The Washington times., 1925-12-16

= = -
suppose she got it?'' Sam asked
when Mary Rose went back into
the kitchen. closing the door be-
hind her.
And while she racked her
brains for an answer, he went
on: a couple OF weeks ago /
gave her an engagement ring
not much OF a diamond, I'll adj
NIT. But the best / could afford.
Better than could afford, 10
tell the oastiron truth. And do.
You suppose she wears It? SlIea
does notr'
Mary Rose peeled tomatoes for;
salad in sympathetic silence.
81 wouldn't mind that 10 much,
Sam added miserabIy. ''But when
I see her with this blue stone on
her engagement finger, !. makes
me pretty darn sore, let me state
In passing! And she whit even
tell me where she got II! She
just laughs when I ask her. =
That night, when the two girls
were undressing for. bed, Mary
Rose spoke to Flossie about Sans
diamond.
why don't you wear it, dear?"
she asked. as she began to lay out
the clean clothes that both of
them were gonig to wear the next
day. "I think 1t hurts Sans
feelings to think that you're
ashamed Of it. And 1t seems to
me that when a man gives you a
ring. the least you can do it to
wear t."
Flossie, sitting on the edge Of
49, I.S1 81. >r,s,nH.Ad IaaY. ho4V
giggIed. We'll, then, what are
you kicking about? / am wearing
this one that Mr.. Dexter gave
mel" she said impudently, stretch
ing out her left hand so that Mary
Rose could see the sapphire CLAM
ing on It.
aDon't scoId me. / only put it
on tonight to get Sans goat" she
went on, land believe me 1t didw
Then her expression changed
like lightning. Anger swept over
it, leaving her bright-eyed and
pink checked.
Sold Sign
81 don't want to wear Sans
ringn' she said with one Of her
rare bursts Of frankness. No mat
ter what she said at other times
you could depend upon her telling
the truth when she was angry.
"And won't wear it," she add
ed taking off her, slippers and
kicking them violently into the
clothes closet. 81 hate it! ITS a
dingy. little thing! And 1t looks
Just what 1t is-cheap! cheap!
cheap! And, anyway wouldn't
wear II IL It was as big as an
egg! An engagement ring Is just
like a SOLD sign on the front
of a house. Nobody notices an
engaged girI-aIl the fellows know
there's no use wasting their time
She stood there, pouting like a
spoiled child, and not looking at
Mary Rose as she talked, buN
watching herself in the mirror Of
the old dresser.
why should 1 be engaged to
Sam. anyway" she asked. Here
am. tust throwing myself away
on q. man who makes fifteen dol
lars q week more than do!
Now, why should I tie myself up
to him? ask you'll"
Because you love him, per-
haps," suggested Mary Rose, as
she manicured her nails. There
was a shade Of sarcasm in her
low voice.
"oh, blah!. You're always talk
ing bout love, every time you
open your mouth these days"
Flossfe answered. "I suppose
it's because you're 80 soft about
John Manners, but get sick
listening to you! There's plenty
of other things In the world be.
sides love, Mary Rose Middleton!
And they're q lot more important,
toow
"What, for instance?"
CLOTHES, for instancei And a
good time, once in a while!" Flos-
sic cried. Tears of self-pity
sprang to her eyes. " 1t seems to
me I'VE never had any fun-and
nothing to look forward to but
settling down somewhere with
Sam JessuD. to scrub and clean