The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-09
A girl asks:

A girl asks:
 Would you marry man without ambition?
 T am in love with a young man of fine character. He is dear, and sweet, and lovable, but he lacks energy and enterprise. He has plenty of ability but he is content with a small job and small salary because the work is light and the hours short. He always looks shap- by because he will. not take the trouble to brush and press his clothes or polish his shoes. He had few advantages of education in his youth, but he refuses to go to night school or read improving books. His whole philosophy of life Is to let well enough alone, and get through itate. Then-"That is hardly a fair question to ask" she said, "any more than it would be fair for me to ask you if there was another woman"
 CHAPTER LXVI
 There is no other woman"-Ken- meth Lang began, then stopped. He remembered Victoria Walsh. He did not love her, yet until he had told her that he did not-until he had given her the opportunity to dismiss him--could he say truly that there was no other woman in his life?
 T do not love any other woman"- he corrected himself. And, at the words, the girl he did love uttered a low exclamation as if he had hurt her.
 Don't" she calculated. "I forbid you to say anything more! Do not make me despise myself-and you rnore than do already"
 With swift movement, as If es- caring from something binding her to him. she sprang from him and ran noiselessly into the house.
 He did not attempt to follow her. It would be useless. All was over be- tween them.
 There was but ono explanation of the whole miserable business, ana Ruth had given him & part of that explanation.
 She had been frightened by the storm; she had been moved by his declaration of love; the combination had been too much for her quiver- ing nerves. and she had clung to him. needless of what such clinging impli- piled to her too-hopeful lover.
 Then-she had remembered. She loved that dapper little physician with whom she had gone off to- night. She had loved him att the time had been engaged to him. probably. for weeks. Her casual manner to him had been camouflage to conceal the fact of that engagement. This after noon, when alone with a motherly woman, she had confessed her love affair, feeling sure that her confes- sion would be safe with Mrs. Lang.
 It had probably been . relief to talk to an educated matron who could sympathize with her happiness and give her loving advice. Kenneth's mother could do all this--or could seem to. She was a good actress. the son reflected bitterly. He could im- agine how much she had enjoyed the role assigned her by the girl whom Victoria Walsh. She must have felt that Providence was playing into her hands. he unused with sheer.
 Figuring It Ont
 But, to return to Ruth's strange behavior. It was not so strange after all. When she saw Smith again her sensitive nature revolted at the re- collection that she had yielded to Kenneth's embraces. had even for a moment forgotten the man she loved. She was ashamed, and longed to l obliterate the memory of that scene from her own mind and from Kenneth's. That was why she had agreed to this interview tonight. And he. poor fool, had let him. | self hope that she wanted to see him because she loved him!
 He cursed his own stupidity. Yet he did not despise himself for having loved Ruth. No matter what lay ahead