The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-04-07

I expect it was really the best
thing for me. I couldn't honestly
blame you for falling in love with
Rosa. She was 500 utterly
beautiful. But. you know, Tom,
when I first got your letter I
thought I'd die. I wished I could
die. Oh, was i'll!
But somehow I got over it. Lew
was my life-saver. guess Lew
and I were made for each other,
just as you and Rosa we're, but we
had to be made to understand.
It's funny, when I was going
around with you I thought that
Lew was stodgy. I learned later
that he wasn't Stodgy at all. Just
steady, and dependable, and
fine!
II thought you'd be glad to know
that I had married Lew. That was
why I wrote you just once again.
After that, there seemed no need
to write any more"
Ruth glanced at her wrist watch.
Goodness, didn't realize we had
talked so long. Auntie will be won
dering where 1 aw."
They said good-by, and she had
left him. Tom stood watching
the brisk, rusty-suited figure, and
suddenly made swift move after
her. "Ruth-wait."
DIDN'T LOVE ROSA
She paused. He said, Ruth,
there's something you're entitled
to know, and I'm going to make
complete fool of myself and
tell you. You're a swell girl and
gave you a rotten deal. You
cried a good many tears over me,
didn't you? Maybe it will be
some slight recompense for those
tears if I can give you a good
laugh at my expense"
1t wasn't easy to say. "A few
months after 1 married Rosa we
knew that we didn't love each
other. Our marriage was pretty
awful, Ruth. Bickering all tn e
time. Rosa wanted all the things
I couldn't afford to give her.
well, there's no use making
a song and dance about it. A
year ago she met somebody else.
Somebody so she said, who ap-
preciated her beauty more than
did. At any rate, he had more
money than I, which I suppose
is important. Rosa divorced me.
was the goat. The brutal huS-
band. But it didn't matter then.
was sick Of everything.
I'm not feeling sorry for my
self, Ruth, I Just thought you
were entitled to know that, when
1 turned you down, I got exactly
what I deserved. That's ALL"
RUTH HAD WAITED
eyes," Ruth said slowly, you
got exactly what you deserved,
and you suffered for it. Poor Tom!
You're wiser now, aren't you?
You know, Tom, I hoped your
marriage would turn out this way.
I prayed knew it would"
you knew" he echoed.
well, of course. 1t was just
one of those things. I knew it
couldn't last. That was why I
waited. wrote you that I was
married to Lew just for the sake
of my own hurt pride. regretted
the lie many times afterward, but
it was too late. Lew was nice, but
he wasn't in love with nse. He is
married now to Crete ParkeS, and
they have two of the sweetest kids
you ever saw. Lew and Crete and
1 are the best of friends"
A strange light dawned upon a
very dazed Tom. Ruth, what
really did bring you to New York;"
Ruth smiled. I'm not such a
very good liar. after all, am I? l
guess I got sick of waiting, so I
just came. I thought I might be
able to find out something about
you. But New York is too big,
and it seemed so hopeless. I've
been haunting the streets. I'm to
go back home tomorrow-and now
today"
Tom felt as though he had been
transformed into a different being.
All he could say was you can't
60 back to Leebridge tomorrow,
Ruth"
Ruth's fingers crept around his
arm, and chung. "No-not now.
I'm going to stay with you, if
you want me, Toni"
THE END