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

put this love into my heart in vain
it shall be my happiness to look ou
for you, to bear your burdens, tC
guide you, to spare you every leas
hurt that l can suffer instead. Anc
it shall be my happiness to drive the
bitterness from your strange gray
eyes and the droop from your mouth
and the WEAKNESS from your heart
For where love is there can be only
| joy.
Write me in line saying that you
understand, and that you forgive my
rough impatience; and tell me when
may come to you. shall be anX.
iously waiting.
Yours utterly,
ARCHER MERROL.
She was crying as she finished. And
with tears dropping from her long
lashes, rolling down her cheeks, she
reread it. And she kissed the sigma
ture. Then she tucked it in again
over her heart. Sitting there, her
eyes on the window opposite, through
which the sunshine was streaming
she tried to decide what she must
say to him.
What she wanted to say was, 81
love you. Come to me now-at
once!" But she dared not say quite
that. Her way was strewn with OBJ
stacles. She could not seize her
happiness-climb to it over Sedge's
fallen body-over Agnes's dead am
bitions-over her mothers comfort,
her brothers welfare. These things
must be arranged for. Happiness
at such a price would be dearly
bought!
And yet she could not sacrifice
herself now-and him. There must
be some way to manage. If he
would take the burden of her fam
ily's support, that would leave only
Sedge. 1t was only when he faced
her, his eyes wistful and yearning
like dogs, that she sympathized
with him.
Sooner or later Agnes would be
self-supporting. Scott would take
longer perhaps. Her mother would
always be dependent. Had he mon
ey enough to look out for them all ?
That was what she must find out.
But he would hardly understand the
question if she asked him. She
would have to explain everything at
length.
Reaching this decision, she gather
ed up the rest of her letters hastily,
intending to mount to her sitting
room and begin to write. One fell
to the floor, addressed side up. 1t
was from Scott.
Standing by the table, she ripped
it open and read:
Dear Sis:
l have been pretty ill. Took bad
cold early in the winter and it hung
on. Finally settled in my throat and
has given me lot of trouble. The
doctor here now says l need a good
sea trip. Five other fellows here
have scheme to charter private
yacht and cruise about for while
on it. Two of the tutors will go to
give us lessons, and we will play
sailors for exercise, and touch at
many interesting foreign ports to
finish off our education. 1t will cost
quite lot, but ought to fix me up.
If you can afford to let me do it,
wire me.
Otherwise, I'll arrange to go to
some coast resort for a few weeks, OF
might give up lessons and ship on a
tramp steamer or cattle-ship. 1t
wouldn't hurt me to rough it.
Don't let on to the mater or Ag-
gle that I've been sick. Pm coast
ing about again, but am a little wab-
bly,.
If you can finance me in this I'll
pay you back some day. And III
be awfully grateful. l know you
will if you can, so don't hesitate to
say mo" if it isn't convenient. A
lot of hands go into Sedge's pockets
know.
Nothing new. Write or wire soor
as possible. Love and kisses from
Your devoted brother,
SCOTT SCOFIELD RHODES
She stood moulonless, rne letter ii
her hand. Her face was white. Hel
eyes were large and almost black
For long time she stood there; ther
she turned and moved swiftly out
through the hall and up the steps
In her little sitting-room she sanl
down before the desk and drew I
telegram blank toward her.
She wrote-and added the address
MIR. SCOTT RHODES:
Help charter the yacht by al
means. Let me know wha5 your