Willmar tribune., 1906-01-03
Her Perfect P !: r !.
Indifference
BY Louise y. .Sfron&
Copyright, 1906, by P. C. Eastment

'Why, Stella, where is your ring?"
Daisy seized the hand that was slip
ping itself under the bonbon box as if
to conceal its nakedness.
Returned to the jeweler at dis
count likely, or whatever fellows do
with discarded engagement rings"
Stella laughed, with some constraint.
"You don't mean to say that, you and
Ned
"Yes, dor Stella interrupted. "You
might as we'll know it; everybody will
soon"
II couldn't be more astonished if the
sky had fallen! Why, you and Ned
were the most utterly
appearances are often deceitful,"
Stella observed, with wise air, inter-
! rupting again. II suppose you thought
I was - we'll, as they say entirely
gone on Ned"
"That's right! Might one ask the
| whyfore?"
zone might. We simply found that
we were mistaken in our interest in
each other. Isn't that suficient?'
"Sufficient, if true. But don't be-
ieve it-not little bit! Why, if there
were ever pair Of TURTLE
"You can believe it or not, but am
entirely and perfectly Indifferent to
Mr.. Ned Whiting-and he returns it
fully"
II don't believe it, when you two
were so intensely devoted to-it's only
| silly QUARREL
1--WE did not quarrel" Stella asserted
coldly. "And if you have observed his
conduct with that plain, poky Lewis
girl you cannot say much for his devo-
ton to me-"
Il shouldn't call her exactly plain,
though she isn't a beauty. And there
may be reasons-besides, he has not
been so very
"He has been so very that you have
noticed it, l see," Stella interrupted
sarcastically.
"But she is visiting in town and has
| not many acquaintances here. l doubt
| if Ned has been more than polite. Did
he explain?'
'"There was nothing to explain-there
was absolutely nothing he could say
for himself, as told him when he at
| tempted it. I asked him to drop her,
and if he had cared half as much for
| me as he professed to care he wouldn't
have hesitated an instant. But of
| course it doesn't matter at all. care
q q hi hn qoy
Really, did not realize till this hap
pened my Indifference to him. She
yawned elaborately, then added, with
animation: II am going on the loveliest
| trip with Charley in his new auto. I
told Bell Smith all about it on purpose.
1 knew MIR. Whiting would hear Of it."
Her eyes snapped triumphantly.
"Your ring was too exquisite,"' Daisy
murmured regretfully. "Think of Lau-
ra Lewis carrying off such a trophy
when she goes homer
II wonder if he will give it to her!
Stella started up angrily. II would
have pounded it to pieces before his
face if had dreamed of such thingw
Then at Daisy's smile she leaned back,
| yawning again. But Of course it's
! nothing to me. Let her wear her old
| secondhand rings if she likes!'
"Secondhand rings is good. I'll look
out that the one I'm offered is not
such," Daisy laughed.
| "Well"--
Stella's rejoinder was cut short by
her small brother, who burst upon them
excitedly, yelling: ''Stell! Stell! What
do you think! Ned Writings bicycle
smashed into-where's mother? I've
got to- He vanished, needless Of the
wild shrieks with which Stella received
his news.
"Oh, Billie! Billie! Is he killed? Is
my Ned killed? Billie! Billiev'
| But Billie was flying down the street
again. Evidently terrible accident
had befallen Ned Whiting. Stella fut-
tered about, wringing her hands, moan
ing: "Oh, Ned, Ned! Dead this minute
when I've been saying such horrible
things Of you-and lies, too, every one
of them"
! She suddenly snatched a hat and
dashed away, oblivious Of her kimono
and slippers. She reached the corner
Just in time to be pulled aboard the
crowded car, dizzy and breathless.
"Near thing" the man next her re-
marked, examining her unusual attire