Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-02-23
ny poRoTnY DOUGLAS.


slave before the entire population.
Barney was the first to congratulate
Esther on her engagement and gave
her a resounding kiss on each apple
blossom cheek. Jimmy Carter did
not exactly like the proceeding, but
after all Esther had promised to be
his, SO why feel jealous? He accept
ed Barney's affection for Esther with
good grace, because tine devotion
seemed like that of a. brother.
Jimmy Garter was a likable sort Of
fellow, and the feeling was unani-
nous that Esther had made a splen-
did match for herself.
II am going TO visit Jimmys
people," Esther told Barney with the
little undercurrent of excitement that
had entered her being since the ar
rival of Jimmy. II expect to be
frightfuly homesick."
n"pd hate to think you wouldn't
be-" Barney said frankly, E'but you
may as well become accustomed to
the new life you are about to enter.
am going to miss you ten times
more because l have only Billy and
Bobs left to chum with"
When Esther made her prepara-
tons for the visit to town she wisely
refrained from stocking her ward
robe with country dresses. Instead
!. she decided to go shopping with
Jimny's sister, and thereby acquire
raiment of which she would not be
ashamed while mingling with we'll
gowned people Esther was only
feminine when she admitted her love
for dainty clothes. She was looking
forward with great pleasure to buy
ing q complete new wardrobe.
When, two weeks later, she was
comfortably ensconced in the beau
tiful home of her betrothed and
made to feel one of the family Esther
felt for the first time that She was
really engaged to marry Jimmy Car
ter. The entire change of life, the
dressing for dinner and the servants
behind one's chair and all the for
malities Of a well-regulated house,
hold brought Esther TO a sense of
responsibility hitherto unknown to
ner.
outwardly she was completely at
her ease--happy and apparently
nodded into the new groove into
which she had stepped. Inwardly
she felt prisoner. Her soul longed
tdr the open country and her fathers
great, cosy home. She realized, when
sitting about the Garter drawing
room in the evening that at home she
would be out on the moonlit, snow
clad roads, skipping along to the
.ghymic click of Billy's heels, Bobs
would be sleeping among the furs be-
side her and Barney would be urging
Billy on to greater speed. After
long drive they would go back to her
father's great living-room and ssit by
the log fire while they slipped hot tea
and ate toasted mullins.
Jimmy" Esther said swiftly while
her breath came in spasmodic jerks,
IT cannot marry you. My soul is
back in the country where / know
every inch of the rolling hills and
overy bud that blossoms on the way.
side. ] feel like a prisoner beating
the stone walls for freedom, and
could hammer my soul away until
. fell exhausted IL / had to remain In
town. You will release me, Jimmy,
won't you?" Esther pleaded
There was desperate misery in her
eyes, and Jimmy only looked quietly
back at her
II think I have seen it all, dear"
he said gently. Perhaps / have
been fearful of your happiness.
somehow felt this coming"
He took her hand within his own
and slipped the ring from her finger
II will have this made into pen
dant, and when you wear it just re-
member that / loved you deeply
enough 10 Sol you ITe0
He did not look into Esther's eyes.
but turned away toward the cur
tained window and stood there look
ing out over the city streets. Jim
my was not seeing anything out
there. Instead, he was looking for
ward to few years distant when he
would have erased the vision of
Esther from his life thoughts. The
blankness brought heavy sigh from
mis- lips and he closed his eyes.
He opened them because Esthe~
had slipped over to his side and he~
hand dropped softly onto his should
er. She was weeping nervously and
Jimmy's arms swept comfortipgly
about her.
Never mind. little girl" he said,
1T was my own fault for being so
oonceited az to imagine could take
the place of all the wonderful things
that filled your former life-your
family. the beautiful country as well
as Barney. Billy and Bobs." In spite
of himself slight spasm of pain
shot over Jimmy. 1t was difficult to
realize that Esther might some day
belong to another man.
Esther's sobs ceased suddenly and
she looked wonderingly up at Jimmy.
For the first time in her life Barney,
as a possible lover. had been suE-
2eSted 10 ner. Inc tnought sent a,
wave of hot color over her cheeks
and Jimmy released her from his
arms.
After all, Esther" he said as an
added consideration, 'T am going to
ask YOU to wear this ring just until
YOU are on the train going home
Parents are bound to blame the other
fellow in a case like this, and my
parents are only human. would
rather not have them know-untii
you are gone. DO you mind?"
Esther held out her hand and Jim
my slipped the ring back.
She would have offered her lips as
she had when he first put the ring
on save that Jimmy drew back.
mo more OF that" he said with
short laugh. "I no longer have the
right" He went into the library
after a long look into her eyes, and
Esther knew that she was free to
retire to her room.
Once there she stood absently look
ing down at Jimmy's ring. An odd
. little thrill had swept over her when
his fingers had replaced it. She
knew, too, that she was rishtfully
upset because Jimmy had withdrawn i
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