The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-01-29
The Ring Availeth


n HE knew that everybody at the
~ hotel was sure she was engaged.
She felt them observe her subtle
ways of expressing the open secret OF
her heart. She was aware that they
noticed her anxiety about the mails go
ing out and her eagerness about the
mails coming in. She would affect that
tender glance at the ring when she
really knew that every one was look
Ing.
She would hurry into the dining
room half-minute late folding letter
and crushing it into the front of her
shirt waist. She would stand before
the long windows in the palmroom or
sit silently in one Of the huge rattan
rockers on the porch and gaze alb
sently across the links
When the boys asked for set Of ten
mis- she would look at once startled and
pleased, and hesitatingy would say
"Tennis! Why, would dearly love to,
but" And she would turn inquir-
ingly to her aunt with an expression
by which most girls would mean, do
you think it is all right?' but by which
she seemed to mean, "Do you think
that he would think 1t is all rightp
The more she declined the more per-
sistent they became, till at length she
was the center of all social activities.
1T is not because of myself. Men
always are silly about engaged girls"
This was her secret thought.
She enjoyed 1t immensely, however,
and the other girls envied and gos-
siped
One afternoon young college man
was presented to her, "Do you know"
said he, "I've been dying to meet you
that is, ever since | heard-er-you
were engaged"
as 1t such a dreadful thing to be
engaged| she exclaimed. ~ know men
Just simply despise engaged girls"
{. "Oh, no, we don't-that is, some of
us don't. You are all so different from
other girls, you know"
They took short walk, and ended
by sitting on bench In the arbor.
"Oh, yes, It's much cooler here" she
was saying as she toyed with the leaves
and twigs. They talked and talked,
and got to know each other far bet
ter than even she could have expected.
The boys said "Whew!" and asked
her no more to play tennis. The girls
ceased to envy, but continued, however,
to whisper. The boys joined them and
whispered, too.
The next morning when the crowd
went over to the links he carried her
sticks. She did not usually play golf
In the mornings, but on this particular
morning she was the first to go over.
She knew he would walk with her. She
thought he liked her, at least for the
moment ;and, knowing the tickle frame
of men, she realized the critical situa.
ton.
They played few holes, but lost
their last ball, and rested by the brook.
I'm sorry you learned am en-
gagged she was saying.
Sorry? Why, you needn't be-" he
rejoined, frankly, "Do you know, I'm
deucedly fond of engaged girls?"
Indeed! Why, really thought that
you fellows were rather afraid of
them"
Afraid of them Nonsense. His
boyish nature was growing enthuslas-
tic. "Its the other kind that Pm afraid
of-not engaged girls, Why. fellow
like me could so with a girl like you
all summer and-er-she would never
expect-that is"
The girl had lowered her head and
was gasing intently into the brook.
sYou see. my friends tell me l am
susceptible" and he softened his voice
to an extremely confidential tone.
.srhat's why I'm glad you're engaged.
You see, there's no chance for me to
fall In love this summer"
She vas not quite so sure about It,