The Anaconda standard., 1895-01-01

young. She had not yet learned how very
serious a matter life is. The ring kept
other men away from her, curtailed her
pleasures, her freedom"
Her companion began some protest, but
! Miss Merton stopped him.
| Yes, L know what you are going to say
that she should have reckoned upon
that-that she would not have cared if shc
really loved him. But you cannot change
the nature of a girl in a day. She found
that the ring narrowed her life, and so
one day she put it away"
IF she was not willing to wear it she
should have given it back to the man who
gave II to her. said the lieutenant.
HE would have misunderstood it," said
Miss Merton. "He would have said that
she did not care for him, that she had
never loved him, that she had played him
false, and all the other nice things men
tell the women they love whenever their
point of view happens to be different. So
the poor girl did what she thought was
best and laid the ring away and met him
one day without it on her hand. don't
know what he said to her, but he was so
brutal about it that the poor girls proud
spirit rebelled. as i. should have done.
Then she brought the ring to me.
iiC.ois SuS Sdlis L Know you love me.
| can trust you. lie said that if any other
wore it, that one would come between us.
Now | want to show him how silly his SUI
perstition is. / want the ring but do not
want 1t to be my tyrant. Take it and
wear il tonight and let him see it on your
hand. And Miss Merton's voice grew
very sof) you won't come between us,
will you, sweetheart? she asked, kissing
me-
Miss Merton paused and ther boto stood
silently and looked out upon the sea,
bathed in its glorious moonlight, for a
long time. The lady stole a glance at the
mans face TO see If he took any interest
in her story. But it told no more than the
white walls of the great hotel in whose
shadow they stood.
When she resumed her voice had lost it's
mellow sweetness and had taken instead
a hard worldliness that grated on his ear
like music out of tune.
II did not mean to be false to her. I
should not be telling you this now if |
could not say that honestly. But when
she gave me the opal she tempted me.
She said:
"'See how it glows, Helen, like fire. /
think he is like that. If am not careful
will get singed in the flame
Il had never been without men about
me, but they were little men. There was
no fire in them and / thought / should at
last like to play with a flame, although |
knew II burned for Iother. That even-
ing wore the ring and Harry Germain
saw IT on my hand. l told MIN whose II
was and why wore il.
"'Ths is capital he said; let me wear |
i and II will serve its purpose better still. |
II he sees me have it he will be insanely |
Jealous.
Il hesitated for moment and then |
gave IL to him
Perhaps II was because Lieutenant /
Phelps was absent minded that he 4
lropped the hand that had been resting
,u hIs arm and leaned back againt one of
he pillars Of the piazza.
"Iknew,' continued Miss Merton. that
+ he were jealous the flame would be
'asIly kindled for me 10 play with. bur
Id not think of what might follow. lie
aw tho ring ana went At once 10 A-nes.
"'Iou have gwen the ring 10 Harry
Icrmain! [! he said.