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54
THE MOTION PICTURE tiTORY MAGAZINE
made the text of sermons that prognosticated a gloomy and painful end.
Stung by the severity and injustice of this discipline, Ruth began, for the first time in her life, to wish for greater freedom and variety. From the wish to the plan was not a long stride; and the plan evolved itself into a feverish packing of a traveling bag, the opening of a small savings bank, and her stealing away unseen. She had but one destination in mind : Morton Traver was playing a town only a few stations away ; she would go to him.
At the station, she ran into Sam. He tried to detain and question her, but she shook him off and rushed for her train.
-Well, I'll be ", began Sam.
Then a thought struck him.
' ' By Jiminy ! she 's running away ! I'll bet she's chasing that actor fellow ! I guess the deacon better know about this. ' ' And Sam started off at his fleetest to communicate the astounding news.
The leading man of the Morton Traver Repertoire Company sat in his hotel room in gloomy meditation. He was dissatisfied with himself — an almost unbelievable state of affairs— and he felt lonely, and yearned in a vague way for the soulfully sweet presence of Ruth. His life was looming up as cheap and tawdry and raw, and he wanted something different — and the most different thing he could think of was the little girl in Scubville.
His thoughts were interrupted by a light knock at the door. He opened it, and stood dumb with amazement at sight of Ruth. She was frightened and shy, but she entered his room without any misgivings. He couldn't understand it.
"Why, honey, have you come to see me ? " he asked, bewildered.
:'Yes, I've come to you. I cant stand it at home any longer, and I've no one to go to but you. I know you love me the way you held my hands and called me 'dear'."
She was so simple, so trusting, so
confident that his attentions could mean but one issue. And he, with his warped estimate of human nature, mistook her meaning. His arms closed about her and, as he kissed her, he whispered how he had longed for her and how he loved her.
"And I love you with all my heart ! ' ' whispered the girl. ■ ' My husband ! ' '
Anything so suggestive of ties and responsibilities had never occurred to Traver. He was appalled. He withdrew his arms and started to frame reasons against such an alliance; but the girl's wondering eyes, her inef
SHE FOLLOWS HIM TO THE NEXT TOWN
fable goodness and sweetness and trustfulness touched some unsuspected fiber of manliness. Impulsively, he seized her hands and asked: "Do you really and truly want to marry me ? ' ' She nodded a shy affirmative ; with unaffected happiness he clasped her in his arms.
Suddenly a clamor rose in the hall, and a loud knocking on Traver 's door followed. Jack "Weldon, the stage-manager, rushed in from the adjoining room and told Traver that the girl's father was outside.
"Go into my room, and I'll receive the old man here," counseled Jack.