The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-03-04
Her Engage
ment Ring

By MYRTLE LEE
,o,yrtxas. 1919. ~ th. western n.v,
psp>r CrtsaD

she had the daintiest. most shspei,
hand ever seen. ant Earle wsrrsr
recognized n and flashed sp adrnirins
glance AZ the same as Sevs BurSfe,ts
sat drawing pictures for her little
brother Ned 90 a rustic table In the
garden psgoda- There had been .
lively. merry lawn party. and svsit-
log tea there was a breaking up int
vsriOus groups. Unosteniatiousiy
snd from choice Earle had kept neal
to Miss Burdetie and her Close friends
Alice snd Muriel Dodge. and their -
cOrts Neva had been his ps1ner st
times snd u had naturally followed
that they had remained together.
Little Ned had however. discovered
somebody's sketch book. had extracted
some loose blank sheets aud was IN
ssient that Aunt Neva should amuse
him. She portrayed his favorite en-
giue and train Of cars. a horse. an au-
tOIBobile and an aiplsne. Earle in
dicated an Interest IN this pictorial
display. bat Miss Burdetie told Ned
70 hold bis collection safe and tight.
objectinE 20 Us prcsen,ment on ac-
count o. alleged crudeness.
Just One mone sheet finally an
nouDced Ned. ~Oh. auniy! won't you
let me draw something for your
Certainty. dear aSSenied Neva.
Ned spread the sheet on the table.
"NOw.- be said. Il want TO show you
Something We do in school. You
issg spread your hand down tigiI
"ger the paper. That's IT, Now don't
you move Il" and with pride and ac-
curscy Ned proceeded to trace the
skeleton outlines OF fingers and hand
clear 20 the wrist. Then with satIsfsc-
ton he held IL 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 little distance away. and she
diited with a conscious flush as her
glance met TINT Of Earle. betokenIng
interest mauifestly In all her move
ments.
you can have this. Mr.. Warren,
because you're such a good friend TO
Aunt Neys.- observed little Ned gen
ercHsly, extending the pencilIed sheet
1hes 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
fr1end and secretly hoped to make
some day q desrer one. Idly he took
oui his pencil and bsesn Iuending the
l~resks Ned had made In the out
ltln~s Tho r~ncil point crossed the
third nnger OF the left tand and rest
ed there. In whimsical frame Of
@ind Earle began ia tracs'a circlet
about the base ot that certsIn finger.
He smiled 10 himself rs he pleasantly
recalled that Miss Burdette wore no
ieweiry. predicting hopefully that she
was heart fire.. He gernned the ring
with very fair diamond and started
lsuddenly as q voice spoke directly at
his ear. and there was michief-syed
Alice Dodge leaning past his shoulder.
Drawing a ring on Neva's finger -
auIiered this very clever young wom-
an why. and you have given her
au engagement ring. too"
"She deserves one" observed Earle
aulctsly.
"Boider and boldsr! Oh, shall
tell her."
"Wnlt. whit :" dIssusded Earle. hut
the wlnsome sprite dashed away With
ianializing laugh
. Miss Alice did nothing Of the kind.
She wns an obseryant creature and
prnctlced as TO matchmaking. II had
been no task whatever for her 10 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" 70.
! hemently declared Alice and a day or
two later had an opportunity for plae-
ing = plan she had formed In opera
tiOn. Neya had arranged to give q
party TO which all OF her friends. In
Guiding Earle, had been Invited. Upon
, the day preceding II Alice said TO her
snow, Neya, dear. you want 20 shine
J your brightest on this occasion. am
= going 10 help you dress for the event
and here-this will emphasize your
magnificence. and she pressed q rin.
upon Neva's hand.
"Oh. mol" demurred Neva instantly
why. you have placed II on the en-.
gagement fnger!"
And aren't you longing like every
other live girl We know to have one
there to stay1" and Neva blushed her
prettiest Both OF them met Earle ths
next day as they passed down the
street As he greeted them he no
ticed the brilliant on Neva's finger.
The party was an enjoyable occasios
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 New,
on the street. II had been q vrstshs1
seves days for him.