The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-12-18
THE HEIRLOOM RING
BY J. X. WARD.

1t was great disappointment to
Frank Lloyd to be obliged to leave LIN
VILE With his love for Amy Baker un-
declared. But the summons home was
imperative. "Your father is seriously
III. Come at once" 1t said.
So on the afternoon Of Franks, de-
parture from Linvllle Miss Baker re-
ceived ty mail letter and regis
tered package Both were in the same
handwriting and after considering for
moment she opened the letter first.
MY dear little Amy" it began. "The
sudden and serious Illness of my father
has called me away from Linvllle. For
reasons which am sure you must
guess. hate to go, but the call is ur-
gent, for my father has been until re-
Gently nearest to my heart. am send
Ing by this mail my ring, family heir
loom. If the love which you must
know feel for you is returned, will
you wear the ring until can replace
1t with another7 When l return, which
will be as speedily as possible, II ]
find the ring on your hand l shall
know that my dearest hopes are to be
realized. Your devoted lover,
"Trank."
Shyly and reverently Amy drew the
curious and valuable ring from its box.
For scarcely a moment did she consd-
er before slipping it on her finger. Ever
since Frank had arrived at the home
of her friends, the Deans, to spend
the summer with his college chum
Geoffry, he had occupied first place In
her heart, and she had hoped that her
love was reciprocated.
Into this perfect bliss came trouble
swift and unexpected. The blow fell
on day when Harold, Amy's younger
brother, burst into her room with
face on which horror and despair were
Jointly pictured.
1t was the old story of a young man,
tempted to gamble, borrowing" the
funds of the institution which employ
ed and trusted him, until the small
peculations could be no longer con-
cealed.
Amy listened, white faced, to the
piteous recital.
at will Kill father and mother If you
are arrested for stealing" she said.
So Amy's few good jewels wege taxi
en- from their hiding place, and Harold,
chastened and subdued, set out to
raise money on them to make good his
deficiency before it should be discov-
cred. But the most he could raise fell
far short of the sum total he needed,
and with despair at his heart he
.wended his way back to where. his sis
ter tremblingly awaited him.
ITS no use, little sister," he said.
81 shall have to pay the penalty. /
can't get near enough on your little
trinkets"
Amy bowed her head on her hands,
and as she did so her brow touched
the betrothal ring on her finger. sFor
only second she hesitated, then
drawing the ring from her finger she
handed 1t to Harold.
'Take it," she said. ut is worth a
great deal of money"
Then bursting into tears she turned
away from Harold's grateful thanks
and sought refuge alone, where she
could weep out her heart at the loss
Of her treasure.
Frank returned unannounced to Lin
vile and went straight to Amy's
house. Lights shone from the win
dows, and as he drew near he could
see Amy at the piano. Startled, he
gazed at her. One of his closest rivals
was bending over her in an attitude
of devotion--and Franks ring was not
on her hand.
Seeing, but unseen, he decided that
his cause was hopeless, and went as
quietly as he had come.
Six months later Frank was called
to city short distance from Lin
vile. Seeking shelter from a sudden J
shower in a pawnbrokers doorway, he
glanced carelessly at the window dis
play. To his unboundeG astonishment
he saw his own ring
He rushed into the shop and asked
to see the ring. His judicious ques-
tioning Brought out the fact that a
young man had brought in the ring and
other jewelry. From his description
Frank hail no doubt that Harold had
pawned the ring, although examina-
ton of the pawnbroker's records gave
an entirely different name.
Without loss Of time Frank hasten
ed to LiIrvflle. He would see Harold
and demand the truth. Perhaps-and
at the thought his pulses bounded
there WRs some reason besides indIf-
ferenceefor Amy's failure to wear his
ring.
He reachedsthe small town at noon,
and almost the first person he met was
Ha-rold fastening to lunch.
Frank went straight to the point,
and Harold, after being convinced that
there was a vital reason for the
question, broke down and
admitted that Amy had pawned her
Jewels to raise money for him. Then
In answer to Franks eager questions
he said sadly:
"Amy has changed greatly. Wheth-
er it was because Of my wrongdoing
Or not / dtJn't know. but from the day
she knew of 1t her health and spirits