The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-27

sengerS from the sinking ship. A
girls lender form was placed in his
arms. He was shocked and thrilled
as he -ecognized Lucile's pale, thin
face. Her eyes were closed and he re-
luctantly gave her into her fathers
/ hands. Mr.. AmeS rewarded him with
| a hard, d look and cut him dead.
Fishermen's Lodge opened hospita-
| bic doors and took all the rescued in
Robert gave up his room and went
down to the cottage of Sam Bunce, a
| local fisherman, whose boat he hired
regularly. Here he continued his mo-
notOnouS life, working occasionally
on the book. He heard that Lucille
was ill-in fact, that her illness was
IN the nature of - relapse, for she had
taken the sea voyage to recuperate
from IN earlier illness. This would
account for her pale, wan appearance,
so different from the bright, vivacious
girl he had last seen the day OF the
tennis match at West Waters-the
day she had confessed that she had
lost her engagement ring, and when
an hour afterward he had recognized
it upon Letterby's finger.
One day, just as he had determined
to return to New York and his neg
newly ar~' 1 sportsman on the
beach. He would have passed the
man without recognition had not the
newcomer paused and spoken
IT don't believe you remember me,
Mr.. Hanford" nazarded the stranger.
Robert shook his head. 1--WE seen
you somewhere he was beginning,
when the other rendered a card
ttRodeburg & Rodeburg,
''20 Maiden Lane,
Manufacturing jewelers..
it read.
81 remember-you did some work
for me-a ring" he said at last
Mr.. Rodeburg beamed. "a special
ring-a very fine sapphire set in dull
gold-you said the stone belong to
your mother"
Robert.
Il remember it especially well be-
cause your friend came in and asked |
US to copy the ring-said you had
lent it to him for a day. L remember
we had to work all night over it, as he
wanted to return the ring, but we fin |
ished it,
MY friend brought the ring?" re-
peated Robert amazed1y.
Mr.. Letterby was his name"
What date was it?" demanded
Mr.. Rodeburg named the date-the
day before the West Waters tennis
match. He only allowed us to keep
it twenty-four hours" he added. It's
a funny coincidence, Mr.. Hanford,
ring-the young lady under that
striped umbrella is wearing one on
her engagement finger
He jumped with surprise as Rob
ert Wrung his hand and dashed or
to the striped umbrella, under which
Lucille reclined a steamer chair,
her sad eyes dreaming out at sea.
At his approach Lucille lifted her
eyes and a wave of hot color invailed
her thin cheeks.
Robert she murmured breath
essly.
Regardless of onlookers, he dropped
70 one knee beside her chair and laid
mis- head on the arm.
Forgive me, Lucille he whispered.
I have just learned about the ring
I have wronged YOU
The ring?' she uttered a glad lit
lie laugh and flashed the jewel be-
lore his bewildered eyes 'It all hap
oened so queerly-I was frightened,
90, and feared you would blame me.
The day before the tennis match
George Letterby called and asked to
see my ring. AS he examined it he
dropped it in the grass and we could
lot find it. He came again the next
the match was over
and he found the ring among the
caves; but it didn't matter, then, you
lad gone away. I have always worn
t." She hesitated and looked down
1t his pleading eyes, his face lined
With suffering. Il have always worn
o." she finished heroieally-(Copy- r
light, 1915, by the Mcclure Newspaper :
syndicate. {