Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-01-03
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
The Pawned Ring.

peneQ IN those three years. linen was
just a young girl Now l feel an old
woman. 1 was full of illusions then.
only didn't call them illusions.
But there, what is the good of think
ing? 1t is getting late, and Florence
must be back before Jack comes home
or he'll be suspicious Here it is. Flor
ence. Be very careful.
feel horrid parting with it, 1t seems
somehow like giving away part of one
self; but, then, what else was to do?
can't ask Jack for any more money.
When L asked him to pay Violet's bill,
he made quite scene about it and said
1 was horribly extravagant, and things
had been so bad lately, and he really
didn't know whether we oughtn't to
move into a cheaper house.
/ really believe Jack cares hardly
bit for me now. He's always out at the
club or kept late at the office or some
thing-especially something. L fancy. 1
believe we hardly spend one evening
together in n week, and to think l
might have married Arthur. Oh, what
fool have beenl
How well l remember the afternoon
when Arthur brought me the ring. lie
said the stones i'm 1t were not half so
bright as my eyes. Why doesn't Jack
ever talk to me like that?
Arthur was always different. There
was a caress in his voice, and the
mere touch of his hand was a declara
ton of love. and might have married
him, might,
wonder what Arthur is doing now?
I've never seen him since. He said he
90, fr.a vol oh
he is dead. He never was very strong
not a bit like Jack. Jacks n regular
horse.
If there was anything else I could
have sold. / would never have let Ar
thurs ring go.
But there. l have nothing else so val
liable. l remember how he told me
that there were half dozen people
after the ring and how he only just
managed to get it by outbidding them.
1t was frightfully extravagant of
him; but. then. he loved me-ah, bow
he must have loved met
Jack would never dream Of buying
me n ring like that, and he's n great
deal better off, whatever he chooses TO
say now, than poor Arthur ever was.
It's lucky Jack has never seen it. He
would be sure to have asked nasty
questions about IT, and I'm sure 1
don't know what 1 should have said.
He nearly did see it that evening, too.
when he came in suddenly when L was
slipping it on my finger and watching
the diamonds glitter in the freight.
How fortunate it was that 1 had just
got into my new frock for dinner, and
how / trembled when Jack insisted on
pinning in the roses ut my breasti l
thought his clumsy fingers would be
sure to tumble across its hiding place,
and indeed once he actually touched ii,
but he never guessed what it was. He
wondered why ii was that / rushed up
stairs for my handkerchief the moment
we had sat down to dinner instead of
sending Florence. But the minute 1
had to myself in my room was quite
sufficient to dive down into my dress
for the ring and lock it up in its usual
place.
Ten O'Clock. What time Florence is
takingi Surely the shops aren't all
shut. thought those dreadful pawn
broker people were always open. I've
always heard so. 1 wonder what 1
shall get for the ring.
Two hundred at least, though of
course it's worth a great deal more
than that.
1 know what 1 will do-I'I pay the
bill-that's, let me see. $1J0-and then
buy myself another ring with what is
left. That will be still like having Ar
thurs ring in way. and 1 shan't feel
quite so dreadful.
All. there is Florence at last. What n
long time you have been! Give me the
money. Give two dollars, you say, for
a ring like that?
Ee, paste? My-er-en you may go,
Florence. Go! Don't you hear?
Think of it! That should have been
so deceived, It's monstrous, Little
beast Arthur!
1 don't believe he ever cared for me
at all. Paste, and all the lies he told
me about it too! It's disgraceful, scam
dalousI
And 1 loved him! And, no. neverl
And yet-no. L am sure didn't! Hor-
rid little BEAST
Horrid - er - bother this pocket
Where is my handkerchief? After all,
what's the good Of being n woman if
one cannot have n cry sometimes?
What's-what's-(sin back into
chair and sobs passionately).
Why, it's past 1. Jack said he would
be home at -. / must not let him see
I've been crying, and, yes. there's a
key in the door now. 1t is Jack.
wonder If he will come up stairs or go
into the smoking room. 1 know l told
him never to dare to come up stairs at
this time, but 1 really didn't mean it..
Listen-yes, he is coming up stairs,
the dear old fellow. oh, I'm glad,
oh runs to the door and throws her
self into her husbands arms. come
and kiss me, Jack,
He Had Found His Speciality.
A London contemporary tells the