The Press., 1920-02-12
Her En.gag nent Ring
CID By MYRTLE LEE
(Copyright, 1919, by the Western Ne"s-
 paper Union.)


 paper Unton)
 She had the daintiest, most slapely hand ever seen. and Earle Warren recognized it and flashed an admlrinS glance at the same as Neva Bul'dette sat drawing pictures for her little brother Ned on a rustic table in the garden pagoda. There had been lively merry lawn party, and await ing tea there was breaking up into various groups UnOStentatiously and from choice Earle had kept near to Miss Burdette and her close friends. Alice and MurieI Dodge, and their eS- cOrts Neva Lad been his partner at times and it had naturally followed that they had remained together.
 Little Ned had, however, discovered somebody's sketch book, had extracted some loose blank sheets and was in s;stent that Aunt Neva should amuSe him. She portrayed his favorite en- zine and train of cars, a horse. an au- tOmObile and an airplane. Earle in dcated an interest in this pictorial display, but Miss Burdette told Ned to hold his collection safe and tight, Objecting to it's preScntment on ac- count of alleged CrudencSS.
 "Just one more sheet" finally an nounced Ned "Oh. aunty! won't you let me draw something for you?'
 "Certainly, dear" assented Neva.
 Ned spread the sheet on the table. "NOw," he said, "I want to show you something we do in school. You just spread your hand down tight over the paper That's it. Now don't you move it." and with pride and ac- curacy Ned proceeded to trace the skeleton outlines of fingers and hand clear to the wrist. Then with Satisfac- ton he held it up to her view. 'Isn't that fine?" he challenged, and Neva smiled her approval, and just then some enc called to her from group little distance away, and she fitted with 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 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 a dearer one. Idly he took out his pencil and began mending the breaks Ned had made in the out lines. The pencil point crossed the third finger of the left land and rest ed there. In a whimsical frame of mind Earle began to trace a 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 a very fair diamond and started suddenly as a voice spoke directly at | his ear, and there was michief-eyed Alice Dodge leaning past his shoulder.
 'DraWng a ring on Neva's finger" 1" luttered this very clever young wOm- an. "Why, and you have given her an engagement ring, tool"
 "She deserves one," observed Earle quickly.
 "Bolder and bolder Oh, I shall tell her!"
 "Wait! wait!" dissuaded Earle, but the winsome sprite flashed away with a tantalizing laugh.
 Miss Alice did nothing of the kind. She was an Observant creature and | practiced as to matchmaking. It had been no task whatever for her to dis cover that Neva and Earle were in love with each other, but that her girl friend was shy and retiring and the ] lover seeking encouragement
 "I shall hurry things along" ve- hemenjly declared Alice, and a day or two later had an opportunity for plac- | ing a plan she had formed in opera ton. Neva had arranged to give a i party to which all of her friends, in- cIudng Earle, had been invited. Upon the day preceding it Alice said to her :: "NOW, NeVa, dear, you want to shine your brightest on this occasion. I am going to help you dress for the event and here-this will emphasize your magnifcence." and she pressed a ring upon Neva's hand.
 "Oh, nO!" demurred Neva instantly. "Why, you have placed it on the en- gagement finger!'
 And aren't you longing like every other live girl we know to have one there to stay?" and Neva blushed her prettest. Both of them met Earle the next day as they passed down the street As he greeted them he no- ticet. the brilliant on Neva'S finger.
 The party was an enjoyable occasion to all save the hostess, for Earle did not appear, nor did he come near the house for several days later.
 A week after the party he met Neva on the street It had been a wretched seven days for him.
 If you will stop for a moment at the Dodge home while 1 return to Alice this ring she loaned to me to wear at the party l will be very glad to accompany yOu," said Neva.
 The sky had been cloudy. Just then the sun came out. Earle's face had been grim and anxious. Of sudden it glowed with a rapturOus joy.
 "A ring fr"n myself shall encircle that fair finger before any one else gets ahead oi mel he fervently re- solved. and when those two returned | fret. Iir stroll along the lake mutual delight welled up in their hap | hearts.