The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-09-11
His Grandmother
Ring
By SARAH BAXTER

run away with their heads. lie in
herited Il fortune. but SO many Of his
friends needed 1t that by the time
they got through borrowing there was
nothing left for Jim. However. his
creIit was good. which enabled him to
continue to dress we'll and be able
to send flowers to his SweethrartS.
But after his bills had II II long
while without being paid no more
credit was given him. Then there was
a gradual dropping of of friends. both
men and women. till Jim found him
self out in the cOld.
Among the girls VIII" had received
many attentions involving the rXl"rndi-
ture of money was Lucy Ehmond>, Il
young lady of ~iudrImndrn, means. She
was practical in all respects except in
loving Jim.
.Jiln'S assets were reduced to :, dil-
mOnd ring that had been handed down
to him from his grandmother. He hat
shown it to Lucy. VIII" admired it
greatly and would have offered To buy
1t, but Sl" knew that il she did Jim
would give it to her. so she said moth
ing about it except that She could not
respect him If he parted with it.
Burton Il Co.. t~ailor>. to whom Jim
owed money for clothes, put the ac-
count in the hands Of Miss Stevens, II
woman collector. who. being some
what acquainted with members Of the
upper ten thousand. showed great in
genuity in collecting bad debts. Among
other things that the collector knew
was that Jim was attentive to Lucy
Edm"nis. What does the woman do
hut call upon him, saying that Miss
Edm0nd> had sent her rs one OF u
number who would make up a sum
for charity. Miss Stevens told a pitt
full story Of a widow with a dozen
children who needed help and said that
Miss Edmonds had assured her that
he would give her II nice sum for the
purpose.
This was putting Il screw on .Jim's
heart and another screw on his desire
to obey a request from the girl he
wanted. Not having a cent to give,
he o his grandmOther's ring around
the corner t" Il pawnshop. borrowed
~" on 1t and gave It to Miss Stevens.
The mount realized by this device
was about half Of what Jim owed his
tailors.
Miss Stevens was so proud of her in
genious method Of collecting q debt
that she boosted Of it to an intimate
friend. who revealed it to several per-
sons. and it reached the ears Of Miss
Edmond>. She Immediately made the
round Of the pawnshops till she found
Jim's ring. redeemed it and. having It
In her possession. sent for Jim.
"Jim.' she said. 81 have decided that
l can't be happy without you SO will
marry o since you seem to want
me-"
Jim folded her in his arms.
There Is one thing. however, Lucy
continued after her lovers transports
were somewhat exhausted. There
NUS be no extravaganza on your part
connected with u engagement"
Jim declared that he was reformed
already.
I'm the matter Of the engagement
ring. l desire that you give me the heir
loom that has been handed down to
you from your grandmother"
Jim was paralyZed.
IL would much prefer it," Lucy went
On, ito a modern one purchased espe-
cially. and by using it you will avoid
any expense"
But. my dear love. what will people
say ut my not giving you II new ring?
They will consider HE stingy."
ut doesn't matter what they say 70
long as | am satisfied"
VERY well. sweetheart; I've it as you
say"
Bring it to me this evening""
This EVENING"
Yes: | am dying to possess it."
wouldn't tomorrow dOT"
mo. Why do you h~esitatei Have
you parted with it,"
Parted with it.. Did YOU not tell
me that you would cease to respect me
II l did that"
"Jim. 90 at Once and bring me the
ring"
"ImpOssibIr. l keep it in n safety
deposit vault and can't get it after
3 p. m"
He said this SO earnestly. with 50
honest a ~countenance. that Lucy burst
out laughing.
you don't trust me-" moaned Jim.
Trust you. or course I don't. You
haven't the ring. You were fooled by
a woman who said | had sent her to
you for charity. You had no none to
give her. so yOu went out and pawned
the ring. And yet you say You have
reformed"
II have-from the moment you told
me that you would be NINE
".Jim. I an making a fool Of myself
in not sending you about your business,
but l can't help 1t. Here lie the ring.
I have redeemed It,"
Going TO a drawer In an escritOire.
she drew forth the heirloom.
Jim stood abashed for a moment.
then said: