Page:Keeping the Peace.pdf/51

 there was certainly not another within the periphery of Ruth Eaton.

Of idlers, of young men who did not work at anything, she had been taught to disapprove. Her mother disapproved of such men, and so did God. But Bruce Armitage was different. His income made the difference.

Between them, Mrs. Eaton and her daughter created a virtue out of no better material than Armitage's idleness itself. He had enough, more than enough. To work for more would be to show greed, one of the seven deadly sins, and would be to take money out of the way of someone who really needed it. Wherefore it was noble in young Armitage not to work, and to be contented with what he had.

Westchester was a small world in those days and everybody knew everybody.

Ruth and Armitage were first thrown together, literally thrown, at a coasting party. But they had met before, in a more formal fashion, and Ruth's comely, brightly colored face had made a deep impression upon the fortunate youth.

Edward remembered the night of the coasting party.

Young Mr. and Mrs. Warren, who were very rich and fond of outdoor life, had hitched a pony to their bobsled and driven about the neighbor-