The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-08

lily. He has been so good to my boy.
He has, indeed" Kenneth muir
INJURED.
How much nicer his mother was
than he had feared she would be.
He did not understand this change
of manner and speech.
There was a silence while Mrs.
Lang thought fast. If Kenneth were
to go away tomorrow morning mat
tiers between him and this country
girl might continue as they now
were. If his mother were to remain
here with him, she might
Impulsively she spoke. Il followed
your father into the house. Miss
Grant. to ask him about Kenneth. AL
though he thinks he is doing SO well,
I decided to take his wise advice and
stay here until day after tomorrow.
1 think it will be safer"
1--WE will be glad to have you,"
Ruth said gently.
II am well enough to travel te-
morrow. mother"-the san began
But the mother checked him, patting
his hand playfully.
Dear boy! Twentyfour hours
more cannot make such a difference
even to you-can 1t? Never mind"
as he started to protest. mere is
no need CT saying ANYTHING! Young
people are always impatlent-oul
surely you can wait until day AFTER
tomorrow
what Was Her Camel
eSureIy | can't he said CURLY.
what was her game? Was she
irving to make Ruth think he was
eager t. leave Southold? But Ruth
understood that he loved her. And ne
was sure that she loved him. Had
she not. she would not have let MIN
hold, her hand just now--would not
I have spoken in that tone to MIN
would not have, called him kenneth.
And this afternoon, she had cluhs
| to- him
hi. m,,sings. You are not vexed
With me-are you dear for teasing
Won about your desire to get back
to Saxviile?' AR
certainly notw he retorted. Il
did not even know that you were
1 teasing me-.
"reasing is often perilously near
the serious truth. l must admit" his
mother said.
Again she laughed in the superb
cial way that maddened him. lie
would talk no more until she changed
the subject.
Ruth sat by silent. At last she
rose. .s,..
| CHAT YOU and your SOM want to- nave
a little talk, Mrs. Lang. So, II you
will excuse me, will go on into the
house. II there is anything, you want
please call me-.
mo. indeed" Mrs. Lang caught
the girls hand and detained her:
| "Kenneth and will have plenty OF
time to talk later. Tomorrow we can
1 be together-and we shall be to-
pether in Saxville until he is entirely
| we'll. Sit down, my dear Miss Grant.
am glad of the chance to know
| you better
Puzzled Tactics
at wish" the girl said as she
obeyed her guests bidding, that you
would please call me Ruth Nobody
calls me Miss Grant-at least nobody
1 like"
'eThen IL call you Ruth that will
be an implication that you like me?"
the widow asked.
The girl laughed, note of relief
| in her voice.
Eyes, indeed, if such proof is need
| ed.r she replied.
4 The ice was broken and the elder
| ly woman and the young one chatted
pleasantly for the next half hour.
| kenneth saiQ littie- Ills ihotHei dtti-
tude puzzled him. He knew that she
did not approve of his intimacy with
this country girl; that she wanted
him to marry Victoria Walsh
| What had seemed like gentle rail.
lery on her part had been re-
minder to him that the girl he must
4 marry was waiting for him in Sax
willie. Why, then. should his parent
seem TO wish to know Ruth Grant
better? Why did she suggest prolong-
! ing his stay here for another TWEEN
ty four hours?
"You must have wonderfully
happy disposition, my dear" Beatrice
Lang was saying when her son with
drew from his musings to listen to
her. You say that you stay here all