The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1912-03-01
IuDeU 5 sa3ss
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The little town OF BentonVllie was
gayly decorated In honor Of the cele-
bration of homecoming week. Elab-
crate preparations had been complet'
ed to welcome the return Of the sons
and daughters Of the little inland
town. From the letters received II
seemed as though the guests were an
glad to come back as they had been
eager to depart.
Have you heard that Gilbert Glib
son is coming In his private carr"
asked Cicely Of her friend Babette
as they walked down the main street.
Its nearly ten years since he was
here" returned Babette. Now that
he is so successful and called The
Merchant King OF Rochester ! won.
der II he viii remember many Of his
old school friends?"
Didn't you correspond with him! I
always thought he favored you" In.
quired Cicely. Ii. n
eyes, Gilbert was, my first sweet,
heart, but I wasn't his last, for Of
celirse he H. very popular now. Lit,
tie did We dream then that this awk-
swaxd~youth would rise after failure
and defeat to achieve such unparal-.
leled success" \ s's: ~ 6s
II never knew anyone so conscien-'
tious, with such sense OF itegrity'
and uprightness. 1t kept him sll his
life from having good time" said
Cicely.
HE was so interesting that YOU
liked him in spite Of his plain. un-
comelyS appearance. He could dis
cuss even the weather in the. most
absorbing way and had the greatest
aptitude to say the right thing at the
right time No one has interested me
half as much. since" said Babette. Il
don't deny have encouraged others"
II presume It will be gladstone
day when you meet again." said Cice-
" wondering how many admirers her
friend had had In the interval. :
at may be Out of sight, out OF
mind r haven't heard from him In
years. Really haven't given hin,
much thought except when I've heard
of his fortune"
''It's Just as we'll, Babette. For he
told me when was East, In a burst
on confidence, that the seal ring he
wore was his mascot and though the
girl who gave 1t to him was most
i likely married. he never would part
with his good luck ring"
/ ."Then that was the reason why !
never heard from him. You know !
was engaged to a young man from
Washington, but we agreed to dis,
agree after few weeks. I wish, oh.
how I wish, had that little seal ring
now"
Where is it," an
81 gave It away ages ago to my lit
| tie niece wto lost it, and I never
| took the trouble to look for It."
IF It's only plain ring, why don't
you buy another exactly like it?'
suggested the fertile brain Of Cicely
What a splendid ideal" Lets
| stop at the jewelers. right. now"
| Babette'bought the ring and return
ing home was told young man was
| waiting to see her. Quickly open
ing the little box she slipped the ring
upon her finger.
"Gilbert!'' she exclaimed with heI
heart leaping with Joy and thankful
ness that she had anticipated his
visit.
Welcome, I am so pleased to SEE
| you. You have improved so much II
looks / would scarcely have recog
1 nized you," said Babette, graspina
his hand.
"You haven't changed for the bet
ter; that would be an impossibllity,
he said gazing admiringly at her vii
Lowry form and beautiful face. "Th'
years that have flown by have don'
nothing to mar your exquisite beaut.
and grace. find that I've been labor
1 ing under delusion for years.
thought you were married"
mo, I'm heart whole and fame.
free though most OF the crowd w
| WSHL Win dTC ohN bOiAAO -
them waste their time wondering VIII,
I'm still single" she answered givini
him an arch look which spoke vol
umes and saying to herself" "wh.
don't he notice the ring"
you still wear that poor littl
ring, I see. Have you never takel
1t or. Mine is still on my finger
| even though l thought you loved ar
other" lt
| GILBERT" answered the girl III
tie ashamed of her duplicity.
4. II cant believe that / deserve thi
unreasonable boundless Joy, but jus
as in the past this little ring has bee
a constant reminder Of you, 80 II
have rerpetually in my mind only tn
thought OF future welfare and felic
ty." tN@'r' "
The young mans face beamed wit
pleasure at her words.
| are had thu Loo 81 tdao That 90