Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-12-03
Evening Star S
Daily Story
HER MAJESTY'S FUND
by HARMONY WELLER.
1911. by the Mcclure Ne
paper Syndicate.

the DeduIllul ring lying III tIe pam
of her hand She had promised
faithfully that should anything hap
pen to her soldier boy who had gone
to the front she would take off his
ring and dispose of it.
1T will only be a constant re-
hinder of me-" he told her at part
ing, land If the battlefield claims
me you will forget me the quicker
without that ring"
And Elaine had wept as nearly all
of the women in England had wept
when the regiments had gone off
with fife and drum playing. Jimmy
Thorpe belonged to the famous Black
Watch, and his kilt had swung mer-
rily as he marched away, among the
first to reach the battle-ground.
Elaine had met the shock with
brave heart. Jimmys name had
been in the list of casualties after
furious attack on the enemy Tho
girl wept for her own loss, but more
did she weep for the mother whose
son had been struck down in his
youth and for the mothers of other
sons who had met a similar fate.
War is savagei Brutal" she told
herself, and looked sadly down at the
ring Jimmy had placed upon her
finger. Dear, brave Jimmy. You
loved life so and now you've been
robbed of it-poor dear Jimmy"
Elaine pressed her lips to her ring in
silent farewell. She had given her
word to part with it, and in the after
noon she took it down to Foley
House in Portland place as a contri-
button to the queens fund. 1t had
not been an easy task, but Elaine
realized that Jimmy had been quite
right. He would not want her to
live in constant painful memories.
BY giving it to the queens fund she
Mas adding to a most worthy cause.
When she returned from Portland
place Elaine found her home cheer
less. Perhaps it was her mentality
more than physical surroundings.
Nevertheless she knew it to be in
folerable and decided upon a trip to
New York. America at least was
neutral, and there was little danger
of bombs and spies to further the
wreck of her already ragged nerves.
SHE was off then as soon as trunks
could be packed and berth arranged
toT.
Two days after Elaine had sailed
for neutral lands, Ethel Davis was
walking down oxford street looking
at the war pictures that adorned the
shop windows and at every other EVIL
dence of the great upheayal OF ma
tons. kilograms from Petrograd,
from Berlin and from Rome were
pasted in the windows and trophies
from the battlefields attracted huge
crowds. Ethel passed all these by.
but stopped interestedly in front OF
a window that displayed an odd as
sortment of jewelry, embroidery,
paintings, Indian relics and historl-
cal gems of all kinds. These were
being sold for the queens fund, and
many q treasure had been sent when
perhaps the sender had not even
shilling to offer.
Ethel gazed longingly at some OF
the jewelry. 1t was one Of her hob
bles to collect odd bits of adornment.
She knew that she would be helping
TO augment the queens fund should
she see anything in that assortment
that lured her into purchasing 1t.
When Ethel caught sight OF the
beautiful ring that formed an q, her
own initial, she was lost. Never had
she seen a ring SO completely desir-
able as that one with her birth stone
set in to form her letter. Opals and
diamonds clustered with exquisite
charm made most lovely ring.
Ethel went into the shop. When
she emerged her slim figure felt warm
and very much delighted with itself.
The new ring was wonderfully dainty
on her hand and seemed made TO
adorn its new owner Ethel felt
rather virtuous because she had con-
tributed an enormous sum to the
queens fun by having purchased
the ring.
A few days later she motored down
TO Brighton. Ethel was in the habit
OF driving down in her luxurious car
and taking wounded soldier boys for
long, braeing drives. There were
many poor lads badly in need of such
attention, and Ethel rejoced that
she had given pleasure where she
could Three days every week saw
ner driving about the Sussex coast
With wounded soldiers tucked snugly
among her coy rugs.
The day that Jimmy Thorpe was
lifted into the seat beside her was
most exciting one for Ethel She
gazed sorroWfully at the kitty, who
seemed to be all bandages. and tucked
the rugs about him with her own
slim hands. Upon meeting his blue
eyes, however, her own lit up. He
was anything but sorrowful, this
Highlander His lips and eyes We're
smiling, and he seemed anxious only
70 get baci. the use of his firing arm
and do a little more damage to the
enemy.
"They are supposed to have done
for me now" he conflded. as they
whirled away from the hospital and
along the great stretch OF SAND by
the sea. 81 was reported as having
been killed. Ny mother tainted when
she found out | was still in the land
OF the living. Nice reception that'
wasn't lt?''
Ethel smiled as. she listened to
-ff.r
sufficient of the Scotch in it to charm
her American ear.
"My girl. too. believes mo dead,
/. he continued, ''end ] cannot com
municate with her oven now. AWFUL
blow it will be to her"
Ethel realized suddenly What a
really fearful blow it would be to
any girl to lose a Jimmy Thorpe.
The blow she felt would not BIO IN
the finding him again. as he had
suggested II once a JOYFUL laugh
ing Scotchman such as Jimmy had
entered her life Ethel knew he would
no there for all time. Such was
1E,thePs nature She sighed uncon-
sciouslv and Jimmy turned quickly
tou-ard her. The blush that swept
across her checks rewarded him for
tho t1ginge of pain that movement
had caused him.
Ethel was so thoroughly annoyed
at herself for blushing that she de-
termined to put down her chiffon
Veil and hide herself away from his
keen blue eyes. During the process
of ola adjusting the veil those same
ewes caught sight of the ring he had
given Elaine and he drew a swift
breath. He was indeed numbered
among the ghosts.
Tell me-" he questioned quickly
H.. = IL, ,,n11 cane bX that ring