The Clio messenger., 1918-12-27
"A PASSING CLOUD,
BY MRS. LIZZIE M. PEABoDY.y
IIII,IIIIIIJIIIIIIIIIIIlIIIIIIIIIIIIII
I. lslS. by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)

From among her many suitors Merry
Dayton had chosen Judd Bentley, an
honest, capable and dependable young
farmer, and they were very happy as
together they came one afternoon in
October when the woodland trees were
blaze of color, to the homestead
farm, where they were to live after
their wedding in the spring, and began
clearing the grounds by pulling up
cornstalks, squash vines and tall weeds
and placing them with other unsightly
rubbish In piles ready for the torch.
Merry loved the old place, and after
tugging Mt the last huge cornstalk and
placing it with the others she looked
about the fields and then said thought
fully: "Judd, do you know that to me
the homestead farm, with its fine old
trees and It's glimpses of the shining.
In all the world?"
He Strengthened up from his work to
look at her, and with clever mimicry.
his dark eyes twinkling roguishly,
cried: "Merry, do you know that to me,
you with your pink cheeks. blue eyes
and the little yellow rings clustering
about your temple. are the prettiest
girl in all the world?"
Merry's happy laugh was contagious.
for Judd laughed, and little bird
daintily swaying on a nearby bush
burst into shower of melody. Soon
after they started for home, and at
Merry's gate Judd said good-by, as he
was to start on business trip which
would keep him away for week.
On the evening he was expected
home, long before he came In sight.
| Merry sat at the window watching be-
hind the curtains and smilingly waited
at the open door as he came up the
graveled path, but the gay wave Of the
hand, the bright smile, and the happy,
eager look in his eyes to which she
was accustomed were missing. His
greeting appeared to be forced and
anxiously she asked, "Are you ill"
"NO." he replied, but conversation
Jagged and she was still regarding him
with puzzled eyes when he abruptly
asked, "Where is your engagement
ring, Merry" In his eyes appeared to
be smoldering sparks and in his voice
a tone which was strange to her.
Glancing at her ringless hands. her
face reddened, but she answered quiet
ly, II cannot tell you." Cannot or
will not?" he queried. Cannot" she
repeated evenly. His eyes, smoldering
no longer, were ablaze with anger, as
he said hoarsely: "Then I'll tell you !"
"Ray Collins has it and today he told
me that he had taken it from your fin
ger with your consent. "Is it so?' His
eyes begged her to deny 1t, but master
ing herself with an effort which made
both face and lips white she said calm
! ly, you have made a statement which
you evidently believe to be true, but
you are very angry. Let us talk about
1t at another time." LET us talk now"
he said protestingly. Tonight l go
away again for few days." ~ can
not talk now," she said, "and in few
days the matter may adjust itself"
"Very well," he said quietly, expect
me next Wednesday," And soon after
he went away.
II have never given him reason to
believe such a thing Of me-" Merry
sobbed. "and how could he speak so
angrily to me-" But soon she said
softly and hopefully, "I will search
again for the ring. All may yet be
WELL"
Trying days passed. but Wednesday
afternoon found Merry at the window,
both longing for and dreading Judd's
coming. Again she was surprised; for
he came up the path with springing
step and smiling face, and caught her
in his arms. "Judd" I" she exclaimed
joyfully. ''you have found out the truth
about the ring?"
&, SWrong!" he cried with smiling in
difference. 81 haven't seen or heard
Of 1t since / saw you, but have been
thinking, and know you are not the
sort of a girl who would do a thing
like that"
II hoped you would say that" Merry
said happily, "and now I will tell you
what can about the ring"
"NOt unless you choose" he quickly
interrupted. "For you and me the af-
fair Is settled, but shall soon see
Ray" he added grimly.
"The evening you went away" she
began, II finished doing some canning
and preserving had begun, and I had
put away the jars and carried out the
fruit and vegetable waste before !
missed my ring. Since then I have
searched everywhere without findii 9
1t. Rays sister must have told him of
my loss. and, although did not think
Of 1t while you were here. the greater
part Of his story Is probably true"
He looked at her inquiringly, and,
blushing. she continued:
"Ray once brought ring to me, and
slipped It on my finger, while ne pro-
posed. but I refused, and asked him to
remove 1t. 1t was very nearly, or per-
haps exactly like the one you after
ward gave me-"
/