The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-02-19
MARY'S
solitaire
BY Eiiie Stevens

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 1t brought back mem
cries.
"T-I-thought l had forgotten" she
half sobbed. as she mechanically
brought the car to halt.
In a daze she ascended the front
steps.
How silly l am" she thought, al
she realized that her hand was reach
ing for the doOrknob. "Of course it'a
locked. Nobody lives here"
She tried the knob. 10 her aston.
ishment 1t 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
Il suppose Cousin Ned forgot to fasten
It when he came over after that book
I wanted Yesterday"
Mary stepped across the threshold
without the least sensation Of fear,
for she laid the unlocked door entire
ly to the carelessness 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
shr0uded furniture. shattered win
dows and general air Of neglect.
1t was here that her greatest hap
piness and her bitterest sorrow had
come to her. For Albert Watson had
proposed TO her in this room. and II
was here they had so quickly had
their dreadful quarrel That was two
years before, and she had not seen OF
heard from him since.
How pailry the object Of their GUAR
rel seemed to her now. She had Civ
en- up her whole life's hope OF happi-
ness for a mean little suspicion. AnS
all because of a diamond ring.
Alder, had produced the ring imme-
diately after being accepted and there
In lay the seed of the whole trouble.
II had been a shock TO Mary's pride
to learn that he had been SO sure
Of her that he had come to her pro.
vided with an engagement ring.
This. however, had been quickly 81.
perseded by shock number two. when
the ring proved TO be too large.
She had tried TO think that this
was because Albert had had no meas
ure 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 II 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 II they'd
wanted him."
With sinking heart Mary had re-
membered that at one time Albert had
paid Florence considerable attention.
Florence had worn diamond ring,
too.
The suspicion that she had not been
Alberts first choice had nearly brok.
en- Mary's heart.
But I'll forgive him II he'll only
own up" she had told herself repeat
eddy during the long, sleepless night
that passed before she had the chance
to confront Albert with her charge.
But Albert had stubbornly refused
to explain matters.
Mary had Immediately removed her
ring. and, overcome by childish an
ger. had thrown it upon the floor. de.
claring their engagement at an end.
after which she had dramatically
nounced out Of the room.
The following day Albert had come
to her begging her to trust him and
reconsider her hasty decision. When
she had refused to do this. Albert had
angrily demanded back his ring. Mary
had twitted him with having already
taken 1t, since she had been unable
to fnd 1t after his departure the pre-
vious day, while he charged her with
purposely retaining It.
They had parted in bitter anger.
Business had taken Albert from the
town. while Mary had gone abroad
soon after her uncle's death.
Suddenly Mary found herself look.
ing down 1t the floor. 1T fell here
By this table. but might have rolled
In any direction" abe said halR aloud.
Il never really thought Albert took
t."
She bent down and scanned the
Aoor intenuy. Then she straishtened