Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-08-22
FINGER or PROMISE
BY SUSAN e. CLAGETT.,

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Tired in body and soul, Louise Tom
ilson dropped into chair and stared
blankly out of the Washington hotel
window. She was conscious Of moth
ing outside of the immediate problems
threatening the life she had carefully
regulated for twelve years or more.
Judge TomilsOn had been dead five
years the autumn Louise had come to
Washington, and as she sat, with her
unseeing eyes centered upon that fin
ger Of light far off in the heavens, her
mind was slowly going over the few
words that had passed between her
self and the man who still had the
power to arouse emotions she had
thought were past, but that now held
her in a grip the intensity Of which
she resented.
They had met that evening at din
ner. She was late. Moving swiftly
across the reception hall 70 greet her
hostess, the lace of her gown caught
in the signet ring of man who moved
aside for her to pass. Impatient at the
detention, she spoke quickly as he en-
deavored to untwist the delicate
threads.
1T does not matter. Break them,
please"
II would rather you would unfasten
it at your leisure" he said, and, Slip
ping the ring from his finger, he offered
it to her. ,,,
Annoyed by the incident, but unable
to wait longer, she pushed the ring
within her glove and moved away.
He was seated next to her at the
table, by one of those fateful happen
ings that come about in the most nat
ural way. 1t was then that she looked
at him, and from him to the ring she
held in her hand sapphire set in
diamonds with a crest and motto IA
miiiar to her. Ky,
cam l so changed that you do not
recognize me, LOuse?" he asked, but
before she answered his dinner part
ner claimed his attention. 1t was some
time before he again turned to her.
then only for a moment.
"Wtll you drive with me tomorrow?
Keep the ring until then. You cannot
give it to me now without attracting
attention"
eat three" she said. She did not
again have opportunity to speak to
him.
The following afternoon there was
little talk between them until they
reached the open country. Then he
turned to her.
ut is twelve years since l received
that letter, Louise" he said. going back
to their talk of the evening before. II
had not heard from you for weeks
moved at daybreak and the chances
We're against any Of us returning for
every kOpje held sharpshoOter. I
could not read it at once, but the very
feel of it in my pocket gave me COM
fort. Then when l was at last alone
| could not sense the contents. I had
been so sure Of you, and there in black
and white We're words that at last
burned into my consciousness. Your
reason was inadequate. Your father
needed you. Sometime you would
give me full explanation. do not
like to think of that time; but after
ward, as lay in that johannesburg
hospital, I tried to reason it out, but
could not All through those endless
days your eyes looked at me stead
fastly, giving the lie to that letter.
They seemed to say, wait, only wait
wrote to you, but my letters were re-
turned from your dead-letter office;
yet as the years passed still waited.
"One day I met an old friend who
had known you, Colonel Arthur. From
him learned of your fathers trouble,
and for the first time understood the
reason Of your break with me.
Through Arthur I also heard Of his
death. sailed on the next steamer
for New York. Arthur was with me.
He went on to Seattle and I came to
Washington, hoping to find some trace
of you here. I could not believe my
luck when you brushed against me
last evening"" He leaned forward and
touched his ring shining upon her un-
gloved hand. 1T seems natural to
see it again in place."
Then it was that she became con-
scious of something that had been
haunting her memory since the night
before. Rising from out of the clouds
into the clear atmosphere was the tip
Of Washingtons monument, an ethe-
real thing pointing like a finger of
light into the beyond; a finger of
promise.
II heard your name when I changed
cars in st. Paul." she said at last. "Two
gentlemen were speaking Of you. They
stood with faces from me and I did
not recognize either, but their chance
remark changed my plans. Some time
l will explain to you fully why I sent
that letter, but just now only want
happiness" .a
sand you find it with me?"
For the first time in twelve years