Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-12-07
Ruth Was In
Love
By HELEN r. BARTON
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
(CopyrIght.l

(copyright)
THE orchestra had packed up its
L hapdboxes Of shiny Instruments
and taken its shiny white shirt-fronts
and bright black coats and babe the
last batch OF guests at Hlghcroft inn
route to the land Of sunshine where
white nannels and blue serge coats
replaced the black and white correct
attire Of the fashionable Highcroft.
Ruth went slowly through the de-
serted rooms. She felt her throat
tighten rs she recalled how "he" had
sat here on this railing and shame
lessly squeezed her hand rs the Or
chestrn walled out "Girl of My
Dreams; felt the tears sting her lids
as she recalled the time he had
drawn her close to him In hungry,
wistful embrace, as Ramona" float
ed up to them from the dance floor.
And now he was gonel Gone
down to that land of sunshine, mil.
lionalrcs and fashlonably dressed So
clety folk. where he would forget the
quiet, mouse-llke country inn keeper.
What, she thought bitterly, had she
ever done to cause him to remember
her? Could one expect to interest
man like Ricky Crandall, when one
knew that a nose that was too short
and tipped altogether too much to the
skyward was ones fate? And that
generous amount Of tennis scars
(freckles) adorned ones jaw-line
nose-bridge. and various other
placesf And whoever heard Of
popular. -good-looking orchestra
leader getting into panic over
girl whose hair was dull, rusty
shade of red, and wasn't even
blessed with a modern hair cut or
other barber shop adornments?
Well, she'd just have to forget him,
that was all. Served her right for
incoming along TIL she was close to
thirty to fall In love. She might
have known that she'd pick some fly.
by-nlght like this But somehow this
sort of left-handed sympathy did not
quite Ill the bill, and Ruth felt even
bluer and more unhappy as she went
out and wandered about her garden.
Lunch time came, and she went
indoors to rake up the fire and toast
some whole-wheat bread and dig up
some currant Jelly. The kettle was
singing fer the tea, when she heard
noise on the porch and shortly aft
erward the creak OF the front stairs.
Who could 1t be1 The guests had
all gone-even the servantsl They
had NIL babe her good-by at break
fast that morning. The bus had Ia.
bored down the hill as she watched
1t, hoping with aching throat that
"he" would come back for a last word
But he hadn't come.
Suddenly she caught the unmis-
taxable Whit Of pipe, and smiled
to herself. That must be Derry.
dear, lmpractlcable, dreamy, roman
tic Derry whose coats we're always
shabby and frayed, and whose briar
always reminded her OF her father |;
he had always smoked a brlar, too
Derry must have forgotten some
thing. He was always forgetting
thing He'd start to light his pipe
and discover that he had no matches
or no tobacco, or he'd get all set to
paint the great American masterpiece
and then discover that he was all out
Of ochre, or had left his palette be.
hind or perhaps had no brushes with
hint Dear, absent minded, lOvable,
forgetful Derryi
Then he came hesltatlngly into the
big dim old kitchen and said shyly:
Have you bite for me, Ruthie7
forgot something important and had
to come back. Decided to stay as
long as you kept open. I rather
fancy the hills In fall Mmmnm |
That Jelly looks goOdw He was
picking up wood to put into the fire,
and like thoughtful elder brother
went for butter, cream and called did
she want that cottage cheese, and
then returned to sit opposite her,
looking anxiously at her tired. sober
little face and wishing he could
cheer her up. He'd loved, even wor.
SHIPPED her for so long nOwi
He pulled a Boston paper from his
shabby, rough tweed coat, and Ruth
read the caption under Rlcky's smIl
ing picture: Popular jazz orchestra
leader goes South to join bride Of
less than year"
Married And he had kissed her
and made love to her; had sought
her out time after time, to press his
ardent attentions upon her.
Suddenly the food choked her and
she got up hastily and went out to
the porch, blinded by hot tears Of
anger and shame.
Derry picked up the paper, read
the item and calmly ate for few
moments. Then. going to the porch.
he touched the girl gently on the
shoulder, saying: "Your tea Is get
ting cold. And such a wonderful!
lunch should never be wasted over
a-cadi"
Swiftly she looked up and NUT
tered thIckly: "Oh, Derry, 1t wasn't
love; ! knew all the while that I
couldn't truly have him. guess it
was just a hunger for romance !!
And she got up meekly and follower
him in and watched him thought
fully as he poured more hot water
over the tea, and carefully warmed
the toast over the Goals. Derry was
dear-and then he turned and for
a moment they started at each other
Derry" she said family, what did
you forgetp
And he murmured husklly, Cant
you guess-Ruthle- darllngf
And she nodded her head, happily
amazed at the vast cOntentment thai
swept over her. She loved Derryl