The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-07-19
CHAPTER xIv-continued.

"You won't even give me the poor
satisfaction Of knowing what you're
doing" he said.
'rd love to-" she said, "to be able to
write to you, hear from you every day.
But l don't believe you want to know.
] think 1t would be too hard for you.
Because you'd have to promise not to
try to get me back-not to come and
rescue me If l got into trouble and
things went badly and | didn't know
where to turn. Could you promise
that, Roddy?"
He gave q groan and buried his face
In his hands. Then:
mo" he said furlously. "0f course
1 couldn't. See you suffering and
stand by with my hands in my pockets
and watch!" He sprang up and seized
her by the arms in grip that actually
left bruises, and fairly shook her In the
agony of his entreaty. "Tell me It's n
nightmare, Rose" he said. "Tell me 1t
isn't true. Wake me up out Of It,"
But under the indomitable resolution
of her blue eyes he turned away. This
was the last appeal of that sort that
he made.
'Tll promise" she said presently, "to
be sensible-not to take any risks l
don't have to take. I'll regard my life,
and my health and all, as something
I'm keeping in trust for you. I'll take
plenty of warm, sensible clothes when
/ go; lots of shoes and stockings
things like that and, If you'll let me-
I'll borrow hundred dollars to start
myself Off with. 1t isn't tragedy,
Roddy-not that part of 1t. You
wouldn't be afraid for anyone else as
big and strong and healthy as L.
Gradually, out of welter of scenes
like that, the thing got itself recog-
nized as something that was to happen.
But the parting came at last in little
different way from any they had fore
seen.
Rodney came home from his office
early one afternoon, with a telegram
that summoned him to New York to a
conference Of counsel in big public
utility case he had been working on
for months. He must leave; If he were
going at all, at five o'clock. He ran
sacked the house, valnly at first, for
Rose, and found her at last in the
trunk room-dusty, dlsheveled, sobbing
quietly over something she hugged in
her arms. But she dried her eyes and
came over to him and asked him what
1t was that had brought him home so
early.
He showed her the telegram. "rll
have to leave In an hour" he said,
;.li I'm to 60"
(, She palcd at that, and sat down
rather giddily on the trunk. "You
must CO." she said, 'of course. And
Roddy, guess that'll be the easiest
way. I'll get my telegram tonight
pretend to get it-from Portia. And
you can give me the hundred dollars
and then, when you come back, I'll bt
gone"
The thing she had been holding II
her hands slipped to the floor. H'
stopped and picked 1t up-stared at 4
with a sort of half-wakened recogni
ton.
~ f-found it," she explained, "amonl
some old things POrtia sent over whei
she moved. Do Sou know what 1t Is
It's one of the notebooks that got wet
that first night when we were put OF
the street car. And-Roddy, lookw
She opened 1t n an almost blanl
page, and with q weak little laug
Splntvd TO the thing that was write
there: March Is, 1912V
"Your birthday, you see, and the da
me met each other"
And then, down below, the onry not
she had made during the whole of tina
lecture, he read: "Never marry ma
with passion for principles"
"That's the trouble with us, you see
she said. IF you were just an ord
nary man without any big passions {
anything it wouldn't matter much
your life got spoiled. But with u
you see, we've got to try for the BIZ
gest thing there is. oh, Roddy, Rodd
darling Hold me tight for just
minute, and then I'll come and hel
you pack
NlADTER NM