The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1919-01-23
"A PASSING CLOUD
BY MRS. LIZZIE N. PEABODY.
llIiIII'Ii ~!

From among her many sultors 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
a 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
Juggling 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 homeSlD1d farm, with its fine old
trees and Its glimpses OF the shining.
! ever-moving river. is the prettiest spot
In all the worldf"
He Strengthened up from his work to
look at her, and with clever mimicry.
his dark eyes twinkllng rogulshly,
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 prettlest
girl In all the worldf"
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 a business trip which
would keep him away for q week.
On the evening he was expected
home, long before no came In sight,
Merry sat at the window watching be-
hind the curtains and smillngly 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 M"
NO." he replied, but conversation
Jagged and she was still regarding him
with puzzled eyes when he abruptly
asked. Where is your engagement
ring, Merryf" In his eyes appeared to
be smoldering sparks and In his voice
tone which was strange to her.
CHANGING at her ringless hands. her
face Redeemed, but she answered quiet.
ly, II cannot tell you" Cannot or
will noti" 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 1t and today he told
me that he had taken It from your fin.
ger with your consent. rs It soi" His
eyes begged her TO deny II, but master.
ing herself with an effort which made
both face and lips white she said calm
ly, you have made statement which |
you evidently believe to be true, but |
you are very angry. Let us talk about |
II at another time" Let us talk now" |
he said protestingly. Tonight l 20
away again for a few days" II can
not talk now" she said, "and In a few
days the matter may adjust ITSELF"
very we'll" he said quietly, expect
me next Wednesday" And soon after
he went away
or have never given him res.on IN
believe such n thing Of ma" Merry
sobbed. "and how cou,d he small 60
anrrily 10 mel" But soon .bs ssId
softly and hone,ul,v ~ will ssorch
again for the ring. An NAV vet hs
we'll"
Trying days passed. but "Wednesday
afternoon found Merrv nj the window
both longing for and dreadIne Judd,s
coming Again she was surnrised For
he came mn the path with ,nr,nginc
step and smiling face and ca,,gh, her
in his arms. "Judd +" she exclaimed
joyfully, "you have found out the-trutb
about the rlnaT
"wrongl" he cried with smiling I'm.
difference. II haven't seen or heard
of II since I saw Won. hut / have been
thinking, and I 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 / will tell Won
/