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


you're surprised" Tom said,
staring at her. What are you
doing in New York, Ruth? ]
thought you didn't like the big
city"
Il don't" she said. II had to
come and stay with my aunt for
o while. She's been terribly i'll,
and there was no one else to take
care of her. Oh, she's better now,
thanks.
Il shall be going home in a
couple of days. Tom, I've been
desperately lonely. Missing Lew,
you know. Of course he couldn't
spare the time to come with me.
And don't know a soul except
Auntie's friends, and they're all a
hundred years old, at least"
Tom remembered that Ruth
Grenard-no, she was Ruth
TraSk now-wasn't as trivial as
she sounded. She was clever.
HOPED TO SEE HIM
She said. IT rather hoped that
I might see you again, but I
didn't know how to get in touch
with you. And anyway I was
afraid that Rosa might not like
it"
"Or Lew?" he could not help
suggesting
Ruth grinned. "Oh, Lew isn't
Jealous like that. He knows he
can trust me-"
One gloved hand touched Toms
sleeve ever so lightly as he
steered her toward a likely place
for tea. They studied each other
across the table.
Ruth leaned forward. Tom,
this is fun, isn't it? I mean, being
able to meet like this without
feeling tie least bit bitter toward
each other"
Her eyes were thoughtful. II
read somewhere once-somebody
said that it would be good for the
souls of all settled married peo-
pie if they could meet just once
again the girl or the man they
would like to have married when
they were about II.
"It-well, this. writer said it
would rid them forever Of any
lingering sentimental illusions
and make them realize that there
Is a Fate which sometimes pro-
tects us from making youthful
mistakes"
Tom said, "I suppose that's
right" but he wished she hadn't
put it in quite that way.
HIS FIRST LOVE
Tom was looking back through
q vista of memories which had
never quite died. High school
days. Drugstore sodas, and dane
ing. His first job. His first
weeks salary. Movies, and candy
for Ruth. Always Ruth. Tennis,
and ice skating. and long walks.
And always Ruth. They had
been sweethearts almost before
they knew. the meaning Of the
word.
And then came Rosa to visit
the Aliens. The first time he
laid eyes on her something hap
pened to Tom. It took Rosa to
show him how incredibly narrow
and dull was his small-town life.
When She had gone back to
New York he couldn't stand it
any longer, He decided that
there were no opportunities for
an ambitious young man in little
Leebridge.
Tom went to New York. There
was a new job. Now it was
movies with Rosa and flowers in
stead of candy. And dancing
with that slim, exotic creature in
his arms. And all the time there
were affectionate letters from the
Vnsuspecting Ruth.
Letters asking about his job,
and telling him of the additions
to her hope chest. and about their
marriage.
Finally he had to tell her.
He had delayed it too long. The
day after he was married to Rosa
he had written Ruth and told her
the whole story. He reflected now
that it must have been a pretty
cold.blooded sort of letter.
THAT HORRID LETTER
She might have guessed what he
was thinking. She said, 1T
doesn't seem possible that it's been
more than five years since you
sent me that horrible letter"
He said suddenly, Il was a rot.
ten young cad!"
Ruth said in a low voice, moo