The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1910-06-11
THE TOPAZ RING OF HIS
FOREFATHERS
By CLARISSA MACKIE

whirled homeward, she found herself
| crying bitterly without reason.
Once in her own room, she remem-
| bered with bitter pang that there
had been rumors of Jacks engage
ment to Anne Bellew II months be-
! fore-she had never thought of these
rumors since. Jack had been devoted
to her and Anne had met her copper
king,
She grew more angry as the situa-
ton dawned upon her-Anne Bellew
| had once worn the topaz ring and per-
| haps had scorned it and the giver;
she, Esther Raymond. had taken it
gladly and with it accepted the sweet
| sentiment woven about it's history.
| Probably the girls were laughing
about it now-she could fancy Anne's
sarcastic remarks. witty and keen as
razor's edge.
In a little fury of Jealous anger
Esther tore the ring from her finger,
! placed 1t in a box and returned it to
| Jack WintOn with a few scraWled
! lines that explained nothing whatever
| but the fact that she no longer loved
him and hoped never to see him
! again.
Contrary to her ha1f-defined hope,
Jack did not come and ask for an ex-
PLANTATION. He merely stayed away
and Esther did not see him for sew
eral weeks. 1t was evident that he
purposely avoided attending any af-
| fairs where he might meet her. The
girls of her set noticed the absence of
| the topaz ring from her finger and
wondered If Esther had been foolish
enough to mind Anne Bellows sharp
| tongue-was it not common talk that
| Anne had fished assiduously for the
! Winton millions and-failed to get
even nibble?
They all knew this save Esther her
| self-she was eating out her heart
with grief, but there was no outward
evidence of her suffering save loss
! of her exquisite bloom and the sad
ness Of her once happy eyes.
Mrs. Appleton was the last to note
any change in her niece. She did not
even comment on the absence of Jack
| WintOn-the young man had many in
| terests in western cities and made fire.
| Quent Journeys from home.
What has become of Jack Winton.
when they were dining alone. Des-
sert had been placed on the table and
the servants had withdrawn.
Esther WINGED as she replied: 'I
have broken my engagement" she con-
fessed.
"Why?" demanded Mrs. Appleton.
Because returned Esther. stub
bornly. 81 cannot say any more. aunt
| Augusta"
"Fiddlesticks! Broken your engage
ment to the catch of the season for
some silly reason-I wash my hands
of you, Esther-you may die an old
maid! You are little idiot"
81 know I am, auntie," half sobbed
Esther, rising from the table, and then
with broken little cry she ran from
| the room and straight to her own
apartment. Before midnight she wrote
a long letter to Jack Winton.
81 have been such an idiot, DEAR"
| she wrote earnestly. 81 am not worthy
of your love-for I listened to idle
gossip and doubted you-can you for
give me? If 1 ever wear the topaz
ring again I hope l may grow to be
like the noble women of your house
who have worn it in the past-but 1
shall not be happy until you place it
once more on my hand"
The door opened to admit Mrs APP
pleton. looking strangely perturbed.
81 saw Edith Fame last night, Es-
Their, and she told me what took place
at Anne Bellows luncheon-Anne is
little cat! 1t is true she did see the
topaz ring worn as an engagement
ring within the year-in fact / was
the one who wore It'll" She leaned
heavily on the footboard of the bed.
"You?" calculated Esther, amazed.
| Certainly Jacks father, General
| Winton, asked me to marry him and
l consented and wore the topaz ring
for one day-and it happened 1
lunched at Mrs. Bellows - hence
| Anne's knowledge. I tired of the gen
eral in a week-he was a dreadful
bore in spite of his millions and so l
broke the engagement. The old man
died two months afterward, as you
know. That's ALI"
"All!" echoed Esther, ruefully; ''if l
had only known. aunt Augusta"
Mrs Appleton turned to leave the
room. Don't be so credulous, Esther,
in the future! Don't let strangers as
sail your friends without protest
have more faith in those you love. /
would not be the bitter old woman l
am now If 1 had been more loyal,
more faithful. If you ever wear the
topaz ring thank your stars you had
an opportunity to try again!"
The door opened once more and
Mrs. Appleton put smiling face into
the room. Jack Winton on the tele-
phone, asking for you, Esther" was
all she said. but it was quite enough
for Esther.
1 A. LIZ