Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-25

LNROM among her many suitors Merry
l. Dayton had chosen Judd Bentley, an
honest capable and dependable young
| farmer. 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 at the last huge cornstalk and
placing II 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 its glimpses of the shining,
| ever-moving river. is the prettiest spot
In all the world?"
He straightened up from his work to
! look at her. and with clever mimicry.
his dark eyes twinklng rougishly
cried, Merry. do you know that to me,
and the little yellow rings clustering
about your temple, are the prettiest girl
In all the world?"
Merry's happy laugh was contagious.
Tor Judd laughed. and a little bird
bbaintily b,,rnt ir,s swaying ing on nearby nearby bush
after they started for home. and at
Merry's gate Judd said rood-by as he
| was to start that evening on a business
trip, which would keep him away for a
| week
on the evening he was expected home,
long before he came in sight. Merry sat
at the window watching from behind the
curtains and smilingly waited at the op-
EN- en-, door as he came up the grayeled path,
bright smile, and the happy, eager look
in his eyes to which she was accus-
TONED, were missing. His greeting ap-
asked, Are you iii ?" No" he replied.
but conversation Jagged and she was
still regarding him with puzzled eyes
when he abruptly asked. Where is
eyes appeared to be smoldering sparks
and in his voice tone which was
strange to her. Glancing at her ringess
hands, her face reddened. but she an
Cannot or will not?' he queried Can
not" she repeated evenly. His eyes.
smoldering no longer. were ablaze with
anger; an, as he said h,T,asrseIy: Then RI
day he told me that he had taken it
from your finger with your consent Is
It so?" His eyes begged her to deny
It,, but mastering herself with an effort
which made both face and lips white
she said calmly you have made n
statement which you evidently believe
to be true; but you are very angry.
| Let us talk now he said protestingly.
Tonight I go away again for a few
days" 81 cannot talk now" she said
and in few days the matter may ad-
| Just itself" please. Judd. let me have
my way" she entreated. and even more
than her words the appeal in her soft
blue eyes moved him, and he could not
refuse.
Very we'll" he said quietly. expect
me next Wednesday, And soon after
| he went away.
II have never given him reason to
believe such n thing of me-" Merry
sobbed. and how could Ne speak so
softly and hopefully. II will search
again for the ring. All may yet be
we'll" -
Trying days passed but Wednesday y
afternoon found Merry at the window
both longing for. yet dreading. Judd s
coming. Again she was surprised for
he came up the path with springing
step and smiling face and caught her