Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-12
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
THE RING AND THE BOND
BY 4. NJ. Renear
MARJORIE turned a flushed face
IHl from the fireplace and the apples she
MA g roa sting

1xl from the fireplace and the apples she
4 "Wonderful sandwiches, Janet!'
The slender girl, just passing plate-
full of heart-shaped cakes, smiled back
at her.
like the maple syrup In the lemonade
But the sharp-eyed Marjorie had
made a discovery.
Girls p she shrieked in delight. "oh,
goody! Janet, you darling!
A sudden. sizzling and a screening
smell brought, her back to her senses
and the neglected apples. By this time
the rest of Janet's guests had discoV-
cred the telltale, interwined initials on
the little cakes! And rosy Janet smll-
ingly admitted her engagement.
This Is rather an Informal party,
she laughed but can't AFFORD style
Golden-haired Lucille thinking of the
elaborate luncheon few months pc
fore, at which her engagement mad been
announced, twirled her blazing solitaire
Janet's ringless fingers. .,
your diamond is being set for your
she drawled.
Janet flushed. but her voice was
no" she @ said. "You all know Roger
hasn't any money to speak of. ! had
my choice between ring and Lib
erty bond, and chose the bond. Since
TnOIUeT uleu ana I've Sldycu dt HoliS
with the kiddies. IL don't seem to
have much money, and I wanted to
help little, Roger and I feel that
we have made a start in life together.
Have an olive, Lucille?"
Perhaps no one but young Mrs;
Janets trembling fingers and sternly
bitten lip, but several heard Lucille's
cool sneer: ....
"oh. really? How--peculiar !" There
was added warmth IN Mrs. Jacks
kiss as she. said tenderly:
Roger is getting a wonderful wife,
Janet, and sometimes sacrifice Is
SWEET
From the hearth-rug implysive Mar
jorie declared, "Janet, you're a peach J"
At that very instant a sturdy soldier
lad was leaning over a counter In a
brilliantly lighted jewelry establish
ment.. his dark head close to the sleek
one of the clerk.
"And so you found. this BROOCH among
your mothers possessions, sir?" the
salesman was saying.
. Very interesting. Beg pardon?
Made into a ring? oh, yes, very easily
and at comparatively little expense,
No. hardly think you could
realize large sum on 1t just now. The
stones are genuine. and perfect, but
Perhaps after the war;"
The young soldiers interrupted.
'If ] can't get enough for 1t to buy
more bonds, III have 1t made into a
ring, with a clear conscience, he laughed.
flushing to his. curly hair.
Very happy to. do 1t. sir. It will
make a beautiful thing. Now--er--the
size OF the lady's finger, IL might In
quire?"
The following afternoon the girls
were gathered at the Red Cross club,
w n nd mr. ri n 70
ly the attention Of every girl was fixed,
but on the slim fingers of Janet. who
was writing diligently at the desk near
the window.
Let's see it oh, what beauty !
think that beats Lucille's all hollow"
vera the exclamations of the surprised
girls as they literally pounced on her.
When at last the girl could make
herself heard, she told them the story
of the ring. Suddenly the eagle-eyed
Maiorie darted forward.
'Janet, see It's a Liberty ring
red, white and blue I"
The quaint old brooch had held a
glowing ruby. a sapphire blue as the
night sky. and enclreling these, tiny,
sparkling diamonds.
Mrs, Jack" gave the hand that wore
the ring a little squeeze.
RED for sacrifice, blue for loyalty
and white for truth" she quoted.
"And, between you, the greatest bond
OF all -
Tomorrow's Complete Novelette, -
Peters Triumph.