The Press., 1922-03-30
Joan's Jewel Casket
By ROSE MEREDITH.


 thought bitterly; back to tine country to make new beginning with no capital, . semi-invalid mother, trunks : full of beautiful clothes, many accom- plishments but no useful knowledge of how to earn a 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 aTalrs had just been unraveled to the last knot and found 10 consist of nothing. : There had been many debts-the widow and daughter had sacrificed per :, sOAal, belongings, jewels, books any thing to meet these obligations, ana now they were to start free from ! everythfnE-ev&n money. She laughed a little at that.
 The sound broke the stiffness of the neglected garden. and catbird stole out Of the snowbaIl hush and mewed at her. Other bird calls answered, and from the topmOst bough of pear tree a wood thrush sang his hymn.
 "It is lovely, after all," said the girl reSOlutely. "I'm 8 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 have moved, a shadow girl. Now, to look of hn Cl She looked down at her slim, sun |; tanned fingers, bare of rings. for shei had given up everything save ltttlei childish turquoise ring-a birthday. gift when she was seven. And Robert; LlOyd's ring-that had graced the: third finger of her left hand-thereI was only a circle of white skin wherei it had been. She had offered 1t to. Robert and, tragically enough, he had taken 1t after vain protests.
 "I want to be free" she insisted. Then you do not care for me, after anF"
 '.I shall be too busy for love-" she had evad0d, and so he had accepted; the release. She could not forget the beaten lock 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, ss she entered the gate.
 Three weeks later Mrs. Gilbert and Joan were comfortably enscOnced in: the old house which Mr. Andrew Ram daI had rented out furnished for 8. number of years. Long ago 1t hadi been occupied by Randalls and much: of the solid old furniture remained to. be polished by loans vigorous young arms, which had so deftly wielded 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, n maltese cat and an AtredaIe puppy. You're aimin' to have a-pienty 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 T want to sell some vegetables said Joan anxiously; "Mr. Phelps, at the Red house, will take all l have and pay me the best market prices. am selling him all my eggs, too That's right--Phelps pays the high est prtces-his boarders demand ir--I wish you luck, Miss Joan, you are the pluckiest gal ever saw" -.
 Thank you for that-it helps lot," said Joan gratefully; "and you have been so kind to mother, taking her for q ride every day in your new car" >
 That ain't nOthing-that new cars for my friends and neighbors as we'll as for myself-you know I'm an old bach, Miss JOan.'
 Whose fault is thRtT'
 "My fault and a little bit, maybe, the fault of your great-aunt Joan Randall"
 "NO!"
 'sYes, ma'am, and Jean being gOnR these thirty years, aim not to change my estate, but W0 did quarrel because Joan had the most money-I was proud-and, well, I've paid for it. Don't you make that mistake. I've seen some of those young fellers coming tc see you iD those daShy automobiles, and those fashionable girls with their patronizing ways because you're a sue cessful woman farmer; don't let any of 'em cut. you off from the man you love, if there is such a man. Is there ? He looked at her shrewdly.
 Joan looked at the circle on her left hand. It had tanned somewhat, but the surrounding tan had deepened SC that the circle was still visible.
 "I haven't time for that" said JOal soberly, and Jeremiah said something under his breath and went home al once.
 Mrs. Gilbert'S health steadily i'm proved in the fresh country air, and sometimes she even helped Joan in the
 garden. These were precious Occa SiOns to be celebrated with little sup per at which Jeremiah rreGUehtIyl ap- pearGd, immaculate in his best blue serge clothes. He and Mrs. Gilbert talked of old times.
 ''I don't mind anything else, but l did want Joan to keep her jewels" she murmured one night.
 Jewels? Dora Gilbert, what better jewels did you wish for her than the golden tan of health, the sapphire of her sparkling eyes, ruby lips, pearLy teeth-and diamOnds-DOra, the child'S heart is pure diamond"
 "Jerry, am glad you think so; and we are so happy wish my poor husband had given up the business years ago and retired to the coun- try"
 ttWhat aPe VOu thlkinR ahnufS