New Ulm review., 1921-02-02
Her Engage
rnent Ring
@0
By MYRTLE LEE
Copyright. 1919. by the western News
paper Union.)

(Copyrtght, 1919, by the Western News
paper Unton.)
She had the daintiest, most SHAPED,
hand ever seen. and Earle WarreI
recognized it and flashed an admirins
glance at the same as Neva Burdetts
sat drawing pictures for her little
brother Ned on rustic table in The
garden pagoda. There had been /;
lively, merry lawn party, and await
Ing tea there was breaking up into
various groups. Unostentatiousll
and from choice Earle had kept neal
to Miss Burdette and her close friends
Alice and Muriel Dodge and their es
corts. Neva had been his partner al
times and it had naturally followe%
that they had remained together.
Little Ned had, however, discovered
somebody's sketch book, had extracted
some loose blank sheets and was in.
sistent that Aunt Neva should amuse
him. She portrayed his favorite en-.
gine and train Of cars, horse, an au-
tomobile and an airplane. Earle in
dicated an interest in this pictorial
display, but Miss Burdette told Ned
to hold his collection safe and tight,
objecting to it's presentment on &C,
count of alleged crudeness.
"Just one more Sheet finally an
nounced Ned. "Oh, aunty! won't you
let me draw something for your 4
Certainly, DEAR" assented Neva.
Ned spread the sheet on the table.
"Now,' he said, II 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 ae-
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 one called to her from a
group a little distance away, and she
fitted with a 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 a 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 hand and rest
ed there. In a whimsical frame Of
mind Earle began to traces a .cirelet
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 Il very fair diamond and started
suddenly as VOICE spoke directly at
his ear, and there was michief- eyed
Alice Dodge leaning past his shoulder.
u Drawing ring, on Neva's finger I"
zfuttered this very clever young woIn-
an. "Why, and you have. given her
an engagement ring, too"
"She deserves one," observed Earle
quickly.
i"Bolder and bolder! Oh, / shall
tell her!"
wait! wait" dissuaded Earle. but
the winsome sprite flashed away with
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 Neya and Earle were in
love with each other, but that her girl
friend was shy and retiring and the
lover seeking engagement.
II shall hurry things along" We
hemently declared Alice, and day or
two later had an opportunity for plac-
ing plan she had formed in opera
ton, Neva had arranged to give a
party to which all Of her friends, in
Guiding 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 ring
upon Neva's hand.
"Oh, mol" demurred Neva instantly
"Why, you have placed it on the en-.
gagement fingerw
"And aren't you logging like every
other live girl we know to have one
there to ,stay?" and Neya blushed her
prettiest. Both Of them met Earle the
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 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 wretched
seven days for him.
IF you will stop for moment al
the Dodge home while return, to
Alice this ring she loaned to me to
gearaat the party I WiHfbe very glad
to accompany YOU" said Neya. b