THE AMATEUR LOVER
gave a queer little cry and fled, not away from him, but right into his arms, as though there was her only haven. "Would you be apt to hurt me?" she gasped with a funny-sad sort of inquisitiveness. Then she backed away and held out her hand like a man's to Drew s shaking fingers. " I'm very much ashamed," she said, "about this afternoon. Oh, very, very, very much ashamed. I have n't ever been a really good wife to you, you know, but I never have cheated before until to-day. I promise you faithfully that it sha n't happen again. But, Drew "- her face flushed utterly crimson " but, Drew I honestly think that it had to happen to day."
Drew's tortured eyes watched her keenly for a second and then his look softened. "Will you please tell Aleck," he suggested, "that you told me all about it and that I laughed?"
It was not till some time in December, however, after a nervous, evasive, speechless sort of week, that Ruth appeared abruptly one day at Drew's of fice, looking for all the world like the frightened child who had sought him out there the June be fore.
"Drew, you re five years older than I am, are n't you?" she began disconnectedly. "And you ve always been older than I am, and stronger than I
am, and wiser than I am. And you ve always
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