The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1921-10-20
Joan's Jewel
Casket
By ROSE MEREDITH.

g, 1921, by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
Joan Gilbert leaned on the sagging
gate and surveyed the old homestead
with scornful eyes and rebelllous
mouth. This was the end Of it all, she
thought bitterly; back to the country,
to make a new beginning with no
capital, a Semi-invalid mother, trunks
full of beautiful clothes, many accom-
plishments, but no useful knowledge OF
how to earn living for two women
reared in luxury.
Poor dad" sighed Joan at last, as
she thought of her father, dead two
years, whose tangled business affairs
had just been unraveled to the last
knot and found to consist of nothing
There had been many debts-the
widow and daughter had sacrificed per-
sonal belongings, jewels, books, any
thing to meet these obligations, and
now they were to start free from
everything-even money. She laughed
a little at that
The sound broke the stiffness of the
neglected garden and catbird stole
out of the SNOWFALL bush and mewed
at her. Other bird calls answered, and
from the topmost Dough of pear tree
a wood thrush sang his hymn.
''It is lovely, after ALL" said the girl
resOlutely. I'm a wicked thing to
complain when I have mother, good
health, this fine old place Of Uncle
Andrews rent free and the world be-
fore me. I've never had time before
this to really hear the bird songs and
revel in the fowers-they have always
been just a part of the beautiful back
ground Of life against which l have
moved, a shadow girl. Now, to look
at the house and get at the cleaning"
She looked down at her slim, sun
tanned fingers, bare of rings, for she
had given up everything save a little
childish turquoise ring-a birthday
gift when she was seven. And Robert
LlOyds ring-that had graced the
third finger of her left hand-there
was only a circle Of white skin where
it had been. She had offered it to
Robert and, tragically enough, he had
taken it after vain protests.
81 want to be free" she insisted.
"Then you do not care for me- after
all?"
II shall be too busy for love-" she
had evaded, and so he had accepted
the release. She could not forget the
beaten look in his gray eyes as he
went away, but he was not rich and
she would not hamper his career with
her burdens, she told herself proudly.
when the white circle becomes
tanned like the rest, then l will have
forgotten" said Joan, as she entered
the gate.
Three weeks later Mrs. Gilbert and
Joan were comfortably ensconced in
the old house which Mr.. Andrew Ran
dali had rented out furnished for
number of years. Long ago it had
been occupied by Randalls and much
Of the solid old furniture remained to
be polished by Joan's vigorous young
arms, which had so deftly welded
tennis racquet and golf clubs. Her
dancing feet went tirelessly to and
fro, and when the house was restored
to it's genial Old-fashioned grace, Joan
turned her attention to the flower
garden and later to the kitchen gar
den behind the house. This latter
work was supervised by Jeremiah
Wade, their nearest neighbor, and no
mean henchman for two lonely women,
a maltese cat and an Airedale puppy.
you're amin to have a-plenty in
your garden, Miss JOAN" said Jere-
miah one evening as he sat on the
dividing fence and watched the girl
planting some late peas.
'T want to have more than enough
Joan anxiously; "Mr. Phelps, at the
Red house, will take all / have and
pay me the best market prices. [ am
selling him all my eggs, too"
That's right-Phelps pays the high
est prices-his boarders demand it
wish you luck, Miss Joan, you are the
Quickest gal I ever saw!'
"Thank you for that-it helps lot"
said Joan gratefully; "and you have
been so kind to mother, taking her
for a ride every day in your new
car"
'That amt nottingham new cars
for my friends and neighbors as well
as for myself-you know I'm an old
bach, Miss JOAN
'WhOSe fault is thatY"
'My fault and a little bit, maybe,
the fault of your great-aunt, Joan
Randall"
"NOw
Eyes, ma'am, and Joan being gone
these thirty years, aim not to change
my estate, but we did quarrel because
Joan had the most money! was
proud-and, well I've paid for it. Don't
you make that mistake. I've seen some
of those young fellers coming to see
you in those dashy automobiles, and
those fashionable girls with their
patronizing ways because you're sue
cessful woman farmer; don't let any
of 'em cut you off from the man you
Ia, 4hoI~ toe oh Tc