Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-04-29
CHAPTER XXXIX
GOOd-bV!

KIT TERE Is your ring" and Miriam
ii held the platinum band with It's
gHttering stone out to him on her
slim palm. 81 could never marry any man
who wasn't proud and glad to make me his
wife"
Once more she was aloof from him. She
was the girl who before he had loved her,
had worn a mantle of reserve through which
he could not pierce Looking at her now
Anthony could not believe that he had ever
held her in his arms, or that she had ever
loved him.
Miriam, you don't know what you're say
ing" he brought out unsteadily. 81 can't
give you up now. 1 couldn't face life with
out you" He took a step toward her, but
she stepped back and shook her head.
Il want you to go now; I'm very tired"
You mean you're going to put me out of
your life for what was a matter Of conclu-
sion on my part? You're not going to give
me a chance to admit I was wrong?"
You'd never believe me. 1t isn't in you
to trust a woman where circumstantial evil
dence is against her. l couldn't face life
like that. You'd always be in doubt"
He shook his head, eager to convince her
He was afraid now; cold fear at the thought
of losing her was yelling up in his heart
He had gone too far; he had said terrible
things to her, but he would make amends
He would even try to believe that she was
innocent. He would do anything but give
her up.
Miriam, I was angry, angry and Jealous
Dearest, I do believe you, 1 can't help it.
You've convinced me-"
But the slim hand that held his ring did
not falter, and she did not draw it back
There was something irrevocabIe about the
way she held it out to him, and already
there was a barrier between them, as though
they were merely strangers.
Il won't take the ring" he said hotly
keep it, and I'll go away now SO that you
oct ,,
thing tomorrow, and you will feel differently
by then. You'll realize that it would be as
difficult for you to get along without me as
it would for me to do without you"
His voice was growing firmer, more as
sured. After all, this would blow over. To-
morrow she would be penitent and in tears,
ready to take him back and give him her
love again. Tonight she was tired over
wrought; she didn't know what she was
saying.
Miriam turned and placed the ring on a
little mahogany table nearby. Then she
came over to him and held out her hand
"Good-by, Anthony"
He looked at her with tolerant eyes, then
he said softly: Good night, dear. I'll see
you the first thing in the morning."
He touched his lips to the slim fingers,
and for second Miriam wavered. Her an
guished eyes rested on his bowed head and
the thought Of what life would mean without
him swept over her with its full force. If
he had caught her in his arms then She
might have weakened. 1t was the decisive
moment, but he turned away Immediately
and left her. and as the hall door closed be-
hind him, Miriam sank into a chair and
burst into tears. In all her life she had
never cried as she cried then, but after it
was all over and the frenzied sobbing had
died away into Iong-drawn signs, she was
as strongNin her decision as ever. Anthony
Breen had gone out of her life forever She
would never see him again, the episode was
over!