. There's nothing to look for
ward to. but go on like this until it
kills me- Sometimes | hope ii won't
be long before 1t does"
Now, mother" Sam would break
in, - you look mighty healthy and
handsome. We must all keep cheer
full to help Ruth. II is all we can
do" his own bitterness escaping In
his voice.
I'm sure Ruth has more in her life
than | do. She sees people, goes to
the city every day, has something
besides cooking and scrubbing to do"
IF it wasn't for Ruth there would
be nothing to cook, no place to
scrub" He blurted out one day after
his mother had, as he told Ruth, fret
ted him so he couldn't help it.
That's right Make me feel as II
I had no right here! If / had not
been a slave to you children I might
have been in some good position too
can't see that Ruth does more than
her duty"
Il don't, mother dear, one bit more
And it's pleasure too. love to be
able to help little. Sam doesn't fee
good today; don't mind his grum
bling And with kiss poor, tired
Ruth would pour oil upon the
troubled waters.
"Help a little,' Sam grumbled un-
der his breath. shes a brick. that's
what she is. ! don't see how she
sands mother talking So"
Ruth had regligiously put away her
ten dollars a week for a month.
There was just forty dollars in the
bureau drawer. She had put the
money in an envelope. then laid 1t un-
der the paper upon which her under
clothes were placed in the neat man
ner so natural to Ruth. so unlike the
condition of Betty's bureau. where
often it took the combined efforts OF
Mrs. Browning and Ruth to find what
careless Betty wanted, so untidy was
the little beauty.
almost half enough to pay that
interest," Ruth said TO herself as she
placed the fourth ten dollar bill with
the others. shall have just enough
when the time comes She counted
on the calendar. ''Yes. it is just five
more weeks to the twenty first and
with a smile OF intense satisfaction
upon her face, she Joined the family
at dinner.
What you got UP your sleeve
Ruth?" Betty asked. you look as u
you had found a gold mine. or an oi
well. Got another raise? I hope tC
| goodness you have. If l don't have 9
new hat pretty soon l shan't1 go &c
school, don't believe I shall &c
much longer anyway I'm tired Of
going without everything the Other
| girls have" Then without waiting
for Ruth to reply, much to her de-
light, she commenced to tell of hat
! and coat of the latest style one Of this
girls had, girl she chummed with
Don't say you won't go to school
Betty. II you stop now you won't bt
fitted for anything. No one will pay
you good wages. After YOU graduate
from high school You can do mucf
| better"
Il don't see that you are a nll'
lionairess YET
"No-but 1 couldn't earn what dc
| il had no more education than
you have now. Try and be sensible
about IL, Betty. ! know ii is hard
| to 20 without pretty clothes and