The Press., 1921-04-21

"I heard you were married" the girl remarked, avoiding the young mans gaze. "Did your wife come with you
 The clerks face indicated surprise. You did? Well, you heard wrong. Look at this"
 His fingers were busy with his watch chain, and presently he held up tiny gold ring with a setting in which a white stone gleamed.
 The girls eyes sparkled as though refiecting the stones brilliance.
 '"The one I had" she breathed.
 ''True enough. When l left your house that night, three years ago, l hurled it into the street; but after walking half block I came back, found it shining in the dark, picked It up and-Fve been wearing it on my chain ever since"
 r. How funny" she calculated, her face a deep crimson. "What for?"
 "Oh. I thOught-well, to tell the truth, Ruth, came back here hoping I might return it to you. But l heard you were engaged already, were going l to be married next month" Her eyes lowered and watched her fingers trace an intricate, meaningless figure on the counter.
 "I was" she said, and there was catch in her voice. "When l didn't get any mail from you, and when l heard you were married 1 accepted Ralph Henderson's proposal l didn't really love him, but he was so persist ent and was heartsick.
 "After year, began to care Tor him. or thought did. because he seem ed to have braced np and become man. Just a month ago he broke a promise to me- and he did 1t again two weeks ago, after I had given him an other chance. Then. day before yes terday, I got letter from him saying it wasn't any use, and furthermore that he had met girl he liked better so-sO-I am sending back his ring.
 She looked away. and her foot tapped the floor.
 That's too bad" he said, cOnsOling- ly. "Pm sorry about those letters Ruth. I really wrote three. and learn ed only a month agO-just before came EaSt-that the man l gave them to to mail was drowned in the COlum bia on his way to Portland"
 And so the package is worth a mil lion dollars to yOu?' he added.
 She had been looking away, but she turned on him. almost tiercely.
 ''NO. it isn't! 1 know now that never did really care for Ralph. simply let my pity run away with me I knew all the time that you How about my change?
 He left the window and returned with it. He extended the chang' through the window and she placed it in her purse. His hand remaine' through the window, close to hers. ant she saw that the ring from his chaiI encircled the tip of the index finger
 Their eyes met and a three years barrier crumbled. She placed the til of her left third finger against hi fOrefinger. and he tilted his hand S the ring slid onto hers.
 Shall I call tOnight?" he asked.
 "YOu shall" she agreed, and presse his hand "And don't forget to mai lmy package"
 She turned away and nearly ran int the old man with the scarf.
 Beg pardon, miss," he said, bOwin awkwardly. we almost had a cOllis ion. Nice day, ain't it?"
 He held a letter in his hand.
 "Fine day 1t is-a glorious day" sh responded, and her face was lighte with smile that harmOnized with he oG AI,o ShnH s show you where to drop the letter? D Back at the registry window tn clerk was laughing unashamed at tn open drawer, which was full of chang , and had been all the time.