The Press., 1920-03-18

and as he got free or the mousse idteI felt in his pocket and produced worn gold ring with an empty setting. II had held a small diamond thirty years back when he had given it to Martha. She had never taken it off her finger through twenty-nine years of welded life until the little sparkling stone was missed one day. She had grleVed over the loss, but the most persist ent search failed to disclose any trace of the. diamond.
 "Poor thing!" soliloquized Ezra She took it to heart terribly, although she said little Martha always looked up on a diamond ring as sort ot certl1- icate of responsibility. Then too' slie knew it meant a lot of scraping ana saving to get it in the old days.
 These days had not been any ne'ter as to worldly gain for the 1al'hl"l plodding pair Many time Ezra hao thought of trying to replace the 'os' diamond, but could nevc" quite spare the necessary amount. Now' however. he hummed cheery little snatch ol song and smiled to himself.
 "Martha hasn't mentioned 1t, ne soliloouized, "because she is afraid that can't do much for her, but this is our thirtv-fifth wedding anniversary. Well' Pm glad can provide little surprise for her. With our two married glrls living three states away and Kandai tossing on some distant ocean, or Wah- dering in Asia, or worse, Martha wants something to break the mon0tonY. I'm going 10 squeeze out enough to fix up that rin~ if it does make me hard up | for a year to come. 1 wish l could | make it a piano, too. How Martha longs for one, and the other night Just set me all stirred up
 Upon that "other night at neigh | bOr's for perhaps the first tune III twenty years Martha had been induced to touch the ivory keys. She was all a tremble as she quivered over faint, i frightened rendition of "Iove's Old Sweet Dream" How the longing notes revived the past with Ezra What a delicious flush crossed the gentle re- fined face of Martha! As he thought of the old cheery parlor organ at nome with it's wheezy bellows and broken keys he almost cried.
 Ezra dropped into the village jewel ry store. Its proprietor was seated at a table in the rear room upon which a stranger, suggesting a travelling sales man, was exhibiting some stores spread out upon a sheet of delicate white tissue paper. Mir. Drake came out promptly behind the showcase.
 "I want you to fix up this ring with moderate-priced diamond. spoke Ezra and went over it's history. Then the flood gates of feeling wide open he descanted tenderIv upon Mhlthi and her piano playing. "Nhat Will { stone cost me-" he questioned. "Ii pay little down and the balance along"
 Hold on-don't you know me?"
 The stranger rubbing his coat sleeve across his eyes. came forward. H' confronted Ezra. who gave q grea gulp and fairly Iurchcd into the arm of the other.
 "Randal n' he cried. "Oh. what vii mother say! My boy! my boy! Bacl home and safe, and on such day our tEirty-fifth wedding anniversary.
 "YcS. father, it's me. and I've go half hundred diamonds for you t. pick from. l was just trying to sel some. tlst. though. we'll select tn very finest one for mother. They rep resent my luck in the Transvaal dis trict. And about piano, now ii: things up right v
 Just before noon meSSenge l brought Mrs. BOyden small package It contained the old ring adorned wit
 a dazzling. glowing diamond.
 Her breath nearly left her. "Fror your loving husband,' read an accOn
 Danying note. twill bring frien home to supper with me-" and Martin sat down and cried.
 Later there arrived q piano, and a , Martha opened il card lying upo the keyboard read: "All yours-froI
 a friend.'
 Just at dusk Ezra and Randall neal
 ed home Through the lighted parlC window they could note wife and mott CT seated at the piano. a picture ( mature grace and beauty.
 Her face was radiant. To the swee
 notes of "LOve'S Old Sweet Dream the diamond glow shot hither an
 thithcr. She came to the door as Ra1
 dal knocked. The ringing, gladSOm
 cry of a woman glorfied rang out g she claSped the stranger who had com