The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-03-14
WEEKLY SHORT STORY
KARY'S SOLITAIRE.
BY RMe Stevens.

NJ GAho ON6VO4Bs
Moved by a sudden impulse. Mary
Owen turned her little electric motor
into the driveway leading to her old
home.
She had not entered the house since
her uncle's death, two years before,
and the sight of it brought back mem
ories.
tI-I-thoughe had forgotten" she
half eobbed, as she mechanically
brought the car to a halt
In a daZe she ascended the front
steps.
How silly am" she thought, as
she realized that her hand was reach
ing for the door knob. ''Of course it's
locked. Nobody lives here"
She tried the knob. To her astonish-
ment it yielded TO her touch.
We'll. I've got to 90 in and see that
everything Is all right" she decided
aroused from her gloomy thoughts. 81
suppose Cousin Ned forgot to fasten it
when he came over after that book
wanted yesterday"
Mary stepped across the threshold
without the least sensation of fear. for
she laid the unlocked door entirely to
the carelessDess OF her young relative
The first room she entered was the
large, low-ceilinged parlOr Once more
sad memories overwhelmed her as she
gazed about the familiar room with its
shrouded furniture, shattered windows
and general air Of neglect
1t was here that her greatest happi-
ness and her bitterest sorrow had
come TO her. For Albert Watson had
proposed to her in this room, and it
was here they had so quickly had
their dreadful quarrel. That was two
years before, and she had not seen or
heard from him since.
How paltry the object of their quar-
rel seemed to her now. She had given
up her whole LIES hopes of happiness
for a mean little suspicion. And all
because of diamond ring.
Albert had produced the ring imme-
diately after being accepted, and
therein lay the seed of the whole
trouble.
It had been a shock to Mary's pride
to learn that he had been so sure of
her that he had come to her provided
with an engagement ring.
This, however, had been quickly
superseded by shock number two,
when the ring proved to be too large.
OAS Cu<tt LltlS was
because Albert had had no measure
and had doubtless been unable to
carry the correct size by eye, but this
had not satisfied her.
When she was alone She had ex-
amined the ring and had found sew
eral Tiny scratches upon the surface
of the gold band, which proved to
her mind that the ring had been worn.
When Albert had next visited her
she had asked him If the ring was an
heirloom He had replied with a de-
cided negative, but his manner had
been plainly embarrassed.
The matter had dropped until she
had overheard Florence Rogers, a girl
of her acquaintance, remark that
MARY Owen needn't feel smart over
her engagement to Albert Watson, for
others might have had him If they'd
wanted him."
With sinking heart. Mary had re-
membered that at one sine Albert had
paid Florence considerable attention
Florence had worn q diamond ring,
too.
The suspicion that she had not been
Albert's first choice had nearly broken
Nary's heart.
But I'll forgive him If he'll only
own up" she had told herself repeaS-
eddy during the long, sleepless night
that passed before she had the chance
to confront Albert with her charge.