The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-03
The Evening Story


Her MAjesty's F@4
(By Harmony Weller-)
Elaine looked long and wistfully at
the beautiful ring lying in the palm
Of her hand She had promised faith
fully that should anything happen to
her soldier boy who had gone to the
front she would take on his ring and
dispose of it
1T will only be q constant re-
hinder of me,'' he told her at part
you will forget me the quicker without
that ring"
And Elaine had wept as nearly an
Of the women In England had WeDt
when the regiment had gone on with
pipe and drum playing. Jimmy Thorpe
and his kilt had swung merrily az he
marched away. among the first to
reach the battle-ground.
Elaine had met the shock with brave
heart. Jimmy's name had been in the
list of casualties after a furious attack
on the enemy. The girl wept for her
.wn loss, but more did she weep for
the mother whose son had been struck
down in his youth and for the moth
ers Of other sons who had met sim
liar fate.
War is savage! Brutalr' 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 afternoon she took 1t down to
Foley House in Portland Place as a
CONT button to the queens fund. 1t
had not been an easy task, but Elaine
realized that Jimmy had been quite
vn<~A mt h 70
in constant painful memories. By Civ
ing it to the queens fund she was add
ing to a most worthy cause.
When she returned from Portland
Place Elaine found her home cherries.
Perhaps it was her mentality more
than physical surroundings. Neverthe-
less she knew it to be intolerable and
decided upon 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
soon as Trunks could be packed and
berth arranged Tor.
Two days after Elaine had sailed for
neutral lands Ethel Davis was walk
ing down Oxford street looking at the
war pictures that adorned the shop
windows and at every other evidence Of
the great upheaval Of nations. Tele-
grams from PetrOgrad, from Berlin and
from Rome were pasted in the windows
and trophies from the battlefelds at
tracted huge crowds. Ethel passed all
these by, but stopped interestedly in
front OF a window that displayed an
odd assortment Of jewelry, embroidery,
paintings Indian relics and historical
gems of all kinds. These were being
sold for the queens fund. and many a
treasure had been sent when perhaps
the sender had not even a shilling to
offer.
Ethel gaxed longingly at some of the
jewelry. 1t was one of her hobbies 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 it.
When Ethel caught sight OF the beau
tiful ring that formed an z. her own
initial, she was lost. Never had she
seen a ring SO completely desirable as
that one with her birth stone set in to
form her letter. Opals and diamonds
clustered with exquisite charm made
a 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 contributed an enorm-
GUS sum to the queens fund 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,
bracing drives. There were many poor
lads badly in need Of such attention.
and Ethel rejoiced that she had given
pleasure where she could. Three days
every week saw her driving about the
Sussex coast with wounded soldiers
tucked snugly among her coxy rugs.
The day that Jimmy Thorpe was
lifted into the seat beside her was a
most exciting one for Ethel She sazed
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 were smiling. and he seemed
anxious only to get back the use Of his
firing arm and do q little more damage
to the enemy.
They are supposed to have done for
me now" he confided, as they whirled
away from the hospital and along the
great stretch of sand by the sea. Il
was reported as having been killed. Ny
mother tainted when she found out 4
was still in the land of the living. Nice
reception that, wasn't it?''
Ethel smiled as she listened to
Jimmy's loQuacious tongue that had
sufficient Of the Scotch in it to charm
her American ear.
MY girl, too. believes me dead" he
continued, and cannot communicate
with her even now. Awful blow 1t will
be to her.
Ethel realized suddenly what . really
fearful blow II would be to any girl to
lose q Jimmy Thorpe. The blow she felt
would not be In the finding him again. az.
he had suggeSted- II once a joyful, laugh
ing Scotchman such Is Jimmy had enter
for all time. Such was Ethefs nature.
She sighed unconsciously and Jimmy turn.
ed quickly toward her. The blush that
swept across her schesks rewarded him