The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1920-05-29
Her Engage
nent Ring
~
By MYRTLE LEE
BY MYRTLE LEE
copyright. 1919. ~ the weston News
DA1s9 Uaisn)

DeDss uaisl)
She had the dnIntiest. most shapeiy
hand ever seen. and Earle Warren
recognized II and flashed an admitting
glance at the same ~ Neva Burdett0
sat drawing pictures for her little
brother Ned. on rustic table In the
garden pagoda. There had been ..
lively. merry lawn party. and await
In: tea there was breaking up Into
various groups. unostentationsly
and from choice Earle had kept nesr
to Miss Burtlette and her close friends.
Alice and Muriel Dodge, and their ~
corts. Neva had been his partner Mt
times and II had naturally followed
that they had remained together.
Little Ned had, however. discovered
somebody's sketch hook, had extracted
some loose blank sheets and was In
s.steDt that Aunt News should amuse
him. She portrayed his fav0rite en-
CINE and train Of cars, horse. nm su-
tonohile and an alrplane. Earle In
dictated an interest In this pictorial
display. but Miss Burdetts told Nod
to hold his collection safe and tight.
objecting to its prcsentment on &C
count Of alleged crudeness.
"Just one more Sheet" finally an
n0unced Ned. 'Oh. auntyi won't 700
let me draw something for Jour-
"CertainIy. DEAR" assentsd Neva.
Ned, spread the sheet on the table.
Now" he said. 81 want to show you
something we do In school. You
!ust spread your hand down light
over the paper. Thst'j II. 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 II up 70 her view.
"lsn't that hne1" he challenged. and
News smiled her approval. and just
then some one called to her from 4
group little distance away and she
fitted with a, conscious fush - her
glance met that Of Earle. betokenIng
Interest manifestly In all her move
ments.
"You can have this NJ. Warren.
because you're such good friend 10
Aunt Neva." observed little Ned gen
erously. extending the pencflled sheet.
Then he ran away after kitten -croee.
Ing the path. and Earle casuaiIy
scanned the very fine outline Of the
delicate hand Of the peerless creature
Of whom he was indeed the god
friend. and secretly hoped to make
some day . dearer one. Idly Ne took
out his pencil and began msnding the
brain Ned had made In the ont.
lines. The pencil point creased the
third finger OF the left hand and rsat.
ed there. In q whimsica1 frame Of
mind Earle began to trnce circiet
about the base Of that certain finger.
He smiled to himself ~ be pleaAantly
recalled that Miss Burdetts wore no
jewelry. predicting hopefully that shs
Was heart free. He gsmmed the ring
with very fair diamond and started
suddenly ~ voice spoke directly at
HIS ear. and there was mIchIef.eyed
Alice Dodge leaning past his shoulder.
"Dnwing q ring On Nsvas anger!"
duttered this very clever young wo,n-
an. why. and you have given her
an engagement ring. tool"
"she deserves one." observed Earle
quickly.
"Bo'der and bolderi Oh. I shall
tell her!" r-
"Walt! wait!" dlssuadsd Earle. Int
the winsome sprite flashed away with
tantai.xins laugh.
Miss Alice did nothing Of the kind.
She was an ObscrvRnt creature and
practtcesl 40 to match making Il 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.
Il shall hurry things along" re-
hemcntly declared Alice. and q day or
two later had an opportunity for plac-
Ing plan she had formed In opera.
tion. Neva had arranged to give Q
party TO which all Of her friends, In
Guiding Earle. had been invited. Upon
the day preceding II Alice sald to her:
"Now. Neva. dear. you want to shine
your brightest on this occasion. am
going to help you dress for the event
and here-this will emphasize your
nagniticence." and she pressed Q ring
upon NEWS hand.
"Oh. mol" demurred Neva instantly.
"Why. you have placed II 90 the en-
Ingement nnger!"
And aren't you longing ike every
other live girl we know to have enc
there to stnyf" and News blushed her
prettiest. Both Of them met Earle the
next day ns they passed down the
street. AZ he greeted them he no.
ticcd 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
honse Tor several days later.
A week after the party he met News