Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-01-27

"Good-by," he sighed.
"Good-by," he said. "It would be
rude not to reply to lady. But I'd
rather say anything else to you. ]
hate to say good-by to you."
"You needn't again. Perhaps that
opportunity won't arise"
at will" he said confidentially
"sooner or later. Bear me in mind il
you're lonely or blue"
She made no answer, ascended the
the steps, and entered as the footmar
opened the door. He stood motion
lessly until she had completely disap-
peared. Then he mounted again list,
lessly and rode away.
She was determined that she would
not see him again. 1t was definitely
settled in her mind. And from this
instant she would wear her wedding
ring, so that in case their paths should
cross accidentally he would be unde-
ceived.
Bravely she put it on that night for
dinner, but it annoyed her. She never
wore rings, except on dress occasions.
She liked to feel her fingers free. She
considered rings a nuisance-a need
less weight. Still, she wore the gold
band resignedly.
1t was not an ordinary ring. 1t had
diamonds sunk deep in it at intervals
all the way round. Morris had want
ed to give her something little out
of the beaten track, so he had tabooed
the plain gold band.
That night he appeared at dinner
pale, silent, morose. While the serv-
ants were in the room he scarsely
spoke. When the door had closed be-
hind them Gerry spoke first, dispos-
ting of the matter of his fall from
grace, eliminating the necessity of a
scene. They were beginning tc be
unbearable, those scenes.
81 forgive you, Sedge," she an
nounced calmly; "and Pm not going
to leave you, and I'll give you another
chance. So pull yourself together and
let's forget as quickly as possible
that it happened"
He was taken by surprise. His
mien was that of disappointed child.
"You're brick, Gerry" he said.
"Some day Pm going to win. Only
don't lose patience. / thought l was
strong enough to stop when I'd
enough-but / didn't know I'd had
enough. It's been valuable lesson
to me. After this, not a drop-under
any circumstances. Pm resolved"
She nodded.
"You're killing yourself. You're a
slave to the stuff. You've practical
ly ruined your career. You've alien
ated me. Is it worth while?"
"No," he said. at isn't, Pm 60
ing to stop. Pm still master of my
self. You'll see. AS long as l live
you'll never see. me in that condition
again. That is certain. You can
bank on it."
To look at his eager, resolute face,
you would have been moved to believe
him. But Gerry had seen the same
expression innumerable times - the
day after debauch.
She was not impressed; but she
thought to strengthen his purpose by
pretending to be. Alternately she
tried two plans. Sometimes she pre-
tended to believe in him. Somtimes
she thought to compel him to live up
to his word by scornfully discredit-
ing it.
81 know you can win out if you
only determine to-" she said. you'd
better begin those walks again"
81 will. l wish the spring would
come. feel the cold so terribly. l
will enjoy walking in the spring"
"It's pleasanter," she admitted.
"And We'll open the Greenery-
and live in the air down there!"
She remembered month at the
Greenery the summer after she was
married. The house had been full of
guests, and an ocean of drinkables
had gone. She remembered her own
wretched loneliness among Sedge's
friends-and she scowled.
1t occurred to her that many, many
more years of this life were in store
for her, unless the book panned out
well-exceptionally well. Then she
would be free to leave this bit of
wreckage across the table. 1t would
seem, in way, like deserting child
for he depended on her, feared her,
needed her.
But she felt herself in no way re-
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