The free press., 1897-02-11

he's prig and foolP p ...,,I..
Dell looked snubbed.
"But isn't the ring pretty?" she said,
at last, holding it up tantalizingly.
"And see what's engraved on it,"
"To Darling Dell, from jim"
As Rick read, the passionate, jealous
pain at his heart became almost unen-
durable. He dared not trust himsel
to speak, SO he turned abruptly and
strobe rapidly down the garden-path.
"Dell laughed, though just little
uneasily.
"He will come back tonight" she
thought, "to ask to be forgiven for
doubling me. and then how he will
laugh when he knows all about i'll!
But the lovely blue eyes we're trife
clouded for all that when she returned
to the house laden with flowers.
Aunt Belle noticed the cloud and
said:
"What is the matter with Rick
Anderton, Dell? He walked away as if
racing for wager?"
"Oh, he got mad p said Dell, de-
lightfully vague, as was her won't
"The mountain and the squirrel
had quarrel!'" laughed Aunt Belle,
resuming her book without giving
further thought to the matter.
She was quite accustomed to Rick's
and Dell's little squabbles, and did
not imagine that this was anything
more serious than usual.
But Rick did not come back that
evening, nor the next; and Dell be-
came distrait and uneasy, and then in
dignant.
What fuss Rick made about moth
ing, on account of jealousy and i'll
temper Why couldn't he have
waited for an explanation, instead of
starting off in such huff?''
Well. she was glad to get rid of
him, and hoped it was for good and
all.
But for all that. Dell did not feel
quite happy. If only Rick were not
SO inclined to misjudge her!
Glad news! Jim Harper was CON-
ing on visit, that very afternoon,
and Dell was to be at the railroad sta.
tion at two o'clock, with her pony
phaeton.
She made herself look very bewitch-
ing in light summer dress, with
great, golden-hearted pansies at her
throat and in her belt.
She was radiantly happy. How nice
it would be to see dear old Jim again
After all, this world was very glad
world to live in, in spite of the jealous
Kicks who tried to make it SO un-
happy.
Rick Anderton was at the station,
lounging about with dissatisfied and
not altogether happy look on his
face.
As the train swept up, shrieking and
putting, Dell fitted past him without
even nod of recognition, and gazed
delightedly at one of the car win
dows.
There we're not many passengers
bound for this sleepy village, but
among them was one dainty little
brunette, who threw herself raptur-
ously into Dell's arms
Rick stared in astonishment. He
had heard,as naughty Dell we'll knew,
that q certain Jim Harper was about
to pay visit to Mrs. Belle Irving, and
he had haunted the station in order to
find out what sort of looking fellow
this Jim was. He found out at last.
'Jcmima Harper-dear old jim
how delighted am to SEQ you again!"
gushed Dell, rapturousIy. taking good
care to speak loud enough for Rick to
hear every word.
And then she and her old school
friend drove away, while Rick Ander-
ton stood and stared after them like
one dazed.
But when he came to her that even
ing, SO repentant and humble, what
could she do but "forsive and for
get.
Rick promised never to be ieal-
GUS again, and bids fair to keep his
word.
Dell was little sorry, however, that
she surrendered SO soon, for, as her
old schoolmate herself declared, "Rick