Middletown transcript., 1915-10-02

ously out Of the room. y
Mrs. Royalton, smiling, self-satisfled,
stood for a moment In triumph. Her
eyes were suddenly attracted by
shining object upon the rug, and cross
ing toward 1t, she saw a ruby ring.
Puzzled at its presence there, she |
stopped and picked it up. examined
It carefully, frowning, and then slow
ly placed it upon her finger. AS she
did so, Carolyn Dallys burst into the |
room. Mrs. Royalton hastily turned
the ruby inside and dropped her hand
carelessly.
Carolyn came up to her, very eager.
well, did you see Hall?" Mrs. Royal
ton nodded, smiling.
why! Didn't say l would?"
For a moment Carolyn gazed at her.
as If trying to penetrate her mind. She
seemed as yet unconvinced. "You re-
fused him, Renaf"
Certainly" Mrs. RoyaltOn tossed
her head.
Still Carolyn seemed incredulous.
well, how did he take it,"
"Oh, l. said liked him, Of course,
but / couldn't think of marrying him,
and all that-he took on awfully, real
ly. Carolyn; he begged me to have
him, and said his life would be ruined
and all that rubbIsh-you know, the
way they always do"
"Said his life would be ruined. eh?
What nonsense! You didn't say any
thing about-about me. or Rosamund
Gale. did you? l mean about why you
refused him, reallyT
"Oh. mol" Mrs. Royalton's tone was,
for the first time. clear and honest and
she now took her turn. what did
you say to him, Carolyn?"
Carolyn smiled. "Oh, we had nice
little time-no fuss, no Mysteries at all.
1t was really very amusing"
Did he seem-well, how did he take
1t, Carolyn"
"Oh, of course we pretended 1t was
all joke, you know. wouldn't per-
NIT him to make a scene, but all the
same could see that underneath it all
he was pretty badly broken up"
well, he didn't show 1t much when
he came to me, then. He seemed quite
hopeful"
At this moment there was a peal of
: laughter outside the door, and gay
7 voice ending passage of affected per-
sifage. Rosamund sailed swishing in
to the room. She held her head up
proudly, she seemed immensely su,
perior as she gazed about, triumphant
The two women sprang at her.
What did you say to Hall Bonistelle? p
exclaimed Carolyn.
7 Rosamund waited a moment, proud
ly superior. Then she answered calm
q ly, mo, l accepted him."
= you accepted him!" the two broke
: out.
4 "D'you mean to say you went bach
. on your promise?" Carolyn demanded
furious.
Mrs. Royalton caught her by the
/. arm. Are you fooling, Miss Gale. OIL
what do you mean? You promised
% "Oh, pshaw!" Rosamund answered
- Whats a promise? Why, fOun(
O. out that Hall felt good deal different
from what had ever thought. Why
he's a dear, really, and he never careC
snap IOF you TWO
"Oh. didn't 'hel" cried Carolyn.
:, why. the fact is. didn't have thu
y y heart to reject him. really didn't.
saw that there was some misunder
n standing somewhere, and we had got /
all wrong. Halls simply crazy abou
u me. and it was perfectly absurd to lie
=. our talk stand in the way OF my happi
y ness-and his, that's ALT"
J., And do you mean to say you sal
" - yes?" cried Mrs. ROyalton.
Certainly did. Hall BonistelE
and are formally engaged, now, an
we're going to be married."
That's about all you know" crie
!. Carolyn, now beside herself. "Hal
- Bonistelle is engaged to mel"
- Mrs. Royalton gasped. Rosamun
~ raved:. "It's no such thing! 1t can
bel"
30 Then you lied to me, Carolyn?
,1 1 Mrs. Royalton asked frigidly.
. We'll. couldn't violate q conf
4. dence. could II"
VI "It's a lie, that's all there Is abou
a. that!" Rosamund exclaimed. Its PEI
-. fectly absurd on, the face of it.
guess ought to know!"
nc "Oh. you don't have to believe l
but it's a fact, nevertheless" sal
sd' Carolyn to Rosamund; and then turl
ing to Mrs. Royalton, she added: "Yo
see, Rena, Hall explained it all to MI
Ia and couldn't really blame him for tn
ny way he's acted. He was in an awfl
IL mess. and had led you and Miss Gal
to imagine things that he couldn't 81
<. out OF, very we'll So. as long as wa
OF the one he really wanted, you know,
be- thought"
You were the one he wantedl
IN Mrs. Royalton exclaimed. well, the
ma I'd like to know what you think
OF thatl" And she thrust her hand wit
ity the ruby ring into Carolyn's face.
IL RosamuDd turned white. "What
to it?" she Stammered.
lad "lt-s All engagement ring, OF course
,ur said Mrs. Royalton.
on. "Rena Royalton," cried Carolyn, e
/! you mean tn say that you have RoI
| A composition for cheapness. an
too | MT Ror avoaIlannn Or workmanship.