The Washington times., 1924-01-22

over her, she reached for the pin,
looked at It a long time-in
dream.
Finally she rolled It in a hand
kerchief, hid it under a night
gown in her bureau drawer.
During dinner the thought Of it
transfixed her as though its point
went through her brain. She
helped Jennie with the dishes,
talking eagerly, exerting herself
to unusual sweetness, as one does
when a sense of guilt separates
him from the things he loves.
She kept wondering with, nm
easy pangs, What shall do?"
She had an image OF herself
calling Jake on the phone, then
of writing q note, sending the
gift back. She did none Of these
things
Instead, she went in and undld
the box again, taking out his
card, staring at the four words.
Because / love you." or its Cwn-
accord. absently her mind began
to build, using Janina's white
Tipped comment as the keystone:
ut would be like Jake to fall
for you-the price of him" Jake
might wish to marry her; he
might really love her. Janina
meant that. The thought flushed
warmly-lit a soft, triumphant
fire in her heart.
But at night, when she lay in
bed, she was able to think coldly.
He had given Amy Heaton' a dia-
mOnd pin; someone said Edith
Aeidge had mate for 1t. Jake
was princely giver. Perhaps he
had written the same words to
them. She stole softly to the
bureau and. kneeling on the floor,
put the pin in the box and
wrapped it up.
Bitterness. like a rat, gnawed
at her breast. She would give it
back-she would have to. He
would be perhaps insulted.
And the high-exultant tide she
had ridden SO happily this last
month would ebb. She no longer
would laze down joyously in a
limousine--no longer be carried off
radiant to the best shows, elab-
orate dinners.
1t would end now. He had placed
his cards on the table. 1t meant
a showdown. She could no longer
bluff herself-no longer evade.
Men didn't give wondrous sapphire
pins just because they had
happy, friendly feeling for a girl.
There was but one thing to do.
She saw 1t quite pieFcingly.
But no sooner was the revelation
clear than she turned from ii
with the obstinacy of a child. Old
stuff! All right in Jennie's day
flowers, candy or books-nothing
else from man to a girl. No
one paid any attention to that
now. Even Jimmy gave her lit
tie turquoise pendant when she
was sixteen. She had it yet.
AS though Jake Munson gave a
second thought to a gift like that.
She would make herself ridiculous
refusing 1t.
The stones were beautiful-they
brought out gentle lights In her
eyes; they cleaned with chaste
passion against the white of her
waist. She needed a pin like that
she wanted 1t. Her imagination
took possession of 1t.
Later-if she discovered Jake
counted on the pin to win her; IL
he expected it TO make any differ
ence between them. why. she could
return it then. She could toss it
back with a Pooh, keep it!'
The next morning she happened
to glance from the window at
Barry Dunno, his head lowered,
pairing his nails, exactly as she
/. had seen him first. He looked
upward slowly, gave her a beck
oning wink. all glee, all buoyance.
She flushed crimson.
Her heart knocked with a guilty
rush, as though she stood before
him revealed; her thought cringed
before the high purity she imag-
ined his. She could have taken
the pin then and flung it from
the window.
At noon she vas rushing down
California street, excited by her
own unrest. She had her hand in
her pockets, covering the box with
the sapphires.
Someone bumped against her
put out arms to stop her. 1t was
Jake.
Like a spring her hand bobbed
up, the box with it. She thrust
it at him.. Here. Mr.. Munson. l
can't take this. / don't want it,
She faltered, expecting to see