The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-20
THE EVENING STORY
Two a-Shopping.
(By Philip Kean.)

the door or the big cOnfectiOner
sake Of An axe hane sGaa s aGd
Felicia laughed. ct have SO much
shopping to do" she protested.
II have some shopping too." Dick
said, "but you are going in here with
| me first. Felicia
Their entry into the shop brought
| ness and dimness. lighted here and
there by softly shaded lamps
do you like chocolate as well as
ever?' Dick asked.
YES" She smiled up at him from
under the brim of her broad white hat.
He leaned toward her across the lit
tie table. DO you remember he
asked, that when went away you
were angry with me?"
81 forgot it, she confessed, when
I met you at the door. A year is such
long time to stay mad"
you had no reason to be mad" he
told her but 1 could never convince
you"
A little spark came into her eyes.
But there was the other girl"
Eyes, there was the other girl" he
said, but If you had asked me I might
have told YOU
Her face famed. There was no ex-
PLANTATION"
The chocolate soda was on the table
in front of them, inviting. cool, deli
SAO0o.r 0ut LIACy OlQ I1OL IlS0Q oICC
more the battle was on. They had re-
newed the quarrel of a year ago. Dick
brought it to an abrupt termination.
Felicia" he said suddenly, Tets
call it peace at any price. We haven't
seen each other for year. Let's stop
fussing, drink our soda and then I
want you to go shopping with me-
"Shopping?" her voice showed sur
prise.
Eyes. I am going to buy a ring-for
the woman love, Felicia
He watched her closely and saw
with inward satisfaction-the color go
out of her face.
"a ring" she faltered.
She drank her soda, listlessly, after
that, but when they reached the street
she talked eagerly of his purchase
Did he want a solitaire, or band
of stones? Or should there be ruby
or other birthstone?
81 had thought" he said, " of pearls
with diamonds
"Oh, MOI" Felicia threw up her
hands with little gesture of dissent.
Pearls mean tears. they would bring
her unhappiness.'
Herr" He glanced down at her,
then recovered himself. "Oh, yes, you
mean the girl I love-
Yes She walked beside him for
little while in silence. then she said.
hesitatingly, us it the other girl.
Dick ?"
You mean?"
THE other girl-the one 1 saw you
with that night when you broke your
engagement with me, because you said
you had business to attend to-
You mean the girl of whom you
were jealous?" His voice was stern.
"I was not Jealous" she f1ared.
He brought her back to the subject
of the ring as they entered a shop
where the light blazed upon thou
sand Jewels.
Does she like pearls?" Felicia ask
"They go we'll with her hair" he
said
Whats the color of her hair?" Fe-
licia asked.
Red" he said absently. with gold
lights in it,
I saw you with had black hair" she
cried.
"Oh, yes" he stammered.
Felicia laid down the rings that
she had been inspecting. Dick" she
said in a low tone so that the clerk
could not hear, "how many other girls
There is only one girl that I have
ever loved"
"And that girl is?"
YOU he said suddenly
yet you are going to marry anotfl-
eT R1rl Sne accused n1I1ls
He went back to his examination
of the rings. you said pearls meant
tears. Shall select emeralds instead?'
IF she has auburn hair listlessly.
''she would like green
But I am asking what you like" he
told her suddenly.
She turned on him a little fiercely.
But the ring is not for me. Why
didn't you bring her to select it for
herself?"
He did not answer her question. He
picked out from among the glittering
circlets curious band of heavy but
exquisite design. There were two hearts
in which two rubies were deeply set.
Around the hearts were clustered dia-
monds that brought out the lights in
the rubies until they glowed like
flames.
s'Since you won't help me choose"
he said, 81 have selected the one that
1 like"
ITS beauty she agreed.
He wrote a check, and took the ring
in exchange. Then they went out of the
store together. At the curb he hailed
a taxicab. at am going to take you
for a ride" he said. and when she de-
INJURED he insisted, until at last she
consented. saying, well, it's our last
ride together"
They talked of many things as they
rode along, yet between them was al
ways the consciousness of that ring in
his pocket. AS she thought of it, Fee
licia felt that she must cry out with
bitterness She felt that she and Dick
we're made for each other; they had
been engaged for years, and until that
moment of jealousy she had never
doubted him. Yet it had been easy for
him to love another woman.
out of q sudden silence she fa1tered,
It hope you will be happy"
I'VE are going to be-" he said.
s'You and the other girl?"
He looked down upon her. NO" he
said. land the only girl"
A look into his face revealed his
meaning. Felicia drew back quickly.
you mean me2 But the ring was for
the other girlv'
''I did not say so. 1t is for you, for
the girl with the red hair with the gold