The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-29
The Daily Short Story

| sensible than some girls about it.
Most of them think they can't really
be engaged unless they have dia-
mond rings, but I've told you, Dick,
about the beauty Howard gave me,
and l don't feel that l could care
for another, unless it's just as good
don't you see.
But here Harvard, Harvard
square," interrupted her reverie;
so, impatiently gathering her pack
ages together, she fastened from
| the car and Joined the home-ebbfng
tide of tired humanity.
''Home"-she dreaded it, and yet
that was what she had promised to
make for Dick-a home. And she
had done it because she loved him.
How she had hoped in one of her
own there would no longer be need
of those little makeshifts to make
/ both ends meet.
She didn't want many things. but
what she did have should be OF the
best. Could she ever make Dick
realize how quality counted?
Anyway" she thought, as she
ran up the front steps, the money
Dick would have spent on en- insig-
nificant diamond will buy US some
decent parlOr furniture, something
to be proud of, instead of feeling
that l have to apologize for a cheap
ring. Tonight I'll make Dick I'M
derstand what 1 mean Of course,
he couldn't at first; he's never loved
any other girl and can't realize
that poor little diamond could re-
mind me of the luxuries l might
once have had"
But that evening she didn't tell
Dick. When she met him at the
door and he caught her in his arms
with How is my little girl to-
night?" certain boyish happiness
in the way he fingered on the my
forbade her bring up any unpIeas-
and subject. So, as lovers always
have done, always will do, they
spent the evening planning when
and how and where they'd build the
little nest in which love would
crowd out all the discomforts of
that hated economy. 1t was just as
he was leaving that Dick himself
referred to the subject of the prev
ious evening.
Doris, I've thought all day of
what you said last night about the
ring, and know you're right. the
way you look at it. l can't get you
as nice a ring as you ought to wear,
and because you've had one, you.
feel that you do not want another.
1 don't blame you, dear, and 1 know
I'm a fool for what I've done.
But, you see, we fellows some
times have as foolish ideas about
diamond rings being part Of an en-
gagement as some girls do. l guess
all of US sort of look forward to the
time when we can give one to the
girl-and, so-oh, you can't under
stand me, either. You said to wait
and buy you really good one, after
we are married, and can afford it,
but want to give you this right
now. I'm not asking you to wear
1t-Just to keep it so''-with little
catch in his voice, so, oh, because
1t is the best 1 can give you, and
L want you to have it Can't you
understand
Slowly he took from its velvet
box the ring whic hto him meant
SO much and to her meant-meant
more than all the Injuries repre-
sented, by the big, f1ashy stone she
had refused, or the furniture she
had dreamed of, for without them
she could live, but without what this
stood Tor she realized all else would
be in vain.
Suddenly the meaning of it all
swept over her, the bigger meaning,
and it was a shaky. sob-choking
voice that said: "Oh. forgive me
Dick. Now 1 do understand. and I
am proud to have it and wear If
always. II 1t isn't large and snowy,
it's all mine and true blua<