The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1916-12-28
The HEIRLOOM Ring
BY J. X. WARD.

Ao Win HIS rove Tor Amy Baker lln
declared. But the summons home was
imperative. "Your father is seriously
Ill. Come at once" It said.
so on the afternoon of F.unk's de.
parture from Llnyille Miss Baker re-
celyed by mail Il letter ana a regis
tered package. Both were In the Same
handwriting and after considering fey
moment she opened the Letter lrr~t.
My dear little Amy" il BEGAN. "I~..
sudden and serious illness of u...- Gatt t,r
mas called me away from LinviUr. 'ar
reasons which I am sure yo, most
guess, | hate to 90 but tlln cn71 p. ZIP
gent, for my father has been gu..I rr-
Gently nearest to my heart. + nm ST NH
ing by this mail my ring, Il famiIv heir
loom. III the love which you ruSt
know l feel for you is returned. win
you wear the ring until I can replace
IL with another? When I return. which
VIII be as speedily as possible, if I
hnG 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 moment did she consid
er before slipping it on her finger Ever
since Frank had arrived at the home
Of her friends. TIE 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 a day when Harold, Amy's younger
brother. burst into her room with a
face on which horror and DESPAIR were
jointly pictured.
1t was the old story of 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.
1T Will kill father and mother If you
are arrested for stealing" she said.
So Amy's few good jewels were tax
en- from their hiding place, and Harold,
,hastened 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
ar short Of the sum total he needed,
md. with despair at his heart, he
vended his way back to where his SIS
er tremblingly awaited him.
ITS no use, little sister," he said.
1 shall have to pay the penalty.
ant get near enough on your little
rinKets"
Amy bowed her head on her hands,
nd as she did so her brow touched
ne betrothal ring on her finger. For
My second she hesitated, then
rawing the ring from her finger she
anded 1t to Harold.
"Take it," she said. 1T Is worth a
reat deal of money"
Then bursting into tears she turned
way from Harold's grateful thanks
nd sought refuge alone, where she
2uld weep out her heart at the loss
her treasure.
Frank returned unannounced to Lin
lie and went straight to Amy's
ouse. Lights shone from the. win
ows, and as he drew near he could
&c Amy at the piano. Startled, he
lzed at her. One Of his closest rivals
as bending over her In an attitude
devotion--and Franks ring was not
l her hand.
Seeing, but unseen, he decided that
s cause was hopeless. and went as
lietly as he had come. n
Six months later Frank was called
city short distance from Lin \
lie. Seeking shelter from q sudden
over in pawnbroker's doorway, he
lnced carelessly at the window dis
ny. To his unbounded establishment
saw his own ring.
He rushed into the shop and asked
see the ring. His judicious ques-
ming brought out the fact that a
ung man had brought in the ring and
her jewelry. From his description
ank had no doubt that Harold haL
wned the ring, although examina-
n Of the pawnbroker's records gave
entirely different name.
Without loss of time Frank hasten
to Linville. He would see Harold
] demand the truth. Perhaps--and
the thought his pulses bounded
re was some reason besides indif-
ence for Amy's failure to wear his
9.
lie reached the small town at noon,
almost the first person he met was
rold Fastening to lunch.
rank went straight to the point,
Harold, after being convinced that
re was vital reason for the
rching question, broke down and
litted that Amy had pawned her
els to raise money for him. Then
answer to FRANKS eager questions
said sadly:
Amy has changed greatly. Wheth-
t was because of my Wrongdoinc
Tot don't know, but from the day
knew of it her health and spirits
Id"