Evening star., 1928-05-27

n
wv day had been such long
one-it was nearly 8 O'Clock
and tfIe ate Summer sky
was already graying-that Ruth was
quite exhausted Her thoughts were
confused with fragments of Mr.. Scru-
ter's 6ictation, vague Straintngs after
cetails she was to remember and OF
which she was to remind him.
He's a glutton," Ruth thought "He
loves work He hates to leave off.
And hates me to leave of. One of
these days shall die; and he'll cluck
his tongue at the interruption and
have me swept up to make room for
somebody else"
The thought made her smile.
II was o'clock before she reached
home-a very small fiat in a West Lon
con suburb, where she lived with her
mother and sister. Ruth trudged along,
faint with hunger, and the road,
which opened iInposingly enough near
the railway station, began to dwindle
50 that one had the sense Of increas-
ingiy narrow doorways and increasingly
cheap glass
At last she reached the entrance to
Southcroft Mansions and was prepar-
ing to mount the stone stairs when she
became aware of very tail, very fair,
awkward, shy young man on the porch.
This young man was dressed in
Light tweed suit, with a rather large
black tie and an unstarched collar:
and his soft hat was awry, as if he
were rather careless about his appear
snce: and he had long face, clean
shaven, with goodnatured mouth.
But he was SO shy that, even as he
addressed Ruth, he had great difficulty
in meeting her frank astonished
glance He ctammered. Odd that one
50 evidently well-bred should stammer
from shyness! Was she unusually
alarming? Tie thought delighted
Ruth, and she endeavored to look grim,
Er excuse me :" said the
shy young man. But er
] can't see any . I've forgotten
the number / er :"
And he began slightly to redden.
Have you forgotten the name, too?"
asked Ruth. little dryly.
vo,iEr Er no a,,,ro said the shy
IndE1;,,s mines Denny 10; = er sd I'm
Miss Sisley lives
She lives at the top. Number 16,"
said Ruth. I'm Miss Sisley."
The young man looked at her in
establishment.
NOh," said he quickly. "oh i
er I thought oh, I see
q. er there are two of you'll"
One of Adeline's beaux! Ruth's eye
browS lifted. A new one. New-thcy |
were legion! Was it envy that stirred |
in her heart? Or pity?
You'd better come up with me-" she |
said aniably enough. TITS walk. We |
haven't lift"
Together they assembled the stairs.
Easfh he of g.
the shy young man followed her into |
the exceedingly small passageway.
The fat was all upon the same scale |
as the vestibule. There was a living |
room, there were two bedrooms, and |
there was kitchen Just large enough |
to hold a table, cooking apparatus and |
a dresser. The cook (who was mother |
to Ruth and Adeline) could not sit |
down, If she was tired. Therefore the |
living room was parlor and dining room |
and boudoir combined: and, as they |
entered, Ruth was thankful that 1t was |
not being used as houdoir or even-as |
frequently was the case-as dress
making establishment. Mrs. Sisley and |
were waiting for Ruth. Ruth's supper
was set upon corner Of the large table
in the center of the room.
~
MRS. SISLEY was slender woman,
IVA with a narrow head carrying a |
small stock Of thin gray hair. She was |
dressed tightly in black. There was an /
indescribable anxiety in her manner, |
as if she were watching. She had been |
a widow for 10 years. and life had been |
hard It was easier, now that both girls /
were earning money.
Adeline, the belle Of the family. two |
years younger than Ruth, and at this |
time %, was scanning fashion paper. /
She was fairer and plumper than Ruth. |
more vivacious, and particularly attrac-
tive to young men.
"Hullo, Marcus" she cried. jumping |
to her feet as If she were greeting an |
old friend.
Marcusl Ruth looked quickly at the |
shy Young man, saw that he was BEAM |
ing and advancing toward Adeline with |
considerably reduced shyness, sighed, |
glanced at her supper, at her mother
She saw that lady's expression Of pinch |
ed cordiality, saw the anxiety in the |
pale eyes, knew that Mrs. Sisley was
asking herself the eternal question-"Is
ha wall oFoD