The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-15
EUening Story
His Phantom Fiancee.
BY LILLIACE NJ. MITCHELI


fallen in love with him and had at the
he wore on the fourth finger Of his
left hand.
i've seen men with wedding rings"
said Sadie Thompson, but I must
confess that 1 never before saw one
wear an engagement ring"
Altho he was jolly and always ready
with a joke, it was two weeks before
any one had asked him about the
ring. There was an aloofness about
Merton that was not to be denied in
spite of his carefree camaraderie.
Sadie Thompson had never been bash
full with any one before, but even she
could not seem to break thru the So
cial ice that he formed with no APP
parent effort.
You ask him, Myra." she urged.
Myra flushed and shook her head
Myra never asked questions of any
one. And so it was Sadie who blurted
out across the table one night;
Is that an engagement ring, Mr..
Merton?"
He nodded. THAT'S what it is" he
responded easily. My firm sent me
out to India last year. India is a re-
markable country-full of rare things,
Jewels exquisite flowers from which
perfumery is made and
And beautiful girls?"- suggested
Sadie.
Myra glanced anxiously at Merton.
who was again nodding in acqui-
escence. 81 had some letters of intro
duction and stopped at the home of
one of the officials of the government
His daughter was a pretty little thing
just eighteen"
Myra, who was now twenty-four,
felt sudden hatred of the pretty lit
tie girl of India, felt Jealous of the
scant eighteen years. Merton had
been in the boarding house only two
weeks and yet Myra felt as tho she
had always known him, had always
been waiting for him. And now he
said frankly that the ring he was
wearing was an engagement ring
Myra's love world seemed to be tum-
bling about her ears, and she stum-
bled into the living room without
waiting for her dessert. She thought
that never again would she speak to
Merton. Yet when he came into the
living room she found no good reason
for refusing to speak to him.
And so the weeks went on until
Merton had been there six months. He
and Myra would sit for hours talking
over the business that filled their days.
1t was one night early in December
that he entered the dining room jubi-
iantly.
"Myra." he called, just as she was
sitting down, 'ean you come here
minute?"
She went to the door,
I've a letter-came this afternoon
u tried to get you on the phone, but
you weren't there at the time he
shook his head as the table buzzed
with conversation about soup and poll
tics and street car fares. come, let S
have dinner outside tonight. We can't
talk in all of this babble."
Myra'S heart fluttered.
I'm to go to the New York offices
next week" he said.
Myra's cheeks paled: For good ?"
she whispered.
'I sure hope so,' he said -exeitedly
To Myra it did not seem possible
that she could stand his going. She
had grown so to depend upon the long,
happy evenings when they discussed
their mutual interests and books that
they read together that she slowly
drifted on and on, thinking more and
more of him each day. And now it
was all to vanish like mists of the
early morning.
Across the table at the restaurant
she watched him talk. He had a slip
of paper beneath his hand upon which
he sketched rapidly as he talked. That
was habit of Merton's. She tried to
see what it was he was drawing, but
the vase Of pink roses between them,
which he had pushed toward his right
hand, obscured the paper. Finally he
looked satisfied and slipped it into his
pocket.
Its a wonderful chance" he said as
they rose after the meal. TT means
that now I can marry and have little
bungalow with rose vines and bushes,
a little garage in back with a car, trips
to the theater into town on winter
evenings-and fireplace, Myra, with
pictures in the flames"
Outside he called a taXicab, much
- - i1JTranpd n
your fiancee-" began Myra.
He turned to stare at her. and she,
in turn, dropped her eyes to the ring.
which he had said was an engagement
ring. 1t was gone.
Your. ring she said.
He put his hand in his pocket. TITS
all ready for my girl" he said eXult-
antly. '"They fixed it up for me this
afternoon. [ told them I was in a
great hurry He took her hand and
slipped a ring on her fourth finger.
MyFa pulled away. But you said
you said it was an engagement ring"
she let fall.
1T was I bought it for the girl
should marry when 1 was in India. 1t
was so beautiful, and I knew that
some day I'd meet you and be glad
that I had it ready for you"
But 1 thought" said Myra.
you thought that the little girl in
India was my fiancee,P he laughed,
land I let you. because I couldn't say
anything before 1 had a home to offer
you, dearest. You see, I had sort of
a phantom fiancee, so that if you
you know-loved some one else 1
should never have tied you down with
promises to a failure like me. But
now"
Myra thought of all of the black
nights she had had thinking of the
little girl in India, and recalled the in
tense jealousy that she had felt to-
ward the unsuspecting girl. Then her
lips curled upward happily. Perhaps.
after all, her present moment of &C.
stacy was greater because of the con-
trast.
And now I have a real fiancee,
haven't u" asked Merton anxfously
as she was silent