Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-08-11
Every EVENING" hours.

/ Eight hours a DAY Tor Two weeks would
be equivalent in point of time to a series
of weekly calls spread out through a
period of over two years-and besides he
has greater efficiency for speed than
| most men,
\ summer is not lifetime, but is long
enough-at least she thought it would be
| long enough She was to remain through
| the month of October; he was to leave
the last Of Sc,.iemher. Time passed more
rapidly and more happily than ever be-
| fore. They were having the sweetest ex-
periences OF their lives.
"He cares for me-" she thought over
and over again. He likes me, but why
doesn't he-?"
She began to realize that his eff
cheney for speed" was not so great.
My engagement attracted him. and
Iyet my engagement holds him off" she
concluded. She knew this every word
an act proved it. He need not speak;
and yet he ought to.
At length the days of field and wood
were over. Their evening strolls were
at an end. Even summer-end good -bys'
are sad, and there is no use repeating
them. All were said-that is, all good
bys" We're said-but nothing more. He
went to pack his grip. She retired to her
room to weep, to dry her eyes and to
weep some more. For long time she
la yon her bed, face down, and the pillow
was tear-stained.
It's all over now" she was thinking
Then she walked to the window and
nervously tied the shade string in ever
so many little bows and knots. She was
looking at the two-caTat stone on her
engagement finger.
My ring attracted him-and alas! my
ring is driving him away" And she tied
more knots in the window shade string
Il have it," she cried, and in burst
of enthusiasm she jerked the string and
snapped the shade to the top of the win
dow. Her tears burned dry and eyes
beamed with determination and glowed
with anticipated success. 1t took only
La few minutes to pull the ring from her
finger, seal an envelope and wrap up a
small, dark green box about an inch
square.
Every evening at o'clock the stage
drove to tOwn-not to return before the
following morning. When she came down
on the porch the horses were waiting and
he was about to step up into the stage.
"Will you mail these in town for me 2"
she asked, as with her left hand she gave
him the letter and the package. He
glanced from the package to the hand
anu back again to the package. It. was
addressed to Il man in Colorado. The
letter was directed to the same man.
Good bye" he said; III mail them"
She was expecting him to say more.
when suddenly all the guests came hurry
ing out of the hotel. They crowded
around him ard babe him most demon
stratiye adieu.
oh, pshaw!" she said, as the stage
swept round the bend. Il didn't think
the whole house would be here!''
She ate no dinner that evening and sat
alone on the porch till it was very late.
The west wing was deserted save for her.
She was watching down the dry, dusty
road over which he had driven. At
length some one came trudging around
the bend. 1t was a man with a grip. 1t
was he-he was coming back
"Hellol" she called in vain attempt
to be cheerful Did you miss your
train?"
NO, didn't miss the train,'' he replied
las he came up on the porch. His voice
was as hoarse as his clothes were dusty
Nv, L ultli HISS my Tram, DuJ / drove
clear into town before | understood what
ut all meant. | registered that package
ana sent it special delivery, too" He
was sitting close enough to whisper.
And l walked back over six of the
toughest miles | ever travelled lust to ask
you if | couldn't put another ring where
the old one used to be-
The moon rolled back of kindly cloud,
casting an impervious shadow over it all
and even the omnipotent story teller
couldn't see.
Late that night, sitting on the floor in
her room, she held a diamond ring be-
tween her fingers and contemplated it.
1t was the same ring she had worn all
summer, the same ring that made the
people talk, the same ring that attracted
him.
With an air of satisfaction she re-
turned it to her jewel ease
And what would dear old papa think"
she was musing, IF he only knew ! can
never wear his present again" Marshall
ROBBIE in the Columbia Monthly.