The Colorado statesman., 1913-06-07
THE LUCKY OLD RING
Ithaca, N. Y, Jan. 27, 1sO-.
BY JOSEPH E. SMITH.


You know we were both on the elev-
en- for old Eli, and it made it no end
jolly that when l got it for coach
here he should get it for trainer, too.
At first l liked Edith because she
} was Jims sister. 1 took her to things
and tried to give her a good time.
Pretty soon, 1 got to like her for her
own sake, and then finally it hap
pened-only after l had made thou
sand fools of<myself.
You see, since Jim and l were such
chums, l got to know Edith pretty
well, and we became great friends.
If it hadn't been for the ring, it
might never have happened. 1t was
heavy Egyptian scarab, with an en-
graved setting. 1t was a particular
thing in the frat, and you know you
couldn't let girl wear it unless you
were engaged. A scarab is supposed
to bring luck, and mine certainly did.
One night l had come back home
from taking Edith to a reception. I
| glanced down at my hand and saw
that my rings-was gone from my lit
tie finger. 1t upset me considerably.
Not that the ring was valuable, only a
| fellow hates to lose anything like
that. 1 could not see any way that I
could possibly have lost it. After I
had hunted everywhere / gave it up.
was out of town for week or so,
but the next time 1 saw Edith, you
can imagine what I felt when I saw
my ring on her finger 1t knocked me
fiat with surprise. At first l couldn't
think of any way that she could have
gotten it, until at last it came to me,
that the night of the reception she
had asked me to hold her muff for
moment. My ring must have slipped
off in it then, and the next day she
probably found it.
1t was the fact that she wore 1t
that gave me courage to speak at
last. AS long as she was Jim's sister,
l knew that she must know what it
meant for girl to wear that ring,
and so 1 was in a FOOLS heaven of
happiness.
1t was good weather for sleighing
and SO l took Edith out the first
chance I got. Nothing seemed to
come right to bring up the subject
until she took her glove off, for some
reason or other. 1t happened to be
on the hand that had the ring on.
looked at it and said:
You know what that ring means,
don't you, Edith?"
She looked rather surprised.
"Of course"
We were way out in the country
and 1 guess my happiness went to my
| hAa 1t, H., 80
presumptuous fool. She pulled her
hand away with jerk. The air had
brought the color to her face, but it
was not the air which made it deepen.
She did not say word, but just
looked at me.
But the ring" stammered.
What has the ring got to do
with"
"Why, you know what it means,
and l thought you understood"
She stared at me incredulously.
Jack. what do you mean? l don't
understand at all"
| 1t was my turn to stare at her.
"Why, didn't you find my ring in
your muff?"
your ring in my muff! How
should it come there?"
81 lost my ring the night of the re-
ception, and when I saw you with
that on, I thought you had found it.
Your wearing it gave me hope for
something l had never dared dream
of. You must know that L"
Edith looked at me moment and
then she laughed.
This ring? 1t has always had a
| fascination for me. l have tried to
persuade Jim to let me wear it and
| he never would. So when l found it
on his dresser last night l appropriat-
ed it."
Then all of a sudden it came over
me what fool I'd been. 1 might
have known it was Jim's, but 1 was
SO ready in my conceit to think it
was mine that never stopped to con-
slider anything else.
II don't suppose there's anything
can say. l am sorry to have made a
fool of myself and have spoiled every
thing"
There was a long silence after I
had headed the horse around. l
thought of all the things 1 might say,
and didn't.
1t must have been the courage of
despair that made me ask:
"Can't we keep on being friends,
only in another way?"
And then it happened. I could hard
ly believe that Edith could care for a
fellow like me.
But. Dad, here's where I come to
the. joke of the thing. The next time
had on my evening coat, 1t was cold
and 1 dug my hands deep into my
pockets to keep them warm. Down
in corner felt something cold and
hard. I fished it out, and what dc
you think? That lucky old scarab
ring! 1t had slipped off in my pocket