The Washington herald., 1914-12-27

in town. You will release me. Jimmy.
won't you?' Esther pleaded.
There was desperate misery in her eyes,
and Jimmy only looked quietly back at
her.
Il think l have seen it all, dear" ne
said gently. Perhaps l have been fear
full OF y0ur happiness. l somehow felt
this coming"
He took her hand within his own and
slipped the ring from her finger. y will
have this made into a pendant, and when
you wear II just remember that l loved
you deeply enough to set you free"
He did not look into Esthers eyes, hut
|, turned away toward the cUrtained win
dow and stood there looking out over the
thing out there. Instead, he was looking
forward to a few years distant wnen ne
would have erased the vision of Esther
from his life thoughts. The blankness
brought a heavy sigh from his lips and
he closed his eyes
He opened them because Esther had
slipped over to his side and her head
drooped softly onto his shoulder. She
was weeping nervously and Jimmy's
arms swept comfortingly about her
Never mind, little girl" he said. 1T
was my own fault for being so conceited
as to imagine 1 could take the place
of all the wonderful things that flled
your former life-your family. the beau
tiful country. as well as Barney. Billy.
and Bobs." In spite OF himself a slight
spasm of pain shot over Jimmy. II was
difficult to realize that Esther might
some day belong to another man.
Esther's sobs ceased suddenly and she
looked wonderingly up at Jimmy. For
the first time In her life Barney, as a
possible lover, had been suggested to her.
The thought sent a wave Of hot color
over her checks and Jimmy released her
from his arms.
after all. Esther" he said as an
added consideration, Il am going to ask
you to wear this ring just until you
are on the. train going home. Parents
are bound TO blame the other fellow in a
case like this. and my parents are only
human. l would rather not have them
know-until you are gone. Do you mind?"
Esther held out her hand and Jimmy
slipped the ring back.
She Would have offered her lips as
she had when he first put the ring on.
save that Jimmy drew back.
No more OF that he said with a
short laugh. Il no longer have the right
He went into the library after a long
look into her eyes, and Esther knew that
she was free to retire to her room.
Once there she stood absently looking
down at Jimmys ring. An odd Ettle
thrill had swept over her when his fin
gers had replaced it. She knew. too, that
she was rightfully upset because Jimmy
had withdrawn so positively from her
caress and that she wanted TO cry as she
had not cried for many a day. Esther
did not quite realize for the second that
the gauntlet OF decision mad been flung
down before her and that fate was wait
ing for her to lift IL into her keeping.
Her eyes travelled to the pink roses
that Jimmy surrounded her with. II am
sorry for the roses when your cheeks
are about" he had said when giving her
the first cluster, but l think you like
flowers"
He is wonderfully good to me-" she
ruminated. Il don't see what 1 can do
without him." Esther's mind swept back
as 1t was wont to in moments of deep
thought, to moonlit evenings and long
drives with Barney and Billy and Bobs.
She laughed suddenly. Historically, 'ff
the names were only Jimmy, Jerry, and
Jacks, | would never have left them"
Her eyes were frightened and she touched
a refractory curl on her smooth brow
Jimmy looked up at the sound of soft
footballs. but before he could gain his
feet from the low chair by the library
fire Esther had precipitated herself on
the floor beside him and her arms had
gone close about his neck. She was trem-
bling violently, and Jimmy only drew her
tenderly into his arms, so that he seemed
to be holding her against a world of
emotions. Manlike, he smoothed back the
soft hair from her brow and planted a
kiss there.
II would rather live in prison all my
life." she said Brokenly, than to live
apart from you She looked up and
smiled contentedly, besides, we can have
horses and dogs-and each other"
Perhaps a little farm thrown in"
Jimmy suggested and drew Esther into
the great seat beside him. The world
is reborn" he told her softly.