The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-01-10
"A PASSING CLOUD;
BY MRS. LIZZIE M. PEABODY,
lilllIllIIiIliiliIIiIiIIIIiIIIllIlIIiiiIlIIIIi
opyright, 1918. by Mcclure Newspaper

From among her many suitors Merry
Dayton had chosen Judd Bentley, ar
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 unslghtly
rubbish in piles ready for the torch.
Merry loved the old place, and after
Juggling ut the last huge cornstalk and
placing 1t 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-movlng river, is the prettiest spot
in all the world?"
He Strengthened up from his work to
look at her, and with clever mimicry,
his dark eyes twinkling rogushly,
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 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 smillngly waited
at the open door as he came up the
gravelcd path hut 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
lngged and She was still regarding him
with puzzled eyes when he abruptly
asked, where is your engagement
ring Merry l. III eyes appeared TO
be Smoldrling 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 notf' he quericd. Cannot" she
repeated evenly. His eyes, smoldering
no longer, were ablaze with anger, as
he said hOarsely: "Then I'll tell you !"
Hay Collins has II and today he told
me that he had taken 1t from your fin
ger with your consent. as it so?" His
eyes begged her to deny it, but master
ing herself with M effort which yaade
both fnce 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
it at another time Let us talk now"
he said protcstingly. Tonight | go
away again for Il few days" II can
not talk now" she said, "and in a few
days the matter may adjust itself"
VERY we'll" hc sotG nuiTrIv "oxnrrt
me next Wednesday Ari .o,, ,ftor
he went away.
81 have never givnn him rr,sor 70
believe sucb - thinr If nn" Norr,
so,,bra "ord how, cn,,1 ho s,,,I. 90
angrlIy to me-" Emf soon sho said
SOFTLY and honcfpuv az win COUNCIL
again for tho rinr Am ro, vat In
we'll"
wryinr dovs noesnI hnt v,,,,os.,o,.
arternocn rrr,rtt ,r,,.r,, - ,,o ,,i,,,,,,,'
both lunginc for ond dro,dir,, Tudd,,
coming Aroin sb, ,.,s s,,r,,.is,I, Co..
he r,mr nm thc ,,,h with enrin,.,,,,
stem and smiltro f,ce ana .o,,,,,+ hnn
in his arms "Iidd," sho ov"I,t,,d
ioyrrIiy. "voi have found o,, tho +,.u.h
nhcrt tre rirugo
"lyronr,o la criod ,,.,t,, sr,i,i,, T.,
Difference 81 hor,,,, cn,,, an I,,.,,t
Of if since I so,y vor, hnt h,ro t,,o,,
,hiurin" crI l,.,,,. vs., o,, a., -.
ser, IF , Girl oho y.nrII do , ,rtm,,
El,. ,hut"
~ horrd WIN n.,r,l ...,. ,,,., ,to..,.
aid hanpilv, "Hpl NOW win tni va,
wlai can ohnlt IN. rl,..,"