The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-03-05
RULED BY THE RING
BY CHARLES S. STILLER.

BY CHARLES
Keeler stepped aside to let her pass. and
the girl favored him with smile as she
acknowledged his courtesy. He went on
UP the stairs with a feeling of warmth
about his heart Somehow the smile Of
the Girl Across the Han always affected
him that way He had often wished that
he might venture to speak. but there
was something about her that held him
back.
For almost q year now they had been
fellow-tenants Of the old rookery that
masqueraded as a studio building His
name. neatly printed adorned his door
but there was not sign of an announce
ment on her own, from which he inferred
that she worked for some concern and
merely used the office as a workshop.
He bent over his drafting board all
the morning. though the face of the girl
somehow would get mixed up with the
side elevation of the building ne was
planning. and he was glad when the tiny
clock struck L. and he had an excuse for
stopping for lunch.
He had not yet made his fame as an
architect, and lunch vas an elementary
meal-a couple of sandwiches brought
down from the house and a cake OF ma
pie sugar that he had picked up some
where. He Clipped of corner Of the
cake with his eraser.
on the broken half yellowish CLINT
caught his eye. and he further dissected
bis portion. 1t was ring, a slender
band Of gold. with ct. II. 70 A. c.. 1898. "
engraved inside. Plainly, some girls en-
gagemeut ring this. Perhaps some little
country girl was bewailing her loss even
yet. lie caught up the box with its gaudy
label. It bore an address. and that even
ing he posted d letter addressed II
Thomas Gillespie, WycOma. Vt. in which
he explained the discovery Of the ring
and announced his willingness to return
| it on n proper description.
With his own little romance Of the Girl
Across the Hall. Vance Keller felt inter-
ested in all romances, and as he slipped
/ the letter into the box he sent after il a
wish for good luck.
But sometimes blessings. like curses.
come home to roost. lie was beginning
his letter; that perhaps the label was but
an evasion Of the pure food law, when
| there came a knock at his door. and in
answer to his enter" there appeared the
girl from across the hall. blushing rosily.
Il believe that you are Mr. Vance
Keller she began. as Vance sprang to
his feet and busted off the company chair.
You have the advantage Of me" he
/ suggested. "since I do not know your
name"
Il am Agnes Gillespie" she exclaimed.
| My father wrote me 10 see you about a
| letter you sent him."
/ And you were working right across the
hall all the timer he cried. Rather a
/ roundabout way. isn't il? / suppose you
can describe it."
1T was plain gold band. she said.
THE initials were r. II. and 4. g., and
the date 1904
The initials are right" he agreed. "bUt
the date is wrong It's 1904
THAT is because the ring has been worn
so long, she explained, the red suffusing
her face. THE eight is partly erased.
The blush convinced him, and his heart
sank as he drew out the ring. Perhaps
she was bashful about admitting her en-
lgagement, but it was 1904 He could swear
TO that
Her face broke into smiles as he drew it
from his pocket and passed it 10 her.
L never thought that I should see IL
again" she ran on. 1T dropped eff my
hand last year while I was helping with
the sugaring. I never realized that it
might be in the sugar until il had all been
shipped.
She slipped the ring on her finger and
Vance noticed that ii was perfect fit.
He breathed silent vengeance on IT ="
as he held the door open for her, but took
satisfaction I'm the thought that he at
| least knew her name.
After that when they met on the stairs
they exchanged greetings, and several
times she had to run in TO borrow a
rubber or some material, and once she
had shown him her studio where she
worked over designs for wholesale
house. She was always frankly friendly
and he respected the rights of IT. II.
But 10 keep from loving was quite an
other thing. Even before he had known
her he had fallen in love. and acquaint-
ance had only strengthened the feeling.
More than once he thought OF moving
away out of temptation. but before he
decided the fateful moment came.
He was working with his door ajav.
and. CHANGING 10 look up, he saw a pun
of black smoke blow in. He sprang to his
feet and rushed into the hall The stair
way was cracking merriIy, and two
/ floors below the flames had fun posses
/ sion. Theirs was a rear building. built
in the yard of the higher structure II
would be a hard fire TO fight, and all
chance of escape by stairway or fire.
| escape was hopeless.
He ran to Agnes door and burst in
when there was no answer to his knock
ing. He knew that she was in, for he
had seen her pass One glance showed
that he was right in his fear She was
stupefied by the smoke and he had TO
drag her out.
There was scuttle to the roof, and
/ from there an emergency ladder led 10
the top of the next building, a climb Of
twenty feet. Desperation lent him
/ afFer,efh -