Argosy, Vol. 122, No. 1 — page 102: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

room, partly sheltered from the window- light by a screen which stood near by. I was feeling really very miserable and soon fell into a troubled slumber. I was awakened by the sound of voices and realized that my wife and Gerald Rolf were in the room. Evidently they had not seen me. They were sitting over by the windows and Ruth was serving him tea; I couid just see them from my chair, around the corner of the screen. The first words that I heard, as soon as I was fully awake, electrified me. And yet T remained silent, did not make my presence. known then. I do not know why, for I am not one who believes in eaves-dropping. It was Rolf’s voice. ' “ We must face it,” he said. ‘‘ There is no avoiding it now.” Ruth did not answer at once. I saw her face was very pale, and her hand trembled as she poured him a cup of tea. - “ You should not have told me you loved me, too,” he went on. “ That would have mace it easier. You should have rebuked me—sent me away.” Another silence. ‘““T’m going anyhow,” he added. “Gerald!” She put her hand on his ‘“There’s no other way, is there?” He met her eyes steadily. ‘I love you teo much -to do anything else but go away. You can understand that, can’t you? After te-day—after what we’ve confessed to each other.” I held myself -back with an effort. My brain was whirlmg. That this impudent boy should dare talk to Ruth—to my wife —like this! There was another silence. Then I saw Ruth slide her hand down his forearm until her fingers touched his. ‘“Have you thought it all over carefully Gerald? Are you sure, quite sure, that for you to go away—alone—is the best thing— the right thing?” She spoke quietly. Even now she seemed to maintain that reserve I disliked in her s6-antensely. “Yes,” he said; his voice sounded very tired. “It’s the only thing to do now— with honor.” i) ARGOSY, Honor! He could prate of-honor, when | by their very words, their thoughts, they ‘were dragging my honor in the mire! ‘“T’m not sure.” She spoke softly—so soitly I could hardly hear the words. ‘I’m not sure, Gerald. I’ve thought about this, teo. Tye seen it coming—oh yes, I have— for a very long time. I’ve known what was in your heart—and in mine. ‘For you to go away—mnever to see me again—that may be the best thing—the right thing for you. It will hurt you, of course—terribly—for a while. And then, inevitably you—you will fmd some one else —some other woman who will make you happy.” Her voice trembled a little but she still spoke evenly. “That is what the future holds for you, Gerald. Are you sure you are not think- ing only of yourself when you say we must never see each other again? What about - “You! Why, Ruth—” ‘“What does the future hold for me? You haven’t thought of that, have you, Gerald? Not another love like. ours—that is open to you—but not to me. ‘You have known me now two years. You know Will—the sort of man he is—” I took a new grip on myself.at this.men- tion of my name; I would hear them out. “You know Will,” she repeated; a new note of passion came into her voice. ‘‘ You know how empty, how utterly devoid of everything that makes a life worth living mine was until you came into it. All that is m the past. But the future—have you thought what you are condeming me to in the future? Have you thought of that, Gerald?” He avoided her eyes. ‘I love you,” he said. “ There will be no other love for me. I fave thought it all over—I have faced it —and I cannot—will not—take our happi- ness in dishonor.”’ She leaned over the tea-tray and put both her hands on his shoulders, forcing him to look at her. ‘I love you, Gerald,” she said. <‘ Look at me. I love you with all the love I once thought I felt for him—the love he did not—could not—understand. Do you rea- lize that you have brought me with your cComiclbooks.com