In vain he stormed and swore and threatened; vowing to advertise in the papers that he would not be responsible for his wife's debts. Ruth merely laughed at such violent scenes. She knew he dared not (for his own credit's sake, and for fear of ridicule), publicly refuse to pay her bills. And his howling rages were as sweet music to her.
Truly, her revenge was complete. Kendrick's life was one endless misery. He lost flesh; he grew gray and careworn; his face had a hunted look. He took to drinking heavily. Ruth, hating him more and more every day, was forever planning fresh torments to harass him. She felt no conscientious scruples about this. Kendrick had willfully robbed her of her sweetheart.
In one ruthless blow he had changed her from a simple, loving, laughing-eyed girl to a vindictive, heartless woman. And she was making him pay for what he had done.
So matters stood at the year's end, when Fleetwood Blair came back from Japan. The young man had thrown himself heart and soul into his work out there, never once losing sight of his hope that he might win back Ruth's love on his return. He had no correspondents in America, so he knew nothing of her marriage to Kendrick. As a result of his tireless work and his natural cleverness, he had proven himself immensely valuable to Kendrick. So much so that the older man resolved to use him in the home office of Kendrick & Co., on Blair's return in New York.
On the day of his arrival in the city,  Blair reported to him employer and found himself received with unexpected cordiality. 