One year after Howard marries his wealthy boss's daughter he is still a traveling salesman, staying in cheap hotels. The only reason for him to do so is in order for him to meet Ivy again, but it is absurd that his socialite wife would want her husband doing such a job. He could have encountered Ivy in some other way.
Ivy starts to jump off a bridge to commit suicide, holding her handbag. A suicide would put the bag down on the bridge before jumping.