South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-28

OdS- MY uFSl sweetheart gave me
this bar pin. l thought Tiffany
could show nothing handsomer at
the time
Il know, Just before l told Mr..
Payne that 1 would marry him soon
/ took off that bracelet I've worn
ever since you first saw me and gave
1t to a little girl who happened 10 be
IN our office. She was so pleased
and surprised. / hope that it will
make her as happy as it once made
me. 1t was a relic, too, of silly
dreams-yOu know how girls are
Her voice had a PARKWAY note in
it. With little sigh, she took up
the task OF lacing her boots. IT
don't want TO be a minute late this
morning. Business is business even
if l am going to marry the boss"
''Soon?" There was an elaborate
air OF indifference about Martha
which did not escape Lucille. Both
girls felt unhappy over the proposed
change.
About a month, I guess. I'm COM
ing home Saturday to stay. 1 need
a few clothes"
"I'll help you make them. | would
love to do it," Martha said enthus-
iastically.
Outside she twisted her fur scraf
around her throat and set out to
walk to her work. a mile away.
She wanted the sting of the cold air
in her face. She wanted to think.
20 plan. What would she do with
out Lucille? She had nobOdy-no-
body! The words sang themselves
into her numb brain. She almost
collided with another pedestrian and
looked up to apologize.
Martha Hendricki OF all the
good luck. to find your There was
no installing the ring of sincerity
in his voice, the glad look of
pleased surprise in his eyes. Jim
Rodgers, her first sweetheart!
'How-how are you?" she STAN
mered, a little shaken i'm spite of
her years old vow never by any
chance 10 let him know that she
had cared. once upon a time.
i've hunted you all over this city.
did everything but advertise for YOU.
Was afraid TO do that, / knew you
wouldn't like it. I've been back to
the little home town time and again.
| hoping for news of you, but nobody
had any address except the name of
this big city. It was like hunting a
needle in a haystack. Gee, but I'm
glad TO see you. Why" he said. a
soft light coming into his eyes.
you're still wearing that little old
pin gave you, years ago!'
He fell into step beside her, both
of them silent for a long time. FL
nally, he took her arm protectingly.
guiding her through the throng of
early shoppers and office employees.
I'm going TO buy you a pin that is
a pin, Martha. my girl" he leaned
over to whisper 10 her The sight
of that little pin has Embossed a
| flood of tender memories. You
were the only girl back home that
I've ever thought Of, Martha. Know
that?"
She tried TO talk then, telling him
of her office work. how congeniaI
her associates were, of her little
home with Lucille. Oh she was go
ing 70 be brave, after those lonely
years when he had never sent her a
line. She would make him thinl,
that she was happy anyway.
Il don't think you ever knew" he
saidf bending closer TO the little pink
ear above the soft furs. that dad
lost all of his money and had to go
in debt, too. debts of honor. YOU un-
derstand. He couldn't bear to have
anybody lose through him. So We
pulled out. went west, together! I've
thought about you, dozens Of times
We've struck il rich now. Martha
! What a pin I'm going TO give you
Wen go TO Tiffany's 10 select it. Sc
you've worn my little old pin al
these years! I'll make il up to you
remembering me like that"
Oh. but ne was battered. happ,
beyond words TO have found sucf
loyalty. Martha opened her lips I,
tell him that she had not seen tina
pin for years, but thinking better O.
IL, said nothing, only smiled
In the corridor of the office build
ing where she was private secre
tary to a millionaire, Jim Rodgeri
faced her, his hands clasped warmly
on her arm. We've opened ;
branch office in the city here. DaC
and / can afford TO take it easy now
We've cleaned up a nice little pile
My part is yours. Martha! / thinl
Wen select sapphires for that PHI
and diamond, white, beautiful, 70
that little left hand of yours.
knew you care, otherwise you,
never have worn that little old pil
all these years"
She lifted guileless eyes while he
hand touched that plain bar pil
lovingly. She would never lay /
away in that worn velvet case again
She would wear it always. over he
heart. The sight of Jim Rodger
brought back the old-time thrill o
dreams. wonderful. golden dreams
And she was thirty. tool One coul
never be too old for love
In her heart there was a littl
paean OF praise. of Thanksgiving
Che mas eoing 70 have sou,aho3x- =