The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-09-18
His Grandmother
Ring
By SARAH BAXTER

herited a fortune. but SO many OF his
friends needed II that by the time
they got through borrowing there was
nothing left for Jim. However. his
credit was good. which enabled him to
continue to dress well and be able
to Send flower to his SwertlIeartS.
But after his bills had run Il long
while without being paid no more
credit was given him. Then there was
a gradual dropping off Of friends. both
men and women till Jim found him
self ont in the cold.
Among the girls who had received
many attentions involvin" the cXl,cldi-
ture Of money was Lucy EdmondS, a
young lady Of independent means. She
WAS practical in all respects except In
loving Jim.
.Jim's assets were reduced to "a dia-
mOnd ring that had been handed down
to him from his grandmother. He had
shown 1t to Lucy. who admired 1t
greatly and would have offered to buy
1t, but she knew that if she did jim
would give it to her, so she said moth.
AS "b'"t II fA'Vlt tudl SIN NouIl HDt
respect him If he parted with it.
Burton Il Co.. tailOr>. to whom Jim
owed money for clothes. put the ac-
count in the hands of Miss Stevens, u
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
EdmondS. What does the woman do
but call upon him. saying that Miss
EdmOndS had sent her as one OF q
number who would make up a sum
for charity. Miss Stevens told a pitt
full story OF Il widow with n dozen
children who needed help and said that
Miss EdmOnds had assured her that
he would give her a nice sum for the
purpose. 4
This was putting n screw on .Jim's
neart and another screw on his desire
to obey Il request from the girl he
wanted. Not having Il cent to give.
he took his grandmOther's ring around
the corner t" a pawnshop. borrowed
$50 on 1t and gave it to Miss Stevens.
h amount 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 a debt
that she boaSted Of it to an intimate
friend, who revealed it to several per
sons, and 1t reached the ears Of Miss
Edmonds. She Immediately made the
round Of the pa wnshOps till she found
Jim's ring. redeemed it and. having II
in her possession. sent for Jim.
".Jim." she said. 81 have decided that
ant be happy without you. so will
marry You since you seem to want
me-"
Jim folded her in his arms. J
he Is one thing. however," Lucy
continued after her lovers ira
were somewhat exhausted. There
must 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. desire that you give me the heir
loom that has been handed down to
you from your grandmother"
Jim was paralyZed.
~ would much prefer it," Lucy went
on, Ito a modern II purchased espe-l
cially. and by using 1t you will avoid
any expense
But. my dear love. what will people
say at my not giving you Il new ring?|
They will consider NE stingy."
at doesn't matter what they say so
long as | am satisfied"
Every well. sweetheart: I've it as you
say
Bring it to me this evening""
This EVENING"
Eyes; ! am dying to possess it."
"WOuldn't tomorrow dO?"
"No. Why do you hesitate? Have
you parted with it,"
"Parted with it! Did YOU 0 tell
me that you would cease to respect me
II l did that"
"Jim. 20 at once and bring me the
ring
"Impossible. l keep it in a safety
uCpoSIt Nd"Il hHu CdHt ScL u dllcT
3 p. m"
He said this so earnestly. with so
honest a ~cOuntenance. that Lucy burst
out laughing.
"YOu don trust me- mOaned Jim.
Trust you. or curse I don't. You'll
haven't the ring. You were fooled by
a m VIII" said | had sent her tOI
You for charity. You had no money to|
give her. s 0 you went ont and pawned
the ring. And yet You say you have
reformed
II h%ave-from the moment you told
me that you would be NINE"
"Jip. l am making a fool Of myself
In not sending YOU about your business,
but l can't help ii. Here IL the ring.
I have redeemed It,"
Going 70 a drawer in an escritoire.
she drew forth the heirloom.
Jim stood abashed for a moment.
then said:
"I.ucy. you are right: I am not
ruor%hr 80 On 1o~n1r a ~awv ~>>~~t