The Press., 1917-11-01
When Dick Came Home He Discovers His
 Mistake.
By CLARISSA MACKIE

pO1Gne0 nOOr. 1t was Elias birthday and this dance given by the doctor fol his adopted daughter had been talked about in Shropton for many weeks be forehand. Ella herself, tall and fair with restless blue eyes, that 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 knewthat 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-DicE 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 Ella's rose pink crape.
 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 me. Beth"
 You've had your share" she retort- ed as he moved away.
 Ella greeted him with a 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 awayY' he urged, for now he was under the magic sway of her beauty.
 'T cannot, but I have the supper dance. I saved 1t for you. Dick" she cried hastily.
 "For me? Oh, you have hOnOred mev' he cried contritely. And he was so remorsefuI that he would not go near Beth until after supper.
 Dr. Mansfield, watching his young people, saw Elias unhappy face and wished in his blundering 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 a 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 a ring in it and a thimble and q cOin," she told Dick.
 "A ring? What does that signify?' he asked carelessly.
 ooh, a wedding for the lucky finder"
 And the coin?'
 Riches"
 And the thimbleY'
 "Spinsterhood- 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- heath the silver knife.
 He saw the ring in its twisted wAxed paper plainly imbedded in the cake Ella saw 1t 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 6 moment, and then he was glad that he had seen it in time.
 Ella had cheated. She had seen the ring and was saving it for herself. All the while Dick was shocked he was thinking that Beth Page never would have done such 8 thing. Beth would have taken whatever luck came along and gone blithely on her way.
 What is the matter?" Ella's voice broke through the gale of Inerriment about him.
 "Why - why nothing" he stam- mered.
 "Why don't you look happy?" asked Ella. Don't you see what has hap pened?" :
 Dick looked at the bit of waxed. pa per in one of her hands and the sparkling sapphire ring on her right hand.
 Il drew the ring!' she exclaimea.
 You drew the ring" he repeated stupidly.
 "And Frank Miller drew the coin. Frank will be rich."
 And the thimble?" he asked, not bG- cause he cared, but because he was trying to readJust his thoughts. Ella had cheated, and he had thought he loved her.
 Now he felt only contempt for her and pity. t1
 "The thimble," she was saying care lessly. "Oh, Beth Page drew the thim- ble! Isn't 1t odd that she should draw the symbol of spinsterhood just when she is going to marry Frank Miller? At least that is what every one says"
 The next day Dick went away. A good opening had been waiting for him in q nearby city, and he had delayed accepting 1t because he had been play ing with Love. And now that Love had flouted him he was going away where amid new scenes he might for get. Ella had proved herself a cheat, and Beth was going to marry another man.
 V nen Dick went away from ShrOi- ton he did not know that ten years would elapse before he again set eyes on it's green lOveIiness, with the river like a silver ribbon through the daisied meadows.
 It was summer time when Dick came back to occupy. the big house that his Uncle Jeffrey had left to him with q great deal of money. Dick had been very successful and had made much money for himself as well, so he plan ned many changes in the fine old man. sion which during Uncle Jeffrey's her mit-like existence had been greatly neglected. Mrs. Phipps, the house keeper he had brought from town with him, was having all the carpets and rugs renovated and the lace curtains, which had been laid away in cedar chests and closets, aired and mended. Once he came upon q group of chill | dren playing Ain his orchard. They scattered at sight of him, and he was sorry, for Dick was fond of children l