The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-12-23

Copyright. 1918. BY the western Nsvs-
paper Unlon-l

brother Ned on q rustic table Ia u
garden pagoda. TAere had beer
lively. merry lawn party. and avail
ing eea there was breaking up Int
various groups. Unostentatiousl
and from choice Earle had kept nea
to Miss Burdette and her close friends
Alice and Muriel Dodge. and their es
corts. Neva had been his partner a
times and 1t had naturally folIowe'
that they had remained together.
Little Ned had, however. discovered
somebody's sketch book. had extracted
some loose blank sheets and was In
sissent that Aunt Neva shOuld amuss
him. She portrayed bis fayOFite en-
CINE and train Of cars. horse. an au'
tomobiIe and an airpiane. Earle In
dicated an interest In this pictorial
display. but Miss Bardstte told Ned
TO hold his collection safe and tight.
o61ecting to IT. prssentment on ac-
ccunt Of alleged cIudeless.
"Just one more ahest" anAlly an
nOunced Ned. "Oh, asntyi won't yOu
let me draw something for your
Certainly. DEAR aEsented News.
Ned spread the sheet on the table.
Now" he said. Il want to show you
something we do III school. You
just spread your hand down tight
over the paper. That's II. Now don't
you move IT," and with pride and &C
curacy Ned proceeded TO trace the
skeleton outlines Of fingers and hand
clear to the wrist. Then with satisfac.
ton he held 1t up to her view.
isn't that finer" he challenged, and
Neva smiled her approval. AND just
then some one called to her from a
group a little distance away, and she
fitted with a conscious flush as her
glance met that Of Earle. betokening
interest manifestly In all her move
ments.
You can have this. Mr.. Warren,
because you're such a good friend TO
Aunt Neva," observed little Ned gen.
erOusly, extending the pencIlled sheet.
Then he ran away after a kitten CROSS
ing the path. and Earle casually
scanned the very fine outline Of the
delicate hand Of the peerless creature
Of whom he was indeed the good
friend, and secretly hoped to make
some day dearer one. Idly he took
but his pencil and began Inendlng the
breaks Ned had made In the out
lines. The pencil point crossed the
third finger Of the left hand and rest.
ID there. In a Whimsical frame Of
mind Earle began to trace d circlet
about the base Of that certain finger.
He smiled to himself as he pleasantly
recalled that Miss Burdette wore no
jewelry, predicting hopefully that she
was heart free. He gemmed the ring
with very fair diamond and started
suddenly as a voice spoke directly at
MS ear, and there was michief-eyed
Alice Dodge leaning past his shoulder.
Drawing ring on Neva's finger"
uttered this very clever young won.
IN. "Why, and you have given her
IN engagement ring. toor'
"She deserves one." observed Earle
quickly.
"BOlder and bolder! Oh, shall
ell herr
wait wait" dissuaded Earle, but |
he winsome sprite flashed away with !
tantalizing laugh.
Miss Alice did nothing Of tie kind
'he was an observant creature and |
'racticed as TO matchmaking. 1t had
een no task whatever for her to dis
over that Neva and Earle were in
owe with each other, but that her girl
riend was shy and retiring and the
over seeking encouragement
81 shall hurry things along" We
emently declared Alice, and a day or
wo later had an opportunity for plac-
lg plan she had formed in operg.
lon, Neva had arranged to give
arty to which all OF her friends, in
luding Earle, had been invited. Upon
be day preceding 1t Alice said to her:
Nov, Neva, dear, you want 10 shine
our brightest on this occasion. am
DING to help you dress for the event
nd here-this win emphasize your
and she pressed ring
pom Neva's hand.
ooh, mol" demurred Neva instantly.
Why, you have placed it on the en-
agement fngerl"
"And aren't you longing like every
Their live girl we know to have one
here to stayT and Neva blushed her
rettiest. Both Of them met Earle the
ext day as they passed down the
treet AS he greeted them he no
iced the brilliant on NevaS finger.
The party was an enjoyable occasion
o all save the hostess, for Earle did
lot appear. nor did he come near tbs
IOuse for several days later.
A week after the party he met New
10 the street It had been q wretchod
even days for him.
IF you win stop for q moment a
he Dodge home while ! return ID
AIice this ring she loaned to me to
year at the party I win be very glad
o accompany you" said Neva.
The sky had been cloudy. Just then
ha cun CANA ont Eoplasn (sca hah