ly--the American flag. She was not walking. Ruth rode, regally,
magnificently. We were hunting for her in the rank and file, and then
some little urchin called out, "Gee! Look at the peach!"

And there she was--Ruth! Our Ruth, on a black horse, a splendid creature
flecked with foam.

"Some girl!" said a man beside me.

"Who's she?" exclaimed somebody else.

Then abruptly the band that she immediately preceded broke into
thundering music, and drowned everything but the sight of her.

But oh, such a sight! She was in her black habit and wore the little
tri-cornered hat that so became her. She has always ridden horseback.
Confidently, easily she sat in her saddle, with one white-gloved hand
holding the reins, and the other one the pole of the flag, which waved
above her head. In Ruth's eyes there was an expression that was ardent.
Neither to left nor right did she look. She seemed oblivious of her
surroundings. Straight ahead she gazed; straight ahead she rode;
unafraid, eager, hopeful; the flag her only staff. She epitomized for me
the hundreds and hundreds of girls that were following after. Where
would they all come out? Where, _where_ would Ruth come out? She had
sought liberty. Well, she had it. Where was it taking her? With a
choking throat I watched my sister's stars and stripes vanish up
Fifth Avenue. I thought it would satisfy me to see Ruth well and
happy--for she looked well, she looked happy--but it didn't satisfy me.
I was hungry for more of her.

[Illustration: "Straight ahead she gazed; straight ahead she rode;
unafraid, eager, hopeful; the flag her only staff"--_Page 170_]

None of us, Will, Robert or I, had spoken as she rode by. It had been
too impressive. I had not looked at Robert. I had observed only his hand
as it grasped his coat sleeve as he stood with folded arms. One hand, I
thought, had tightened its grasp a little. We all stood perfectly
speechless for at least three minutes after Ruth went by. Finally it was
Robert who spoke.

"Have you had enough?" he asked of me, leaning down.

"Have you?" I inquired.

"Yes, I have. Let's go. Come on, Will, let's get out," he said. There
was a note of impatience in his voice. We wormed our way back to the
entrance of a shop.

"What's the rush?" said Will.

Robert replied. I could see his emotion now. "It's this. I'll tell you.
I'm going to clear right out of this crowd and look that girl up. You've
got that address in Madison Avenue, Lucy. I'm