The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-11
EVENING STORY
The Heirloom Ring.
(By Helen Merritt. }

1t was a great disappointment to
Frank Lloyd to be obliged to leave
Linville with his love for Amy Baker
undeclared. But the summons home
was imperative. Your father is Sc
riously i'll. Come at once it said.
There was a short, sharp struggle in
Franks mind between love and duty,
but memories of his fathers years of
devotion conquered.
The thought of leaving Amy with
out a farewell interview, and the
knowledge that more than one of the
Linville young men who regarded him
as dangerous rival would rejoice at
his going, spurred him on to take
step which, while against his better
judgment, was the only alternative as
far as he could see.
So on the afternoon of Franks de-
parture from Linville Miss Baker re-
ceived by mail a letter and registered
package. Both were in the same hand
writing and after considering Tor
moment she opened the letter first.
My dear little Amy it began. The
sudden and serious illness of my faith
er has called me away from Linville.
For reasons which 1 am sure you must
guess, 1 hate to go, but the call is ur-
gent, for my father has been until re-
Gently nearest to my heart. l am send
ing by mail my ring, family heir
loom. If the love which you must know
feel for you is returned, will you
wear the ring until I can replace it
with another? When 1 return, which
will be as speedily as possible, if
find the ring on your hand I shall
know that my dearest hopes are to be
realized. Your devoted lover,
Frank"
Shyly and reverently Amy drew the
curious and valuable ring from its box.
For scarcely a moment did che con-
slider before slipping it on her finger.
She kissed it there. with fervor
which brought hot bushes to her face,
despite the fact that there was no one
to see 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 while she
had hoped that her love was recipro-
Gated, she had lacked definite assur-
ance until the present moment. Small
wonder that her eyes glowed and that
she resolved firmly that the treasured
ring should never leave her finger un-
til Frank himself removed it. He had
not asked her to write, so she kept
her sweet secret treasured in her own
heart and went around, outwardly the
same, but inwardly the happiest girl in
the world.
Into this perfect bliss came trou-
BILE swift and unexpected. The blow
fell on a 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 en-
ployed and trusted him, until the
small peculations could be no longer
concealed.
Amy listened, white faced, to the
piteouS recital.
"It will kill father and mother if
arrested for Sfoaling''
said stonily.
Harold flung himself at her feet,
clasping her knees.
''They mustn't know, sister, he i'm
plored. Help me to raise the money
and restore it and 1 will promise new
er to gamble again.
So Amy'S few good jewels were
taken from thier hiding place, and
Harold, chastened and subdued set
out to raise money on them to make
good his deficiency before it should be
discovered. 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
sister trem blingly awaited him.
It's no use, little sister, he said.
81 shall have to pay the penalty.
can't get near enough on our little
trinkets''
Amy bowed her head on her hands,
and as she did so her brow touched
the betrothal ring on her finger.
She looked at it Gazedly. 1t was a
valuable ring. 1t would keep her
brother from prison, and her father
and mother from the knowledge that
the son in whom they took so much
pride was criminal. For only a sec
ond she hesitated, then drawing the
ring from her finger she handed it to
Harold.
''Take it, she said 'It is worth a
great deal of money"
Then bursting into tears she turned
away from Harolds grateful thanks
and sought refuge alone, where she
could weep out her heart at the loss
of her treasure.
Frank returned unannodnced to
Linville 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, AID went as
quietly as he had come Love was not
for him Henceforward he would be
a lonely, busy man. attending to big
business interests and allowing no
woman to fill his mind
II Six months later Frank was called
Ito city a short distance from Lin
svf11e. Seeking shelter from sudden
shower in a pawnbroker's doorway he
glanced carelessly at the window dis