Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-10-14


out another word he stalked impetu-
ously out OF the room.
Mrs. Royalton, smiling, self-satisfed,
stood for moment in triumph. Her
eyes were suddenly attracted By a
shining object upon the rug, and cross
ing toward it, she saw a ruby ring.
Puzzled at its presence therc. she
stopped and picked it up, examined
It carefully, frowning, and then slow
" placed It upon her finger. As she
did so, Carolyn DaIlys burst into the
room Mrs. Royalton hastily turned
the ruby inside and dropped Aer hand
carelessIy.
Carolyn came up to her, very eager.
well, did you see Hau?" Mrs. Royal
ton nodded, smiling.
Why! Didn't I say I would?"
For moment Carolyn gazed at her,
as If trying to penetrata her mind. She
seemed as yet unconvhced. You re-
fused him, Rena?"
certainly" Mrs. Boyalton tossed
her head.
Still Carolyn seemed incredulous.
We'll, how did he take it?"
ooh, I said I liked him, of course,
but couldn't thinS Of marrying him,
and all that-he took on aWfully, real
| ly, Carolyn; he begged me to have
him, and said his lie would be ruined
and all that rubbl8h-you know, the
! way they always do
Said his life you'd be ruined, Ell?
What nonsensel You didn't say any
| thing about-ahogt me, or Rosamund
| Gale, did you? ] mean about why you
refused him, reaiiy?"
ooh, mol" Mrs. Royalton's tone was,
for the first tine, clear and honest and
she now took her turn. What did
you say to HIN, Carolyn"
Carolyn smiled. "Oh, we had a nice
| little time-no fuss, no Mysteries at all
1t was really very amusing"
Did he see5a-well, how did he take
it, Carolyn"
ooh, Of course we pretended it was
all joke, yoT know. l wouldn't per
nit him to make a scene, but all the
same I could see that underneath it all
he was pretty badly broken up"
We'll, he didn't show it much when
he came to me, then. He seemed quite
hopeful
At this moment there was a peal of
laughter outside the door, and a gay
! voice ending a passage of affected per-
sifage. Rosamund sailed swishing in
to the room. She held her head up
proudly, she seemed immensely SUI
perior as she gazed about, triumphant.
The two women sprang at her.
What did you say to Hall Bonistelle?'
exclaimed Carolyn.
Rosamund waited a moment, proud
~ superior. Then she answered calm
| ly, mo, accepted him.
you accepted him!" the two broke
out
"D'you mean to say you went back
on your promise?" Carolyn demanded,
furious.
Mrs. Royalton caught her by the
arm. Are you fooling, Miss Gale, or
what do you mean? You promised"
"Oh, pshaw!" Rosamund answered.
whats a promise? Why, l found
out that Hall felt good deal different
from what I had ever thought. Why,
he's dear, really, and he never cared
a snap for you two"
ooh, didn't he!" cried Carolyn.
why, the fact is, I didn't have the
heart to reject him, really I didn't. l
saw that there was some misunder-
standing somewhere, and we had got it
all wrong. Halls simply crazy about
me, and it was perfectly absurd to let
our talk stand in the way of my happi-
ness-and his, that's ALL"
And do you mean to say you said
yes?" cried Mrs. Royalton.
Certainly I did. Hall BonistelIe
and are formally engaged, now, and
we're going to be married."
That's about all you know" cried
! Carolyn, now beside herself. Hall
Bonistele is engaged to mel"
Mrs. Royalton gasped. Rosamund
r2ved: Its no such a thing! 1t can't
bel"
Then you lied to me, Carolyn? ."
Mrs. Royalton asked frigidly.
We'll, I couldn't violate conf
dence. could I?'
Its a lie, that's all there is about
that!" Rosamund exclaimed. Its per
fectly absurd on the face of it. l
guess ought to know!"
"Oh, you don't have to believe it.
but it's a fact, nevertheless, said
Carolyn to Rosamund; and then turn
ing to Mrs. Royalton, she added: You
see, Rena, Hall explained it ali to me,
and I couldn't really blame him for the
way he's acted. He was in an awful
/ mess, and had led you and Miss Gale
to imagine things that he couldn't get
out of, very well. So, as long as was
the one he really wanted, you know,
thought"
You were the one he wanted!"
Mrs. Royalton exclaimed. We'll, then,
I'd like to know what you think Of
that" And she thrust her hand with
the ruby ring into Carolyn's face.
Rosamund turned white What is
it" she stammered.
IT'S an engagement ring, OF course"
said Mrs. Royalton.
"Rena Royalton," cried Carolyn, do
you mean to say that you have gone
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value of stories there is no greater
force than thew for the preservation