Passaic City record., 1891-06-13
How She Wore His Ring.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.


before"
s.Sulky" Frank repeated, 'I'm in
trouble, and you have no sympathy for
me. So much for friendship"
'.Good heavens, Frankr' cried, div
ing into my pocket and producing a
well-fled pocket-book. 81 had no
idea-tell me how much you'll have. If
there's not enough here I'll draw check.
The idea of keeping it from me, when
you know that if had only dollar in
the world I'd share it with tho friend
who saved my life-and an ungrateful
wretch I'd be, too, not to do it."
"Oh, put up your pocket-book, Jack, "
said Frank. "Can't you think of any
other trouble in life but want of money!
Your ancestors have rolled in gold so
long that suppose you think the rest of
us beggars. There, know you're a
kind hearted fellow and my friend, but
In rot out of cash. he laughed.
Bat in a minute more his face was as
gloomy as ever.
~ ell me what it is2" I said.
We were sitting on the bank of the
river fishing. Frank had come out to
our pace to visit me. We had been at
school together, and just as we were
about to graduate, Frank saved my life.
Isht'n't tell you how, that would be
another story, and l want to talk about
this afair just now, but he saved my life
at tn. risk of his own; was laid up for
six months, and always Gmped little
after0ard, and vowed eternal gratitude,
so dtl my parents. We all adored him,
and We had been very intimate ever
since.
He was twenty-five by this time, and
an artist. l was twenty-four, and as
Franz often said, "disgustingly rich"
He was usually the merriest fellow
alive ! don't want to convey the idea
that Frank was sickly cripple.
He was very unusually handsome
young man, and his little limp only made
him what the ladies call interesting.
1t was quite in his favor with them,
and I noticed that when he was intent on
making conquest, he limped more than
usual. But as gracefully as possible,
you may be sure.
He made great many conquests. For
my part, my weakness was not the ten
der passion, and rather laughed at his
affairs of the heart.
81 suppose it is girl" I said, after
pause. He looked up at me with his
long-lashed, gray eyes, for sat on rock
somf distance above him.
'sJack, l don't believe you have ever
been in love, or ever will be-" he said.
''Oh, like the girls well enough" I
said, "and no doabt when I am older 1
shall marry; but 1 don't think there's
any of the Amanda Rosamanda, the
world would be desert void without
thee sort of thing about me-"
81 don't believe there is" said he, in
tore that dio not make the remark
sound like compliment. "But, Jack,
that sort of thing, laugh at it as you may,
is s"';. fact after all, and hearts can
bi and lives be shattered and fellows
go - the dogs because woman--"
He broke down.
My arm was around his shoulder in a
moment.
''Why, Jack, old fellow, all the wo-
mea ike you," said I. s'You're sure to
get her if you try hard enough. They're
often like that, I'm told-coquette with
fellow till the last moment"
"Oh, she didn't, said Frank. "She
accepted me at once-yes, at once. 1t
was love at first sight with US. 1 met
her at dinner. I took her and her
mother. or maiden aunt, or somebody
in Il cap and eyeglasses, to the opera.
met Ter by accident, and walked with
her. l asked her if she could love me,
and she said, 'Oh, yes We were en-
gagged. almost ruined myself to buy
a cluster diamond ring, and we had
the happiest winter that ever mortals
lived through. Our wedding-day was
fixed for October. Her father promised
all sorts of amiable things, and 1 was
fool enough to kiss another girl. She
rather dared me to do it-you know
the way some girls have-and by the
most dreadful ill luck Jennie saw me;
and, look here
He took something from his pocket
and held it out to me. 1t was ring
cluster diamond.
'sShe sent that back last week." he
said, ''and I've wanted to die ever since. :"
And he rolled over on the grass and hid
his face.
"Oh, go and make up with her,
Fran, said l.
"I've tried" said Frank; "she won t
sneak to me-she won't look at me-
She sends my letters back unopened.
No: it's over, and l shall never be
good for anything again"
He seemed to mean it.
sShe's gone to Washington, said he; :;
sand they say an old Senator is milking
love to her. She'll marry him; know
it is out of spite, but she'll do it.
"Go after her, and cut him out, +" said /.
81 start tomorrow for Mexico-a
business engagement, signed and con-
tracted for. I'm to do the sketches for
work on certain part of the country,
and I hops I'll never come back" said
Frank.
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