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

/
But the days were endless. The
nights were eternities. Life had lost
it's SAVIOR.
Sedge's kindness, consideration
sympathy, stirred in her feeling OF
gratitude. There were times when
she felt that she owed it to him to
put Merrol out of her life forever-out
of her mind and heart.
After all, though he had killed
much that was good in her, disap-
pointed her, failed her, killed her be-
lief in him and her pride in him and
her admiration and respect-he had
made it possible for her to help the
others.
And he was trying at last to turn
the new leaf. So she encouraged him
to talk to her of his chances in the
diplomatic field. 1t made no differ
ence to her who talked or what was
said. She encouraged him, approx
ed, criticized, applauded.
When he was not suffering from his
his inherited weakness he was charm
ing, and he exerted himself to please
her-to win the place in her heart that
he had failed to win before, never
dreaming that another had been be-
fore him.
But always the aching longing for
Merrol endured. She wondered where
he was, with whom he was, and what
he was doing.
And then the proofs of her book
came, direct from the office, with no
word from him, only short business
letter dictated, requesting that she
read and approve.
Sedge brought her the bulky pack
age, remarking that Agnes had prob
ably had something sent. 1t was ad-
dressed to "Miss Rhodes" of course.
She read it through in an afternoon,
absorbed, wondering at her own clev-
erness. In print it did not seem SO
much hers.
Hope woke again in her. She re-
membered that Agnes now required
nothing Only Scott and her mother
required taking care of.
She got out her bank-books again
and failed to estimate the cost of
keeping them. Finding here a pre-
text, she surrendered at last to her
overwhelming desire to see him; and
arraying herself carefully, she took
the bankbooks and the proofs and set
out for his office.
The girl at the inquiry office ad-
mitted that Mr.. Merrol-young Mr.
Merrol-was in, and asked her name
She introduced herself and begged tc
be ushered in unannounced. Ever
this girl had heard of "Her Sacrifice,
so she acquiesced.
Gerry opened the office door ant
walked in. He sat at his desk, his
left arm thrown across the blot
ting-pad, his right hand supporting
his head. And his eyes were closed
And on his boyish face was look Of
unutterable WEAKNESS.
She advanced noislessly until she
had come directly before him, witt
only the desk between.
"Did you call me?" she asked soft
ly.
He raised his eyes and for an in
slant stared at her without change Of
expression. Then, amazed, incred
ulous, he stared.
"I'm real" she said. And, with {
little tired sigh, went round the desl
to him and fell on her knees ant
crept into his arms. "Oh, lover, low
er. l had to come. l had to!
couldn't bear it,"
He held her close, saying nothing
"Kiss me-" she cried, offering he
lips.
He kissed her fercely, roughly
crushing her in his arms.
~ don't know what is to become o
u.s." he said.
81 was afraid you would go away,
said Gerry. GAS you said. Il wa
afraid you had gone"
81 could not. / have walked TO
hours back and forth before you
house, but on the other side, prayin,
only to catch glimpse of you.
could not go away-where ther
would be no chance of seeing you.
"You haven't stopped loving me-?
Her gray eyes searched his face.
"No."
"Nor have / stopped loving you
| ceased to live when you left me-"
SIN the end" he said, "this low
must prove stronger than your bar
riers and oevrride them. | hav
walked this floor by the hour think
ing. At times it has seemed to m
that you did not love me-that yo
| cOnSi6erad yollr mother and cictar an