The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-10-12

ton, and this is Halden's. Julia, you
would never take advantage OF 1t?
Julia, you Couldn't" He got back his
old way with her-which lay between
banter and mild bullying-and with 1t
his hold on himself. He warmed to
his subject.
Married." he said. "Halden mar.
ried! It's uncomfortable. It is ap.
paling."
"Oh, you might not make him much
more miserable than any other WON.
an would. But. Julia. do you know
how Halden puts in his time?"
He spends some Of it."
Here. yes; that is serious symp.
tom Of his attack Of lunacy. But what
has he been doing for the last-I won't
understand to say how many years?
Why. lounging around the club and alb.
sorbing the news and refreshing II.
guilds; going to an occasional stag din
ner, and getting new cures for his
gout-or neuralgia, Is It? And taking
hand at poker now and then with the
boys, and something on roof gardens
and talking stocks and politics. That"
Perry said, us what Halden does, and
he's done 1t till 1t is habit with him,
like eating and breathing. 1t would
be smaller understanding to throw
steam engine off its track than to
shum Halden off his. And what would
1t result for Halden? Misery!"
HE seems willing to risk it," she
observed.
"Willing-willing! tell you it is
his loss Of mental equilibrium. III
such case. there is degeneration o.
the gray cells in the fore and part Of
the celebrum, and strange hallucina-
tions are the outcome. Any doctor
could make 1t clear to you. And you
would take advantage OF It? can
not credit It,"
She threw back her head and laugh
ed.
Don't laugh, I mean it." he said
sharply, and for space his eyes look
ed into hers. The long look burned
it's way through the something that
had interposed over between them
the flimsy barrier which their igno.
rance and their heedlessness had rear.
ed.
"Julia-" he faltered. The door
bell rang.
1T is Mr.. Halden," she said, with
trembling lips. Must you go?"
Nine days later, sitting in his office
in the heavy gloom and the dullness
which for the past week had held him,
Perry received letter. 1t was from
Julia Lamont, and it was brief.
Il am going to Boston this after
noon. Good-by."
"Good-by!" he muttered. fiercely
scowling. But all his apathy had fed
on the instant. She was going to
Boston. What did that mean? He
sprang to his feet She was going that
afternoon. She'll take the boat" he
hazarded. 1t was already past 5. He
seized his hat and called taxi which
drove him to West Warren street
swiftly. She was there.
81 told you good.by in my note" she
remarked.
He saw with joy that her hair was
wavy. 81 have not come to say good
by. Where is Halden?" he demanded.
"He is cruising around the lake with
Mr. Crane" she answered, land fish
ing. He had-an attack Of his neu-
ralgia, and told him 1t would do him
good to go. Il thought over what
you said, and saw" she affirmed, not
in humility, but in a rigor of pride,
'that it is true. It would have been
mistake: from the first feared
it. And-I almost think he agreed
with me, in his heart. So. after all,
I am not going to have home. am
going to Boston" She smiled brave.
~.
Those are misstatements," he an.
swered, "both."
What do you mean?"
"You will have home, and you
will not go to Boston," he returned;
though he spoke to the back OF her
head abruptly averted. "As I reckon