The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-15
THE LITTLE RUBY RING.
ny vlrxlnla LelIa wents.

great worth. and Cynthia had often
 speculated about it's history. One
 thing. though. she knew: Frances
 valued it above everything that she
 possessed.
 T say, Frances" shed once remark
 ed to her sister, who happened to be
 story that went with it, why that
 would be a different thing. If, for example. it had been given to Uncle
 John when he was Consul to Calcutta by the Rajah of Singhalee for service hiding him in the Consulate during
 an insurrection or something. If, in
 handing 1t to uncle. the Rajah had
 said. Excellency, this ruby rolled
 from the wounds that killed Ezuka,
 favorite princess of my ancestor, the
 King of Ahar. One moonlight night
 as the king strolIed in the royal gar
 dens, marking to the snightingales----"
 What an unmitigated goose you are
 Cynthia!' Frances had interrupted.
 smiling in spite of herself. Immedi-
 ately, however, her exquisite face had
 grown grave. wen never speak of this little ring again. dear-do you un-
 derstand?"
 And Cynthia. clever, wise Cynthia,
 understood. She understood that her sisters nature did not crave sympa- thy--the sort that thrives upon mu- tual confession and confidence She understood that serene and resolute Frances met the critical situations in life with an inscrutable reserve. But I'm sure of one thing" Gym thia summed up to herself. Here at 2s Frances is still unmarried-and it's that little ruby ring that keeps her
 an old maid in spite of her beauty!"S A beauty? That is what Frances Logan unquestionably was. She had been photographed in every variety of pose that modern society approves. She had been painted by several of the most celebrated artists. Tn fact, she was famous on two continents for Ser rare and wonderful personal charms. Yet she was still unwed. Must be waiting for a title" gossip said, as other girls, far less charming, came | out, danced through season or two, and were married.
 But above the doorway of the house | of Logan was written Ichabod---every- l thing belonging to them, the old home- | stead included, gave hint of departed glory. A wealthy marriage had been pointed out to Frances as her duty in I life. No sacrifice had been considered | too great to give her the proper set- | ting to this end; and her father and | Cynthia, the second daughter, and the | two little motherless boys had uncom- plaingly submitted to remain in the
 background that Frances might shine | abroad. | More and more plainly stood out | the Ichabod. More and more ardently | pressed the suit of Mir. Birney Gates | for Francess hand. He was a man \ growing old. with thinning brown hair patheticaliy brushed. but with sun | reddened face and eyes sharpened to keenness. "A man for men--to plan, to direct! The air of the broad, ener- getic West in every movement" Gym ] thia had once defined him. Presently 1 Frances grew weary of the struggle | and gave in. From the beginning it | had been an unequal contest, for all along she knew that she must requite | her family for their devotion. As she was going to sell herself for 8 price | she might as well get the highest price!
 Frances. my dear, I am bankrupt old MT. Logan had said to her one | evening as they were sitting around Il the library fire. T can no longer keep up even a pretense of show. What are | you going to dor Mir Gates stands | ready to put me on my feet again; but
 --ah. Francess" His voice was almost ! cry.
 l TdICC5 4OOhG0 QulNA1y &WaFt AoAAN was toying nervously with her little 1 ruby ring. Cynthia bent her head over l magazine that she bad picked up. | and there was constrained silence. | Frances. dear. don't you think you | could accept himf"
 l If Mir. Gates calls tomorrow, father. | I shall accept him. There was a strange, sudden glitter in the girls dark eyes as she bent over to stir the smoldering logs. Cynthia involuntar- | ity turned toward the ahapely hand that held the Ire tongs The little | ruby ring was gonel
 One morning a few weeks later, Mir. | Gates called and presented Frances with jewel case. In the early light | he looked older and redder than ever. | She shrank from the touch of his lips | on her hand. As she opened the case | listlessly a necklace of diamonds and
 rubies sprang to view.
 1 Rubies were her favorite stones. Some one else had promised her de- | luge of them when he should have | achieved fame and fortune.
 Frances, haven't you anything to say? They are superbp' reproved | Cynthia. But her sisters lips only parted in a faint, inscrutable smile. MT. Gates is aware that in pie | turesque sacrifice. one always decks | the victim,' she said, mockingly | For second MT. Birney Gates's keen l eyes looked narrowingly at this bold,
 insulting woman. so speedily to be- come his wife. He almost contem- | plated giving her back her liberty. Then he smothered his better impulse, | being led afield by her beauty. and a look of mastery frightened his thin lips. | From under her heavy lidded eyes Cynthia watched him. 'fIe will tame | Frances's spirit horribly" she thought | to herself. But I could tame his
 beautifully. If I might only tryl | Suppose"
 That night in dressing-gown and slippers she trailed into her sisters room to have a few words with her. | Frances was sitting in deep chair, somewhat in shadow, her long, white, | ringIess hands lying very still in her | lap. Her whole being was as notion less as if 1t had lost all power of ac- | tion.
 Honey" began Cynthia calmly, after making herself comfortable against the
 rosewood bedpost. you can't abide MT. Birney Gates-oh, don't bother about protesting, dear. Let us at least be truthful with each other--you can't abide him, and you love-the one who gave you that little ruby ring "Cynthiaw ejaculated Frances sharp ly.