The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-22


ring
TT surely would" John Andrew re-
turned, his lips setting hard. Here in
deed was complication The ring
was an heirloom on the family's
spindle side. 1t had come to his moth
er from her father, whose mother had
passed it down to him. Thus it had
served for troth plighting in alternate
generations. His mother had given it
to him in those last days of her loving
companionship. bidding, him with al
most her final words, to choose a wife
worthy to wear it He had known she
meant Annette very Anne at whom
he was gazing through dim eyes, re-
calling that solemn hour.
He had always been very careful of
that ring, seldom wearing it and still
more rarely letting it pass out of his
possession. Anne'S touch of it had al
ways pleased him-her taper fingers
had seemed to caress the bauble. She
could scarcely be mistaken in her as
sertion as to it's present whereabouts,
but so far he knew, the jewel was
safe within his strong box at home.
He had put it there, he told him
self, the morning he fled from Anne's
house party. Later, accusing memory
recalled to him that he had shown it
to Lima Loree, over at the Farnhams'
that he had even let her take it for
a closer examination, not out of his
sight, away to a clearer light. He re-
membered now how she had voiced
her delight in its luster. its quaint de-
sign and his own establishment that
she already knew its significance.
But she had certainly returned it to
his keeping, there on the corner of the
piazza, saying with strained little
laugh as she dropped it into the case
he held open: Take it, John! But
not for always hope"
Those last words, only whispered,
had been John Andrews danger sig
nal. He had managed somehow to
laugh away their implication and had
then taken refuge in a gallant good
bye and galloped briskly home.
"A real goodbye-I'm not going to
Anne Langley's party-worse luck
mine," he had said. At which, Lima
had pouted a bit, but had looked so
tempting that he had a great mind
to kiss her. At the gate. she had call
ed to him. Don't forget that 1 live at
Longview.'
Now John Andrew, face to face with
the problem of his life, dared not
speak out. 1t would be shameful to
accuse a gentlewoman upon bare sus-
picion. Rather than that he must let
Anne continue to misunderstood him.
Looking straight into her indignant
eyes, he said. unsteadily:
Il can't explain-not now-but if
if I bring my mothers ring, may 1
put it-where you know I have always
meant 1t to go?'
She shook her head slightly. 1.-THE
age of miracles is past" she said re-
gretfully.
Il am going to restore your faith in
miracles-and in me-" he said, turn
ing away without another word.
AS the case sprung open in his
hand. John Andrew started back with
little smOthered exclamation. 1t was
not empty, but as he lifted the shin
ing bauble within it and held it to the
light, he laughed grimly
There was indeed a superficial like
ness between the thing he held and
the thing he sought Instantly he re-
called Lina's passion for the stage, her
long experience in private theatricals
and realized that she had dextrously
attempted to palm on him this bit of
stage trumpery, and then had been in
discreet enough, or vain enough, or,
possibly, crafty enough, to wear the
jewel she had taken in exchange.
Theft, he told himself, must not have
been the original impulse. but rather
the opportunity to triumph even mo-
mentarily over her rival
He wanted to swear at her, at him
self. at the whole world. But there
was not time-he must act instead
Longview! Fifty miles distant. He
could make it before nightfall with
his speedy roadster.
Lima appeared to be neither sur
priSed nor abashed at his return. She
met him with an air of bravado which
seemed to imply that she had nothing
to conceal-that she was willing to.
meet him even little more tahn half
way.
Without a word, he took the clumsy
substitute from the ring case and held
it out to her.
,"Oh, see," she laughed knowingly.
You have returned to Longview to
make an exchange
Yes" he returned pointedly. "Of
course, know you meant it as a joke,
but L assure you there is a serious side
to it. That ring actually belongs to
Anne
"Of course it was only a joke" she
declared, slipping his ring from her
finger and returning it to him. 'I am
gong to call up Anne and tell her all
about it."-(Copyright, 1916, by Nc
Clure ewSpaper Syndicate