New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1917-09-19
.ssssssssessss6esssoossssl
w hen Dick
Came Home
He Discovers His
Mistak e.
:; By CLARISSA MACKIE
By CLARISSA MACKIE
Dseoooooeeoooooooeoe 90 8 8 q

Dr.. Mansfield stood In the doorway
and beamed kindly upon the merry
dancers who were tripping over the
polished floor. 1t was Elias birthday,
and this dance given by the doctor for
his adopted daughter had been talked
about In Shropton for many weeks be
forehand. Ella herself, tall and fair,
with restless blue eyes, tnat seemed
always seeking Dick Allen. when he
was not beside her, was dancing with
Frank Miller. Frank would gladly
have married the doctors pretty daugh.
ter, but every one knew that she was
only waiting for Dick Allen to make
up his mind.
Her rowing eyes saw Beth Page
smiling up at Dicks downbent face.
The two were standing together Dick
so tall and Beth so tiny and so very
charming in spite Of her cheap. home
made dancing. frock, which had cost
twenty times less than Elias rose pink
Grape.
Beth was saying something now in
her frank, open manner, "You haven't
danced once with Ella. and 1t is her
party, Dick"
"I'm going now" he said guiltily
Save another one for ne, Beth"
you've had your SHARE" she retort.
ed as he moved away.
| Ella greeted him with naughty tilt
Of her chin. and when he asked her to
dance she shook her head. .'You are
too late, Dick" she said coldly. al
though her voice was very near to
tears.
"Then you will talk with me until
some one comes and takes you away p
he urged, for now he was under the
magic sway Of her beauty.
IT cannot, but I have the supper
dance. / saved it for you. Dick" she
cried hastily.
"For me? Oh. you have honered
me!' he cried contritely. And he was
so remorseful that he would not go
near Beth until after supper.
DR.. Mansfield, watching his young
people, saw Elias unhappy j face and
| wished in his laundering way that he
could help matters along He liked
Dick and would gladly have welcomed
| him into the family. He wondered
! why Dick was holding back the i'm
portant question.
Dick himself was wondering that
while he danced the supper dance with
! Ella and afterward led her into the
| dining room, where supper was spread
at great round table with many lit
tie fanking tables.
The birthday cake was placed be-
| fore Ella, and when the time came
she was to cut it.
There is ring in it and a thimble
and coin" she told Dick.
! "a ring? What does that signify p
he asked carelessly.
ooh, wedding for the lucky finder"
"And the coin?"
Riches
| "And the thimble?''
| "Spinsterhood-alas she sighed.
Now Ella was cutting the cake
| There was much laughter and gay
chatter. Dick. noticed that she watch
ed the slices closely as they fell be-
meath the silver knife.
He saw the ring in It's twisted waxed
paper plainly imbedded in the cake.
Ella saw it too. The silver knife
poised, trembled and then went swift.
/ ly over to the other side of the loaf
and began to cut.
Dick felt dizzy for moment, and
then he was glad that he had seen it
! in time.
/ ring and was saving it for herself.
All the while Dick was shocked he
was thinking that Beth Page never
would have done such thing. Beth
would have taken whatever luck came
! along and gone bhthely on her way.
What is the matter?" ELIAS voice
/ broke through the gale Of merriment
!; about him.
"Why - why nothing" he STAN
mered
'"Why don't you look happy?" asked
Ella. Don't you see what has hap
pened? 2"
Dick looked at the bit Of waxed pa.
per in one Of her hands and the
sparkling sapphire ring on her right
hand.
81 drew the ringv she exclaimed.
You drew the ring he repeated
stupidity.
"And Frank Miller drew the coin
Frank will be rich.''
And the thimble?" he asked, not be
cause be cared, but because he was
trying to readjust his thoughts. Ella
had cheated, and he had thought he
loved her.
J Now he felt only contempt for bel
and pity. i
"The thimble," she was saying care
lessly. ooh, Beth Page drew the thin
BILE! Isn't it odd that she should draw
the symbol of spinsterhood just wher
shes is going to marry Frank Miller
At least that is what every one says