Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-02-10

eyed.
"It is dangerous to stay so close to
you. For we must talk seriously.
We have great deal to say to each
other.
"Talk!" she commanded, hugging
her knee.
He studied small carved ivory
god absently.
"When / asked you to marry me-"
he said, cor when decided to ask you,
l thought that you were single.
thought it was your sister who had
married Morris.
81 thought that you were depend
ent upon your sister, and that this
dependence embittered you. So lit
seemed to me that little that was
your own would be-would mean
more to you than all this!"
He nodded about the luxurious
room vaguely.
"You see, he went on slowly, 81
am not partner in Merrol & Co.
My father is. ! run the business
mostly, of course. But | am merely
on salary there. | have more than
enough for one. have plenty for
two. But to undertake meeting such
obligations as Morris has met" He
shrugged helplessly. at is out of the
question. 1t is impossible. My
father might take me into the firm;
but even then it would be impossible
l might look after one of them. |
might support your mother. l might
help the others little. l couldn't
do for them what Morris is doing"
She nodded, her eyes fast on his
face.
"I've considered every possibility.
can't see any way of increasing my
income so largely"
"With the help of my book" she
asked wistfully.
at is so uncertain. We are pay
ing you twenty-five cents copy. It's
enormous royalty for a new author.
We're printing an edition of ten
thousand to begin with. If we sell
them all your share will be"-he
closed his twenty-five hun
dre,. dollars. We mightn't sell them
all. We might sell more. l purpose
ly exaggerated when ! persuaded you
to sign. As a matter of fact, there
has not been so much money in books
lately as there used to be. Magazines
have cut in on US, and the libraries
have interfered. A successful book
formerly ran into the hundred thous-
and Now ten thousand is large"
81 could write more books" she
said.
Perhaps. And perhaps they'd be
as salable as we think Her Sacrifice
will be; but maybe they won't"
SIS there no way" she asked
catching her breath.
Il can see none," he said drearily.
Miserably they looked at each other
across the little lavender room.
81 can't throw them all upon their
own resources, can -" she cried.
"No," he said. mo, suppose not.
Nor can 1 materialize money from
thin air. But | want you"
She rocked herself a little, still hug
ging her knee.
as every ones life wound round
with ties of this sort, or am l pecu-
liarly unlucky?" she asked. "Do
other women trample over hearts and
ambitions-tread out lives-to win
their happiness?'
Everything any one does affects
Vulnerable Others" said he.
Il want my happiness" she whis-
pered passionately, tears in her gray
eyes. 81 want love. l want love-"
He was across, in spite of himself,
on one knee beside her, his arms
around her.
"You have all of mine, "he said.
She buried her face on his shoulder,
weakly.
But cant go to YOU"
"No," he admitted.
at isn't that my love isn't strong
enough. It's strong enough to meet
any demands. But Pm not weak
enough to be cruel"
He stroked her thick soft hair. A
faint perfume drifted up from it,
strangely unmanning him.
"They would urge me to take my
happiness if they knew. But should
be haunted always by tie knowledge
that they were paying dearly.
He held her close. They were ST.
lent, heavy-hearted.
at seems odd" he whispered at
last, "that God, or nature, whatever
power rules, should put this love in
our hearts to-to destroy us-our
peace of mind, our content! 1t might
be such good love. 1t might make