The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-23
HELEN,S ENGAGEMENT
 RINGS.
BY srANNARD ROBINSON.

Copyright, 1903. by Daily Story Pub. Co., The second day out from Southampton Miss Helen Baker decided that ocean travel was not so bad after all. She sat placidly in her steamer chair and watch ed with considerable interest the rest of the passengers as they took their morning walk or stood about In groups. Until now her sole acquaintances he'd 1 been the ships doctor and the room stewardess. ,....s. There was a heavy first cabin list and the decks were crowded. The greater part were Americans homeward bound, but there were few who were undenia- bly, foreign in appearance. One of these Helen decided must be a count at the very least. He was tall and slender, with a decidedly military air, which was accentuated by the immense mustachios as black as the neatly fitting frock coat he affected. Helen had never met a count and she watched him intentiy as he passed among the crowd on the deck, with a pleasant word and smile for every one.
 Her interest was not lost upon the count. Presently he dropped into the chair beside her with a remark about the weather. Now Helen had been cau- toned by her aunt not to make the ac- quaintance of Strange men on the boat. It was upon her promise not to, that she had been permitted to undertake the voyage alone. This was forgotten in a moment now. Surely. she argued, there could be no harm in talking to a count. Before the lunch bugle was blown they were fast friends. and the count knew more about her than she realized that she had told. He carried her rug inside the salon for her and she promised that | A--r AalR h. aRN Nax. lunch.
 The count was a most agreeable talk CT and that, night for the first time she did not open the little leather case with Robert Arthur's picture inside before she crept into her berth. All that night the count pervaded her dreams and there was not a thought for the man to whom she had given her love. It was on his account that she was hurry ing back home, and here. with the steamer heading for New York harbor. she was forgetting him.
 In the days that followed there were occasional twinges of remorse for her broken faith, but the glamor of title was upon her. The count was an Itai- ian he said. and the glowing pictures he drew of his home in Northern Italy were veritable castles in Spain. He was working to clear the estate he told her. This object had been nearly accomplish ed. In another year he should marry an American girl and take her home to be his countess. Without speaking he gave her a pretty good idea as to the identity of the American girl he had in mind.
 It was the last night aboard that he spoke his love. They had come up from the captains dinner and were leaning over the side near the bow, aRnAt Atw,ar khn fnk srlA nf llswtak VA fiected by the low hanging clouds from the city. In burning sentences he told her how completely she had won his heart; how implicitly he had given her his faith. Out from the black sea the reproachful face of Robert Arthur stared up at her. but she resolutely thrust his memory aside and with trembling lips pronounced the ives" which drove the count to an ecstasy of bliss. He covered her hands With kisses and drawing from his hip pocket little morocco case plac- ed upon her fingers half a dozen rings. Even in the faint light the fire of the perfect stones was apparent. and she started at the dazzling display.
 T can't wear these" she protested feebly. T could never think of accept ing such a gift"
 His hand closed caressingly upon hers. "They are your engagement rings. Caro mio." he said. softly. 'They were my mothers. It is a little custom we have with those we love. Pray take them. "
 She made as though she would remove them, but in the end his will prevailed and she kept them on.
 That night she was in a curious mix ed state of exultation and fear. She was to be a countess and have all sorts of rich things, but on the other hand