The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-06-09
z YX SIORYg .RSUE Anl'Il!a!rQesrgh Al'Il !! J Q.gs ,! g'lI,!k !!!
] UV WEN fEi(tlcE, INC.

A man laughed some place. as Ruth waited for the doorman to tell her if Dale was fin or not. She heard a low tone somewhere. She strained her ears. The sounds died away. The porter returned.
 I'm sorry, madam, but he seems to be out. He hasn't been in since morning. Could take message?"
 NO no. thank you. There isn't any message" She turned away. the world crumbling around her. Maybe she had dreamed everything. Maybe none of this had happened. Maybe she had never been engaged to Dale. She started down the steps. The wind was cold and she pulled her collar closer against her neck. She turned to the drive. But the taxi cab was disappearing. It's red tail light wfnked an audacious eye and turned the corner.
 "The driver saw the door close and thought I wasn't coming back" Ruth said to herself. It was icy. She slipped. Caught her. self. The streets were strangely deserted. Then she remembered that it was nearly midnight. She had been stupid! She should have known better than to have come off like this in the night. A sob caught In her throat. She came to the sidewalk. Wondered which way would bring her to the down. town streets the soonest. Started to run. she was afraid of the grotesque silhouettes that the gaunt trees threw against the l snow. She wondered why she could be scared when nothing mattered now, anyway. Then as quickly someone caught her and. held her tightly. She screamedss Felt her resistance going to slip to the ground iffthe arms let go. = Ruth Ruth what in the world At the voice she turned her head.
 "Dale. But they said that you' weren't in at the club" You were at the club?" he asked. "I was on my way home, now. Just put my car In the gar-., age"
 "I wanted to see you" It wasn't hard to talk at all. She wondered | why she had been scared. "I had to see you. To tell you that" You don't need to tell me any thing. understand. I acted like seven kinds of dunce. But it struck me hard.'
 'I have to tell you, though Please let mel She poured out the tale of Sally's forgery, the robbery. Dr Raynors apology. She didn't try to spare anyone. She i didn't care if their sins paradcd down the street. This time she was fighting for herself. She had to make the man with her believe in her.
 When she finished she was con- scious that his voice was unusual | ly tender, that his shoulder was pressing hers. Hard.
 Then you do understand 2" she asked, quite like wondering child. Its all right?" | What he answered didn't mat ter. She knew quite suddenly that 1t was. That he was begging for giveness as much as she had. Even more. The snowflakes danced around them but she didn't see them. A belated cab went by but she didn't know 1t. Then sud- denly Dale remembered the storm.
 "You'll get pneumonia" he said. My cars around the cor lner. Come one. We'll get 1t. You need someone to take care of you, young lady" His tone was pos sessive, protective. He didn't think that she was capable. cffI- cient. She felt warm rush of gladness because he didn't.
 And tomorrow, will you marry me?" he asked.
 Tomorrow! But only an hour before she had. vowed that she would if he asked her to.
 "Yes," she answered. They had reached the corner and the arc light shone on the faces of two people in q passing car. Sally and Hal Prichard. Ruth saw that Dale, too. had seen them.
 |