The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-24
G. DOMANCE
a&2SA ~ OF THE.
~ GREATER
LOVE-
CHAPTER Sc


"only if occasion ever arose when I
wanted to skip the town and get
married, | might head for Southold
and your minister-you said you
liked him, didn't you?-and get him
to marry Sam and me right off-hand
as it were.
There. Ken, don't look so serious!
/ was only in fun, silly ehumpi But
you are a duck, just the same. Now
let's go on with our drive. Dad will
be- tickled when you bring me in
after dark He will be sure that I
have suddenly gotten sense and am
encouraging you! "
In accordance with his promise
to Victoria to help her in the
affair that concerned her most
deeply. Kenneth called at he Walsh
home three times during he week
following the Sunday drive.
Affairs are progressing" Victoria
announced triumphantly on the oc-
casion of his last visit. Your COM
ing here has quoted some of dads
suspicious. He has even stopped
saying slurring things about Sam.
And-if l continue to be good per-
haps he may resume paying my al
lowance. But" her face hardening,
Il do not want mis- money if what
l hope happensF'
IF what you hope?"
"Yes-if Sam and l ger married
soon"
Victoria Kenneth spoke out the
protest that had been In his mind
for some days, do not think of mar
ryins any man secretly 1t would
be better to tell your father frankly
that you are going to marry ravers
-Whetler he anproyaS or
She shook her head. mo, he would
move heaven and earth to prevent
it, He would make me wish l were
dead-and make mother wish so. too
1 guess. You do not know dad-nor
how abominable he can be. Sam
himself is too sensitive to stand such
a fuss. In some way dad would pre-
vent our marriage. You see, I am
not of age yet--and I do not propose
to live in purgatory for whole
year-until / am of age"
"A year is not so long to watt"
Kenneth reminded her.
1t would not be long to wait for
Sam Travers. 1t would be a long
while TO wait for Ruth Grant Yet
he must wait for the rest of his life
for her,
Don't look so solemn" Victoria
commanded, and he did not tell her
that his solemn" look was not on
account of her love affair. but his
own. Cheer up!" she continued Il
made dad awfully uncomfortable yes
terday. l said L was going to Dor
row money from one of my friends
you, possibly-if he did not let me
have my allowance.
Well that fetched him. He in
sisted that it did his heart good to
nave you around, and then he drew
out his check book, made out a
check for 800 and handed it, to me
Go get your sodas and candiesr
he said
Its not the same as having nv
allowance, and it won't go far-only
hundred dollars. But it shows that
he Is netting, anyway"
As she spoke, she took up a gold
mesh bag from the table at her side.
Here's the check now" she said.
ITS on your bank, of course"
AS he glanced at the check Ken
meth saw that it was already in
dorsed.
BE careful Victoria he warned
III that check is indorsed any one
can get the money on it. tits made
out to cash, isn't it,"
Yes.
Then it is as good as a hundred
dollar bill to anyone who happens
to pick it up, my dear. You should
not have Endorsed it before you took
1T to sae bank. Lots of people do
that, bat it is not safe.
hardly ever go to the bank my
self" Victoria told him. eff Dad
gives me- a check, get Sam-or some
one-to cash it for me. And men are
careful about what's in their wallets
and thlags, aren't they?"
Kenneth laughed at her lack of
business methods, then the matter
passed from his mind for the time.
This was Thursday. he unused as
he waikSd back to his boarding house.
and no word had yet come from Ruth
about the book he had sent her He
hoped she was not i'll. He wished
that he knew just how she was. 1t
could not be that she was displeased
with him for sending her little gift
after their conversation on that last
evening in Southold. She must have
understood, even If she had not loved
him, that he had loved her.
Then a recollection came to him.
He recalled her reply to his ques-
tion as 10 whether there was another
man she cared for
That is hardly fair question for
you To ask" she had said. ANY more
than it would be fair for me to ask
you ii there is another woman"
Strange that he had not thought
until now that she might have had a
special reason for saying that! She
had spoken almost bitterly-in
voice unlike her own.
Why? What had his mother told
her? Could she have told her about
Nictoria-and had the parents state
ments been colored by her wishes?
CHAPTER 81.
mThe entire week passed, and still
no word from Ruth. All the while
the man, wondering at her silence,
was asking himself again and again
the question that had come to his
mind on Thursday night.
Had his mother told Ruth about
Victoria?
But, even if she had, it could have
made no difference in results, as
Ruth was already engaged to Mr.
Hamilton. Yet-Kenneth could not
bear to have her think he had lied
N 1ee