Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1915-07-01
her MAJESTY'S FUND
by HARMONY WELLER.


per Syndicate.)
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 of his ring and
dispose of it.
ut will only be a constant remind
er of me-" he told her at parting,
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
pipe and drum playing. Jimmy
Thorpe belonged to the famous Black
Watch.
Elaine found her home cheerless
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 al.
ready ragged nerves.
Two days after Elaine had sailed
for neutral lands Ethel Davis was
walking down Oxford street. She
stopped interestedly in front Of win
dow that displayed an odd assortment
OF jewelry, embroidery, paintings, In
dian relics and historical gems Of all
kinds. These we're being sold for the
queens fund, and many a treasure
had been sent when perhaps the send
er had not even a shilling to offer.
Ethel gazed longingly at some Of
the jewelry. It was one of her hob
bies 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
beautiful ring that formed an e, her
own initial, she was lost. Never had
she seen a ring 80 completely desir-
able as that one with her birthstone
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.
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.
. 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 20 be all bandages, and tucked
the rugs about him with her own slim
hands.
They are supposed to have done
for me now," he confided, as they
whirled away from the hospital. II
was reported as having been killed.
My mother tainted when she found
out was still in the land of the liv-
ing. Nice reception that, wasn't it?"
Ethel smiled as she listened to jim
my's loquacious tongue that had suf-
ficient of the Scotch in it to charm
her American ear.
my girl, too, believes me dead"
he continued, "and I cannot commu-
nicate with her even now. Awful blow
it will be to her."
Ethel realized suddenly what real
ly fearful blow 1t would be to any
girl to lose a Jimmy Thorpe. She
was SO thoroughly annoyed at herself
for blushing that she determined to
put down her chiffon veil and hide
herself away from his keen blue eyes.
During the process of adjusting the
veil those saTca eyes caught sight of
the ring he had given Elaine and he
drew swift breath. He was indeed
numbered among the ghosts.
Tell me-" he questioned quickly,
Gust how you came by that ring-it
is the one had made for my fiancee,
Elaine Harris"
When Ethel had told him the whole
story she flashed an indignant glance
at Jimmy.
Il don't see how any girY could
bring herself to give away ring
under those circumstances"
"She was only keeping her word to
me-" Jimmy said quietly.
"You could not have made me prom
tse," Ethel told him with laughter in
her eyes, because If / hadn't loved
you I most certainly would have loved
the ring. Strange that it should be-
my birthstone and initial-isn't it?"
mot 80 very strange" Jimmy said,
when you think Of the future-is TT"