The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-11-13

Then there was a handkerchief. She
smiled &C she remembered the day he
had loaned II to her, when she had cut
her finger on an olive bottle at a pic.
mic. Dear dead days! Who ever went
on plcnlcs and took olives these days2
She essayed a trembly laugh.
The other souvenir was a cheap pa
per fan, one which had been ct her
place at n summer hotel dinner, and
which his autograph had made precious
beyond words. She snapped II 20 and
gathered the foolish little keepsaBes to-
gether, placing them carefully inside
the little box.
you foolish old woman" Hhe said 20
herself. walking 70 the long mirror At
the end OF the room. Cam you let
bygones he bygones? Are you going TO
keep those silly pieces Of sentimental
rot forever You have gained a fairly
successful niche In life. 30 be satisfied.
See, your hair IL graying at the tenn
Piles already, and you will soon be
angular where you are now slim. Be
cause you had a near love affair once,
now grow old gracefully and leave low
for the young"
CHANGING at her left hand, Cynthia
smiled and removed from the fourth
finger a ring which she always wore.
A curious twisted thing Of duh gold,
supporting an amethyst Of quaint car ed
design. Inside was the inscription;
you can usually tell. Dec. b, 1891"
Turning TO the mirror, she was about
10 administer another stern rebuke TO
her attractive reflection, when she
heard her nephew's key In the lock.
Hello there, Aunt Cynthia" was his
breezy greeting. II missed you this
afternoon when | raj home from the
office for a bite, 1 had the good news
to tell you, too, Guess!" And he
clasped bis strong, young arms about
her waist.
ooh. well, never mind. I'm 80 fun Of
II, I can't take time for you 10 have
three guesses. ! have landed the job
AZ the company's lumber mill In Louis
lana, Leave In the morning, Wonder.
ful chance, cutest little quarters, big
chance Tor advancement an every
thing" he finished in breathless eager
ness.
hit dotIng auntie's eyes filled with
teara, a proceeding unfamiliar to her
fond nephew. To him she a always
been the personfication OF success and
y%oInanlinesg combined; ever syfmpa.
thetic and the best u~nderstander a fell
low could have. Seeing the consterna-
ton In his face she made quick to ex-
lust a bit moonv tonight, a privilege
/ do not often allow myself am so
glad | could dance n jig for you. Only
Il Ia near Christmas, and l rather hato
To lose GU. II IL different from the
day you left for training camp Hhere
was Il pride and sort OF daze . .
helped that parting along hut THIS
seems no sort OF permanent. sever
mind, II isn't so far away, and you can
come home often"
Don s%lraighteued his shoulders and
threw back his head In a way that re-
! minded Cynthia foreihly 81 hts father,
her only brother, whose untlmely death
some years back had placed the boy In
his aunte care,
- reckon am about grown,
auntie, old dear. nut VIC mustn't. get
sentimental here. when have only n
few hours left. BY the way, your
worthless nephew has u toshy favor 10
ask OF you DO you mindY'
"Shoot, dear" answered his modern
aunt, with q twinkle Of her fine eyes,
'That ring you wear" he stopped
al the expression that crossed her face,
Yes. bow she managed to say, DO
you like it?'
"well. you have worn It ever since
| can remember, and II you don't MUD,
I should like It for a talisinan to start
out with, It Is the nearest to you
could have about me"
with an effort Nc could not tathom
Cynthia removed the Circlet and placed
Il on his finger.
II viii wish II on for luck. boy, dear
| had IL made Years ago, and there II
an inscription inside which ! had JUS
hs leave not explain, II Is nothing o
any moment, Just a reminder Of one
az the %silliest things I ever did, Not Q
word from YOU, dear, and do not re,
move II now that I have wished II on
until your happicat dream comes true
The next day u little rosewood BIO;
was placed IN q safety vault, with
pledge from It's owner never again 4
Indulge IN foolish Fetrospections, aud |,
dismiss certain things from her mind
An OF which was proof positive that
could not 10 done.
A hurried trim TO New York heipat
pass tho first 10 days OF the boys alb
sencc. Upon her return she found tw,
letters from him, one mostly about III
plant and tho bungalow where he wa
10 hang OUT and the country rouni
about. The second was more Of III
same, with an observation near N
close that Southern girls were worl
beaters. which led his astute aunt I
surmise that there must he one Of N
spectea right near, Her thoughts wer
confirmed within a few days, when
wildly enthusiastic. incoherent letter ar
rived, containing q description of sal
/, girl and pages IN her praise.
II liked her first when | learned he
? name was Cynthia" no wrote. The
.. she does things Ike YOU do, and looks
r little like you, too, She 10 tall and siir