The Lamar register., 1920-06-16
E. PROMISE
RING.
By VICTOR REDcLIFFE.
Copyright. 1920. Western Newspaper uni0r

listen 10 lue lOT lnuiiitHt Dcipic hhS
others come around. I've wanted to
speak to you all this afternoon, but
did not have the chance. Miss Clare,
| shall be back In town next week.
Then you must find time to listen To
me about a matter that lies directly
next to my heart"
Pretty Myrtle Glare looked sur
prlsed, confused, almost frightened
II was at lawn party and all the
afternoon she had noticed Walter
Pierce tidgettIng about In her vicinity.
He was u quiet, bashful sort OF
Young man. and while he now spoke
the strain OF some deep emotion was
evident.
IL don't understand. Mr, Pierce,
said Myrtle, half surmislng that iu a
preliminary way he was making love
10 her.
Pierce was hurried almost inco-
~Lrrent, for at any moment others
might intrude upon the bush-shisided
spot where they were. He pressed
close to Myrtle In his agitation even
SELLING her hand and speaking In low
but vehement accents.
upon my telling you all T. he whis-
pered. III you fall me | shall be
wretched. IL will be next Thursday.
AT the little park spot where the juno
lion roads meet. oh. say that you
viii be there at two in the after
noon"
"But-why-I cannot comprehend.
But you will comef" implored
Pierce. "oh. say so Really. you
lnustl You are II good, kind-h-arted
girl. Everybody says so. Promise
Ah some one Is coming. Here. Take
This. IL Is pledge. II will be your
promise ring Next Thursday at two
o'clock
With that Pierce vanished as merry
voices told OF others approaching.
They passed by Myrtle without no
GIcing her. She stood rooted 10 the
spot. lost In a variety Of emotions she
could not subdue. She looked down
at the golden circlet with eyes won
dering and dIstended. A promise
ring generally covered an arrange
ment where an engagement In time
was to follow.
Had she pledged herself to Walter
Pierce through her silence and be
wildermentf All in rush Pierce
had fairly carried her on her feet.
She did not dislike him, but Lowell
Myrtle flushed and pulsated as she
thought VI Elwyn Brooks. who Of all
her young male acQuaintances was
most close to her ss a dear. dear
friend-and something more.
b.. haf Mr. pferre In
love with me-" she reasoned finally.
1t Is ridiculous to suppose SO. II he
was he had time to say SO. No. NO. !
won't believe II. 1t must be concern
ing something else he wishes to speak
to me about I'll wear the ring just
for the novelty OF the thing. and i
will meet him as he wishes Just be
cause l am curious and Interested.
Maybe he is In some trouble and
needs a counsellor. q consoler." and
gentle, innocent Myrtle tried to feel
quite sisterly and compassionate.
Her sister Vivian noticed the golden
circlet rs they were In their room
that night 1t had been placed on the
engagement finger and Vivtan's eyes
expressed decided interest.
Vivian was the exact opposite Of
Myrtle. She was OF regal beauty and
her manner did not make her ap-
proachable by the opposite sex. She
rather chilled by her supposed
hauteur. which, however. was really
the mask OF a warm. generous nature
but had become a confirmed manner
ism.
"A new ringf" she suggested inter
rogatingly.
why. yes: a promise ring. vivian.
IL belongs to Walter Pierce"
A half suppressed gasp issued from
the lips of Vivian. She paled. Then,
like one turned to marble. she pre-
tended to busy herself. putting away
the jewelry she wore and spoke not
another word. The mother Of the
girls entered the room at that moment
and the full effect Of the extraordinary
demeanor OF her sister was lost on
Myrtle.
And now trouble came to poor. sym
pathetic Myrtle. hint Of the prom
lse ring led to surmise and eIaggera-
tion and Elwyn Brooks received a dis
torted notion of the Circumstance. He
avoided Myrtle and the Glare home,
while Vivian became strangely silent