The Somerset reporter., 1906-11-01
For n Slender
SiEUerRlng
BY.
M. MAUDE WRIGHT

!
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| 81 never will marry man who does
not think enough Of me to give me
anything less than a diamond ring
Those are the very words l used" said
Amelia Jones as she flashed a diamond
before Mrs. Berkley's astonished eyes.
"And Bob2"
"Oh, he first looked surprised, then
angry; muttered something about the
ring being set with my birthday stone
and that it was the best he could af-
ford Then he walked off without an
other word"
"Of course he came back or you
would not be wearing the ring"
81 must confess that | was a little
bit frightened. for do think a heap Of
Bob and you never know what a man
will do, but he came back the very
next day and brought me this beautiful
diamond ring You see, he really cares
for me-" said amelia.
WELL" said Mrs. Berkeley, II don't
see how he could afford 1t, for he Is not
as we'll off as Joe was before we were
married"
A sudden thought struck her, for she
slyly concealed her left hand. but not
before Amelia had noticed the action.
ooh, Mrs. Berkeley she said impul-
sively, "do let me see your wedding
ring do not remember noticing It.
| know 1t must be something fine, for
they do say that Joe Berkeley was
heels over head In love with you before
you We're married"
A flush spread over Mrs. Berkley's
face.
ut is not a diamond" she faltered.
81 am sure, then, 1t Is something
equally nice. Now. Mrs. Berkeley. please
don't be so modest" said Amelia as
hiding place, revealing very slender
band of silver.
"Oh" Perhaps Amelia put more
meaning into this exclamation than she
Intended but there certainly was scorn.
as this the kind of a ring Mr. Berkeley
gave your He should be ashamed of
himself, and he could have afforded to
Il
Bob could afford to give me one. or
course he cared for you, but men have
strange ways of showing their love
sometimes"
The flush on Mrs. Berkley's face
grew deeper as she pulled her hand
away.
ut was made out Of dime" There
was no further explanation. 81 left
some beans in the oven and must 60"
said she and left.
When she reached her home she went
up to her room and snatehed the ring
from her finger as If 1t burned and
threw 1t into a bureau drawer out of
sight
Il never will wear it again-neverr'
She stamped her foot angrily on the
carpet. He didn't care for me or he
never would have given me a ring that
would hold me up to scorn. oh. yes;
he has been good to me, but then he Is
good to his clerks, his dog and every
thing else" Her pride had been wound
ed sorely.
She hoped her husband would miss
the ring and thus give her a chance to
say something, but If he did not miss
the ring he missed something else-her
usual CHEEKY chat
Are you Ill. Frances?" he asked, with
real concern In his voice.
NO" she answered CURLY.
HAS anything happened, thenW
ooh, enough has happened" she said
coldly
Her tones caused him apprehension.
amelia Jones and Bob Dalesford are
engaged" she said finally, not knowing
Just how to begin.
us that all2" he laughed.
Mrs. Berkeley did not smile.
bob gave Amelia a beautiful dia-
mond ring, which showed that he cared
something for her"
Something In her tone made him look
down at the finger that should have
worn the wedding ring.
She noticed his glance and answered
IT, II never will wear It again, for you
did not care anything for me when you
gave me such ring as that-a paltry
Ten cent ring, n target for ridlcule.
You could have afforded to have given
me a diamond ring better than Bob
Dalesford could afford to give Amelia
one, yet you did not even give me a
gold one and-and-and you pretended
to love me! l was fool. know bet
ter now"
Mr.. Berkeley WINGED as If he had
been struck He rose and left the
room, and Mrs. Berkley noticed with a
pang at her heart that his usually
straight shoulders were bent as from
age, yet she did not call him back.
Nothing more was said about the
ring, and things went on much as
usual only instead Of cheer, sunshine
and a sympathy there were silence,
gloom and misunderstanding. Mrs.
Berkeley could not help noticing the
haggard look that had settled down on
her husbands face, and when she
looked into the glass she knew that her
own face was getting pale.