The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-09-20

L would rather not talk any more ABOUT
1t. didn't come here to talk about
it. l came to see you. So this is
where you livel"
He looked around him, and for mo-
ment he almost forgot the pain which
was gnawlng at his heart. 1t was such
a simple, plainly furnished little room,
so clean, so neat so pathetically elo-
quent Of poverty. She drew closer to-
gether the curtains which concealed
the little chints-covered bed, and came
and sat down by his side.
She clasped her hands tighter
around his arm. Her eyes sought his
anxiOusly.
"But you mustn't climb down, John"
she insisted. you are so much nicer
where you are, so much too good for the
silly, ugly things. You must fight this
in your own way, fight 1t according to
your own standards. You are too good
to come down"
sam too good for you, Sophy?"
She looked at him, and her whole
face seemed to soften. The light in
her blue eyes was sweet and wistful.
A bewlldering little smile curled her
lips.
Don't be stupIdv' she begged. "a
few minutes ago l was looking out of
my window and thinking what poor
little morsel of humanity am, and
what a useless, drifting life have led.
But that's foolish. Come now! What
I want to persuade you to do is to
go back to Cumberland for time,
and try hArd-very hard indeed-tO
realize what it means to be a woman
like Louise, with her temperament
her intense intellectual curiosity, her
charm. Nothing could make Louise
different from what she is--a dear
sweet woman and a great artist. And
John, believe she loves YOU"
His face remained undisturbed even
by the flicker of an eyelid.
"Sophy," he said, Il have decided
to go abroad. VIII you come with
mel"
She sat quite still. Again her face
was momentarily transformed. All its
pallor and fatigue seemed to have van
ished. Her head had fallen little back
She was looking through the ceiling
into heaven. Then the light died away
almost as quickly as 1t had come. Her
lips shook tremulOusly.
"YOu know you don't mean 1t, John !!
You wouldn't take me. And If you did,
you'd hate me afterward-yOu'd want
to send me backw
He suddenly drew her to him, his
arm went around her waist. She had
lost all power of resistance. For the
first time in his life of his own delib-
crate accord, he kissed her-feverlsh-
ly, almost roughly.
"Sophy," he declared, II have been a
fool l have come an awful cropper,
but you might help me with what's
left. l am going to start afresh. I
am going to get rid of some of these
ideas of mine which have brought me
nothing but misery and disappOint-
ment. I don't want to live up to them
any longer. 1 want to just forget
them. I want to live as other men
| live-just the simple, ordinary life.
Come with me! I'll take you to the
places we've talked about together. l
am always happy and COntented with
you. Let's try it,"
! Her arms stole around his neck.
John" she whispered, hiding her
| face for a moment. "What can l say?
What could any poor, weak little crea-
ture like me say? You know l am
fond of you'll haven't had the pride,
even, to conceal it!"
! He stood up, held her face for a
moment between his hands, and kissed
+ her forehead.
"Then that's all settled" he de-
clared. II am going back to my rooms
now. l want you to come and dine
with me there tonight, at eight
o'clock"
Her eyes sought his, pleaded with
them, searched them.
"YOu are sure, John?' she asked, her
voice a little broken. you want me
really? am to conner"
II am sure" he answered steadfast.
Iy. 81 shall expect you at eight
O'clOck" "
John went back to his rooms fighting
all the time against sense of unreal,
ity, sense almost of lost identity
He bought an evening newspaper and
read it on the way. He talked tC
the hall porter, he talked to a neigh
Dor with whom he ascended in the
lift-he did everything except think.
In his rooms he telephoned to the
restaurant for a waiter, and with thu
menu in his hand, few minutes later
he ordered dinner. Then he glanced
at his watch-it was barely sever
O'Clock. He went down to the barbel
shop, was shaved and had his hair cut
encouraging the barber all the whllt
to talk to him. He gave his hands
over to a manicure, and did his beS
to talk nonsense to her. Then he cam,
upstairs again, changed his clothe
with great care, and went into hi
little sitting room.
1t was five minutes to eight, an
dinner had been laid at a little rouu,
table in the center of the room. Their
was bowl Of pink roses-Sophy's ia
vOrite f1ower--sent in from the flor
lists; the table was lighted by pink
shaded lamp. John went around tn
room, turning out the other lights, ur
I til the apartment was hung with shad
= ows save for the little spot of colo
in the middle. An unopened bottle 0
! champagne stood in an ice-pail, an
two specially prepared cocktails ha
: been placed upon the little side table