The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-12-23


then she gave cry Of d.Smay. where
is your engagement ring, Isabel
ITS in my bag. Do YOU think !
was going to wear it for those people
10 see? Jeans sister il engaged I"
Donald McCrum, and her engagement
ring is worth a fortune. | wish you
could see it,"
Maybe Donald McCrum is rich
"lIe is"
And Tom isn't"
That's the entire trouble"
but you knew"
"Yes. | know. but | didn't know
was tired of poverty. I've just found
it out"
Her aunt sighed. "Well. what are
you going To do about it,
Isabel was silent Il minute, then. 81
think. Aunt Katie, that it's best tn
be honest. I'm going to tell Tom the
truth. | never could be happy with
poor man now"
Tom Custer had looked ut the office
clock 50 many times that afternoon
said finally, Girl away, TOm!'
Yes sir"
Coming home tOday?"
"YeS. sir"
81 thought So"
Mr. Merrick put on his hat. "Tm
going home now, and you'd better
make it a holiday. too, and quit an
hour early. YOu'll want To get candy
and flowers and do the right thing. |
want to talk over things with you in
the morning"
Tom waited until the door closed.
then drew over the telephone. But
lust as he gave the number the door
opened again. He looked around i'm
patiently. Miss Cartwright" he eX-
claimed.
Aunt Katie nodded n greeting.
"Wait a minute, Tom. Don't call lSa-
bel just yet. ! want to tell you some
thing first. You'll hate me forever.
hut its got to be done. and | guess |
4 can stand il if it's going To do any
/ good"
/ which left Tom white and wretched.
but with determined set to his jaw.
At dinner her niece was quiet. She
was wondering just what she would
/ say 70 Tom and how he would take IL.
! Eight o'clock came. Miss Katie saw
Isabel glance from her magazine to
/ the clock.
Jlalf-paSt eight!
THAT Miss Smertz. the society edi-
tor of the Herald, has bothered me
to death about you. 50 | gave her all
the information she wanted this morn
ing. There's piece in tonight,
guess"
lis that SOP" Isabel was painfully
disintereStpd. But she was saying 10
herself: Then Tom does know I'm
home | wonder why he hasn't called
up ut least"
Ten o'clock, and no Tom. Isabel,
puzzled and weary-eyed, went upstairs
not to sleep. hut to toss wretchedly
most of the night.
She was up at daybreak and down
stairs waiting when the paper boy
came. She turRed to the sOcio.y page
There was five-line announcement
of her return. Tom may not have seen
the other. but he would surely know
now. But what was that right under
It? "Mr. Thomas Custer, of the firm
of Merrick & Merrick. left last might
on a business trip 70 Des MOines. He
expects to be gone week"
The pOstman brought mail and. Their,
was letter from Tom. She tore i
open with feverish haste. Dear lisa
bel" he wrote, 81 was sorry to hav,
} to leave just when you were comm,
home, but / couldn't very well help il
My chance for success rests with tn,
MerrickS. and / must please them first
: Money comes first in the world, yOl
! know; sentiment, after all. is a sec
Ondary thing, and | know you will
understand. know you had Il pleas
ant visit. and hope to hear all abou
1t before long. Affectionately, Tom.
Isabel crushed the letter into
: ball and threw ii onto the table "Wel
like that" she cried furiously. an
rushed TO her own room crying
I At the end of two days Aunt Kati
remarked seriously: Say. Isabel, VIII
don't you send Tom his ring Will
he's away? 1t wouldn't be likely I
hurt him so much. for he's having
I good time and his mind will be O
other things. His aunt told me at tn
I club that he's staying with some yer
! rich friends of the NcrrickS. and the
: are up to their ears in society"
live decided 10 keep the ring
said Isabel family. And the ne,
morning it was back in its place O
' her left hand.
And after about hundred years Ii
week passed and Tom came home
: find n very humble. n very loving an
:, very thoughtful Isabel. 81 was afral
you'd forget me while you were ava
= Tom, dear" 1t was almost que
ton.
"See II | did" Out of his pock
came a fiat box, and out of the box
), string of pearls. 1--WE been taken in
the firm. dear. and this is TO eel
brate."
And while Isabel was ecstaticaI
admiring them in the glass Tom -four
time to whisper to happy Miss Kat
80. Il Il