Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-24
A STORY FOR SPARE MOMENTS
Sealed With n Rim

Wttn a King
going to he success. Perhaps ought not
to have let you enter upon it."
did not see her for week The weather
was aoomtnable, and felt much depressed
Wnen we met again asked her: Are we
still engaged?"
Il really don't know" she answered
What do you wish?"
II am quite Indifferent about IT,"
II have been thinking this matter over
seriously" said l. land I have come to the
conclusion that marriage is rather a
solemn sort of affair"
She was amused. "It is?" she cried.
ut Is a sacred obligation" said l. "Not
In our case, though. of course, because we
are not really engaged"
IT see," said she.
And think" added, that we should
not play at being engaged"
DO you want to be released again? This
Is very confusing, you know"
II don't know what I want Obviously
II would be absurd for us to marry"
And. therefore. the only thing to do is
to proclaim our mock engagement at an
end"
There are so many things to he con-
| sidered" observed at length.
There are our parents"
Yes. there they are" said T.
They came up at that moment a beam
ing quartet. and our colloquy ended.
Mabel continued to wear my ring | saw
her every day, but she said nothing more
about ending our engagement, and I felt
that I should be lacking in good taste IL
broached the subject It was very agoniz-
ing. 1t was my father who eventually
| urged me to speak
"Mabs.' l began, my father says we
| ought to fix date"
What do you mean?"
II mean that a crisis is impending Some
! thing definite must certainly be done at
| once"
Are you going to do it,"
| Am / going to do what?"
! Something definite"
| That depends on you"
DO you want me to fix the date?"
''Of course not. Don't be so cold d-blooded.
| Mabs."
| You want your ring back?'
| Il don't care n hang about the ring"
| THE ring" said she. lis valuable as an
| outward and visible sign. 1t is a delicate
| intimation to the world. Therefore, it is
| foolish to say you don't care a hang about
| it. SO long as wear it we are engaged
'Only in the eyes of the world l re-
| minded her hastily.
| "Of course. And the moment | give 1t
back to you our engagement is ended"
| There was a pause Then Mabel handed
me my ring. II think | will go now, she
said "Of course you will tell your father
| tonight"
| | was very happy--unreasonably so
I went home resolved TO tell my father
everything We we're dining famie
that night He would call me into the
| library after dinner as usual, and l would
| open my heart to him,
| That was my intention. But when the
| time came I could not carry 1t into enect
| He was so cheerfully oblivious of approach
| ing evil We parted at his bedroom door
| and had not spoken.
| took out the ring and looked AT II,
Poor Mabs :" | murmured. what pity
| it is" And so to bed.
| Three days passed. Still | said nothing.
| NV mind was in a state of ferment. | won
| dered what Mabel was doing and now her
people were taking IT, II seemed odd tnat
| nothing yet leaked out.
! On the fourth day | was sitting brood
| ing in the park when suddenly ] awoke TO
| the fact that footman was addressing me
Beg your pardon, sir said me- MISS
Wakeham wishes to speak to you
| looked up and there was Mabel in
barouche She was very pale She smiled
| at me and rose and went to her. we shook
| hands solemnly.
you"
! her. The barouche drove on. | sat with
| averted gaze | was conscious that her eyes
were watching me. Tom, she SAID AT
| last sternly "you ought to be ashamed OF
yourself" ,,,
| tall them Then in a moment Of inspira-
ton. l asked, Have you told your people
yet?"
"N-no," she stammered.
"whv haven't you?" | inquired severely.
You can hardly ask me that after be-
having as you have done
| "B,lt surely they missed the ring
| "ye-yes" | stared at her Il ac-
oounted for that" she said, blushing.
We lapsed into gloom. | sighed
"Mabs" | burst forth, the situation is
"It is intolerable," she said, lingering her
gown In, ..,.,.
enough" | said. producing It,
| she looked at It. | looked at her. Sud
dsnIy she challenged my gaze, began
10 laugh, foolishly forlornly.
81 wish you would wear the ring again."
said l.
| .I cannot do that" she said,
,you can take IL off when we part"
| "It is $3.50 absurd.
.'To please me, Mabs.'
VERY well, Tom"
| had never known her to be so meekly
She slipped the ring on to her finger and
n seemed to magnetic her gaze. She made
Tan ahrupt movement TO take II on.
.sWhy should your" whispered. restrain
ing her.
| rha carriage drove on, Hyde Park was at
| it's best that morning.
| ..