The Topeka state journal., 1897-08-03
WHAT HIS BOOT HELD

fathers house and to stay till this morn
ing?
And what disappointment it had been!
There was Jennie, flirting all the evening
positively hirting-with that fool Jack
Price, and when he had caught her after
the last dance to tell her what he thought
of her conduct, instead of making pretty
apologies and offering to kiss and be
friends, as he fully expected, what had she
done? Actually blamed him-innocent,
blamelesE him-for talking too much to
her cousin Maud, declined to listen to his
reply, and ended by leaving him and CO.
ing to bed in a huff.
But this was not all. There was some
thing sharp and cutting in his boot that
was becoming positively excruciating as
he went along. At this rate he should
soon be famed. No, he could stand it no
longerl Besides. why should he penance
himself? Here was a retired corner, where
a little bootblack piled his trade. Here be
would obtain relief.
''No, 1 don't want shine, but I'r
give you twopence If you'll get my boot
off and let me see what's in it,
The grinning little fellow was quick to
comply. He unlaced and pulled off the boot
and thrust his hand in in a moment.
"Well, of all the rum things Look
here, sir,'' he exclaimed, and held up to
BERTHE something sparkling in his grimy
fngers-soInething poor BERTHE knew only
too well.
It was a ring, pretty diamond ring,
that he himself had chosen and placed on
Jennie's pretty finger. Her engagement
ring, and she had desecrated it thus! To
show him her contempt, to insult his love
to the utter1nost, she had cast it thus en-
phatically under his feet. Cruel, faithless
Jennie!
The longest day must end at last, how
a fact vU6 all know all
full about now and then, and BERTHE, re-
leased with a great stream of other city
men, made his way back to the station.
tThat gentleman looks as if he would
bite" whispered little lady who sat op-
posite to him in the train.
And BERTHE, overhearinQ, agreed readily.
He was lingering that fatal ring in his
pocket, and feeling as if he should never
be disposed to smile again.
The pleasant spring evening, full of
lilac fragrance and the hutter of young
leaves, served but to deepen his depression
as he made his way to the pretty house
where Jennie Douglas lived
1t was empty and silent tonight. Her
little sisters were not, as usual, playing
about, and the tennis court was quite de-
serted. No sound came from the house
the cheerful, large family home used to
resound with much laughter and song and
the patter of children s feet.
He paused moment in the porch before
he rang, and so gave time to a little lady,
who CHANGED to be standing at window
up stairs, to come flying down and open
the door for him herself.
"Bertie,'' said Jennie's voice through
the twilight. "Bertie, is it you?''
eyes, Jennie" said the young man
gravely, and she, who was used to a very
different greeting, looked up surprised.
"You re not going to be cross again?"
she asked with a charming pout. "You
know I never meant anything-and you
began it,
"Win you come into the garden for q
minute, Jennie? L want to speak to you.'
81 shan't stop If you begin to scold,''
she remarked decidedly. 'You know it's
all nonsense, and I've had something that
really worried me today
$50 have I, Jennie And he drew the
ring from his pocket. 81 cannot tell you
how it has grieved me to find this dis
carded from your hand
But Jennie. with little scream, had
sprung upon the treasure.
''Oh, BERTHE, Bertiel That's the very
thing have never taken it from my
finger since you put it on. I know I had
it safe last night because II always kiss
it good night after 1 have said my prayers,
dear. And this morning it was gone.
And have been so miserable about it all
day. Do tell me where you found it,
Bertie.''
'You had it last night, dear?' he ques-
toned. "Then how on earth had it got
inside my boot this morningP''
"Inside your what?'
"My boot, " he repeated rather shyly, for
really the confession sounded too unro-
mantio in all that poetry of twilight and
love.
He slipped it once more on her finger
and stood in silent content for a moment
contemplating it
stRut IUhV dear2'' she 0nesfioOa7 innn-
Gently, turning her treasure round and
round. "You knew it was safe, and 1
think you might have telegraphed to me.
You might have remembered how worried
I should be to lose it,
"Jennie, I thought you meant to give it
back.
Jennie was looking sbyly at the dia-
monds she twisted them, glimmering
in the twilight
81 know how it was,' she murmured
at last. "but I don't think I want to tell
you. 1t was very silly
He drew her gently to him.
''Yes, tell me. I want to know"
"Well. dear, last night I did not feel
quite happy because we had sort Of quar-
rel without making up, and had horrid
dream that you were angry with me. So
I thought and thought, was there any
thing 1 could do for you before you went
away? I couldn't get your brea kfast be-
ca use of the servants; mother would not
like it, and she had told me not to go down
in the morning, and l couldn't think of
any thing, till at last / remem bered your
boots. So crept out as soon as it was
light and found them at your door, and
ru bbed them beautifully before any one
else was stirring, and took them up again.
must have dropped my ring in without
noticing. Did you see how very bright
your boots were? BERTHE, know you're
laughing, and you promised not.''
secret so well kept that no friend of
theirs was ever told the tale of what BERTHE
Sinclair found in his boot.-London News.