The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-23

" llil = liilSCnitNtuS IuuSn.
iiNpdtia blushcG. a most dclcctablc
rosy hue, ana shyly hid the Offending
hand
Never mind" said the Widow. got
ting possession Of it, Don't let them
tease YOU 1t is a beautiful ring ana
worth showing"
Isn't it," said Hypatia with glowing
eyes. holding her hand up once more
that the diamond on the third finger
might catch the sparkle OF light. Hypn-
tias engagement 10 young knickcr-
booker VAS still very new.
Hut. girls" she continued. lit Is not
the intrinsic value of the ring that
makes Inc proud. II is what it stands
Tor. OF course the circle is the emblem
"f eternity, and the diamond means
consistency ana purity, but besides that
others may see only the sparkle and
briIiahcy. Just as they say am MAXIM.
a brilliant marriage. while sec the
rosc-colorcd liam" in tho Very heart of
TN" stone TO others it may seem cold
ana hard To mo il is the ideal emblem.
showing it's heart only To- those who
love II well enough To seek the warmth
80 other stone seems to nae appropriate
for an engagement ring. The oral has
Il hcart OF lame, that warns 10 any
t"uch, but like the cphemcral passions
mat 1t represents it CLOVIS for ali alike,
II changes with the weather; il is easily
crushed and destroyed, married ana
scratched with the slightest contact, it
becomes dullcd ana its fire seems TO die
Win use. The diamond-only carbon at
INST has been purified ana made beau
tliul 10y fire. just as the fires of true
love purify heart ana its glory lasts
forever"
My. my, How poetic YOU are be
coming. iiyp.tia." said the Brown-eyed
Girl.
Yes but isn't it all true? Pearls are
for tears cmcralds are baleful-thcy'
mean Jealousy. The turquoise is an un-
changing and therefor unhjer.s ting
stone. and the ruby seems To- mean sui-
Icrng- cryStalizcd drops of blood thc,.
seem To me. Rubics for the widow
diamonds for the bride. DO you not
agree with me-"
Yes you are quite right" said the
Widow. looking with tender eyes At the
diamond on her own be;rcthal finger,
above the little circ!et OF plain gold.
And you are doubly right 10 get all
the poetry out of the little symbol tina,
YOU can and not begin life together with
The feeling that the ring is a sign Of
woman's bondage To man. y ring is
simply more convenient To wear tilan a
crown, and the woman a man chooses
from out all the world is surely queen,
of his heart at least"
sometimes the man gets chosen and
can't run fast enough To get away
murmurcd Felicia cynically.
should think some men would like
to be chosen. 1t seems To take so much
courage to say the fateful words. wilt
thou be mine or so I've heard" said
the Dcbutantc with innocent eyes
"Of course you don't know anything
about il, dcarie. but do you think they
ever do say will you marry me- in plain
nslish, except in books ?"
We'll, for PHYS sake what do they
say asked the Spinstcr bluntly. and
all the rest OF the Widows guests
smiled, for there was "a rumor t. the
effect that the Spinster went around
looking for her souls mate like Dioscncs
FOR AN honest man, but the light oil pur-
pose in her eyes. like the light of his
lantern, must have frightened the honest
men who like 10 do their own counting,
away, for she was getting on" ard still
unwcd
Why they say all sorts of things
said Hypatia answering as with au-
thoriiy, but ! don't believe they ever
do get down on their knees and clasp
their hearts and say wilt thou like a
valentine If any man had ever knelt
To me ! know ] should have had an
overwhelming impulse to push him over
ana send him sprawling."
The Widow held up an admonitcry