Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-18
marriage. She had not been ueau SIX
months when Ridgeley was in posses

udSueu Il udHu dCIOSS LIS eyes. AAC
was incoming there, with life itself at
stake. Ridgeley was his last hope,
and Ridgeley had failed him. He had
humbled himself to supplication. He
could not do it again. He was learn
ing that there are things very much
harder than death. All that remained
now for him was to make an end OF
things as quickly and as decently as
possible.
AS noiselessly as by magic two tall,
foaming goblets had appeared. Ridge
ley motioneG him to come and take
one of them, himself eagerly carrying
the other to his lips with a mumbled,
Here's luckv Suddenly Trenwick
was conscious of raging thirst. He
emptied his glass at draft and set 1t
down, clinking it lightly against the
MASSEY silver tray Ridgeley beamed
vacuously on him. Really, you'll
agree Jenkins has a tOuch," he said.
''Have another! Do. it'll set you
up so near the clouds you won't come
down again until tomorrow"
Trenwick shook his head. Il must
keep away from the Clouds" he said.
"You know how l used to build cas-
ties there. l have never built one
since May died.
Ridgeley set down his glass. This
time the culver rang underneath it.
cts odd about us three" be said,
speaking very low. MAY was the
only one to marry. I wonder how we
happened not tor
ooh, I've always had too little mon
ey and you too much" Trenwick said
turning toward the door. $50 long,
old man! Get over the caution of a
capitalist and marry before it's too
late"
stop! Are you going back down
there?' Ridgeley asked, nodding in the
direction Of the street. Trenwick shook
his head. mo use. I cannot alter
anything" he said. II think I shall
go to my club for an hour. After that
well, have not quite decided"
''Come back" Ridgeley said. I'll
want to talk to you. IL haven't been
quite square with you. 1t is-not the
money l mind. But-you were not
square with me-in the old time, you
know. May love her. I love her
yet And you-you came between u.s.
| So I've waited to get even, you know
1 knew you'd come to me some time
| oh, I'm not quite such fool as look
You-you kept me from getting what
| T yuonfnd p10cf in would Nnxr
the scores even-and land I can't
be glad.'
"You have done right I was cur to
come to you, knowing what l did,
Trenwick said thickly. II cannot ask
your pardon, because l cannot pardon
myself. 1 crossed your path because ]
loved my sister and was ambitious fol-
her. By the light had 1 was right
Eyes. You were right" Ridgeley
said, dropping his head upon the table,
with a sigh that was half sob II
had nothing and wasn't much myself.
But, oh, if you had let me have MMay
I-feel-as- though might have
conquered the world"
"Goodby" Trenwick said huskily,
again moving toward the door. Half
way he turned back. Ridgeley still sat
with his head on the table, Trenwick
went up to him and said in bis ear
''Will you do one thing for me, Ridge.
leyY
"What is it?' Ridgeley asked, with
out stirring.
''To keep this while you live and de
stroy it before you de-" Trenwick said,
slipping golden oval into his hand.
MAYS miniature" he began. II can
not bear to have it found on me and
maybe exploited as the most sensa-
tional feature of the case. There will
be noise and dirt enough in it anyway.
/ don't want it to touch her, yet /
could not destroy this myself"
Il would kill you if you did," Ridge
ley cried, clutching the picture and car
rying it to his lips. MAY, darling" be
moaned, sthey shall not take you away
from me again. have cried night aft
er night because l could not remember
you your eyes, your lips and ALL Now
will not give you up for millions all
the millions in the world"
''There is no need. Goodby," Tren-
wick said, with his hand upon the
latch. Ridgeley almost beloved after
him, "Come back!'
His checkbook lay upon the table be.
side him. With shaking hand he
scrawled his name upon leaf and
tossed it blank to Trenwick.
"Fill that in for what you like" he
said. mo; don't thank me. Only come
back as soon as you have things
straight"
Trenwick walked away as one blind
seeing all things through a mist but
his spirit was enlightened