Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-02-17


for their happiness with her own. 1t
had been sacrifice entered into in
voluntarily. But it had been enter
ed into, and there was no way out.
Her years would drift by. She
would devote herself to earning mon
ey. She would wait, hope. Mean
while she would age, and Merrol
would forget her, would marry some
one else. And when it was too late
way might open. She told herself
bitterly that she knew life.
The Ginning of a little French
clock on her desk told her that it was
growing late and that Sedge would
be coming in.
She had no desire for him to see
her as she was. She had no desire to
see him at all. So she rose and crept
through the communicating doorway
into her bedroom and, ringing for Ell
len, explained that she had head
ache and was going to bed and she
would not permit the maid to light
the lights.
1t was easier to suffer alone, where
no one could see.
Sedge came to the outer door and
begged to see her, and sent her mes
sages and great box of American
Beauties and another of orchids. He
telephoned to Agnes, but she was not
at home. He left word that she was
to come to see her sister in the morn
ing without fail. He called in DR..
Heron, but Gerry refused absolutely
to see him, sending the maid to say
that she was asleep and had only a
headache and would be all right in the
morning. So the old doctor teased
Sedge and made sport of his anxiety.
By morning Gerry had had her cry
out. Sedge was permitted to see her
for an instant, and he was frighten-
ed at her pallor and at the smallness
of her propped up among her pillows
in the mammoth bed. But she smil-
ed at his fears as the doctor had done.
: She did not get up. She felt list
less, tired out.
Near noon Agnes came.
"I've been worried l didn't know
what to do" she said. at was too
late to telephone last night when
got the message, and l had to see
Muller off this morning. He sailed"
"It's nothing" said Gerry. "Head-
ache. l thought I'd stay in bed until
afternoon just to rest up"
Agnes nodded, rose from her chair
beside the bed, and wandered about
restlessly. Her usual composure
seemed gone.
"I've something to tell you," she
said. "It's probably going to disap-
point YOU"
Gerry looked at her listlessly.
"Yes?" she said.
81 was married yesterday" said
Agnes, drawing a long breath.
"Married?" Gerry was surprised
out Oh ner lethafgy.
"To Muller. Secretly. No one is
to know but you"
Gerry sat up, staring at her sisters
flushed face and wet eyes. Agnes
was standing upon the hearth-rug
her eyes on the glowing fire.
"But-he sailed!" gasped Gerry
"You said"
Agnes nodded. "This morning
That's why we did it. He'll be over
there a long time studying. And he'll
not be making money. And he'll be
coming in contact with other women
| couldn't bear it. He wanted to give
up his career and stay here, but
wouldn't permit that. We knew, with
a real tie between us, neither of us
could drift. couldn't, anyway. But
a man is different"
"But you are going over to studyv
cried Gerry. "You could have gone
with him"
"No. Pm not taking any more
| iHoicy iioHl oeuSe' III giving uI
career. It's foolish to spend any
more money on it when I'm going tc
give it up eventually and just bt
Muhler's wife. I'd rather be Muhler's
wife. So Pm going to get some pu
pills again and pay Sedge back as
can and wait until Muller is ready
Giving up your career?" gaspeC
Gerry weakly.
YES" Agnes raised her eyes Sc
renely, and came back to sit at tn,
side of Gerry's bed. "Do you thinl
any real woman could hesitate be
tween career and marrying the MAJ
she loves and making home for hin
and rearing his children"
"But your heart was set on it," saiC
Gerry.
} 81 didn't love Muller then. / ha,
never loved any one. | thought | wa