The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-02-11
Seeming a Romance

"Did you have q birthday or any
thing?" inquired the girl who was pin
ming remnant price tags on different
lengths OF ribbon.
"Who-me?" answered the young
woman at the lace counter with the
extremely blond hair. "Why?"
ooh, didn't know" rejoined the
girl at the ribbon counter. "Of course
there was Christmas. You might have
had 1t ever since then and not no
ticed it. only asked"
Whatever are you talking about?'
cried the girl at the lace counter with
elaborate carelessness. Really, Julia
,M'rees l don't see Low you expect
folks to understand you when you
don't talk plaineri"
Il never was any hand to crowd in,'
explained the girl at the ribbons. "If
my friends can't tell me things |
don't waat to know-not me! never
did like to be curious about other
peoples business and you know It. On
ly / thought I'd ask. Diamond rings
don't grow on bushes for the pickingI
You can't blame a person for noticing
headlight like that!"
"Oh!" said the girl at the lace coun-
ter, with faint blush. Il didn't know
you had seen 1t. l couldn't imagine
what you meant. Goodness-why
make a fuss over simple thing like
that?"
Tho ey;rI ,1;,,n;v,r - x4t1,ov,es ,,s,rc. q .,1,~k
Of choked crow. Simple" she echoed.
well, diamonds aren't SO terribly
simple. You talk as tho YOU used
them instead Of gravel for your walks
around your p'latial estate. Hattie
Doggett! OF course if people no
better'a am choose to put on airs
that's their own affair! Only my faith
en- Is city official instead of just
clerk like yours. He's a policeman
and he's taught us not to put on dogS
Just remember he says to as often,
that people will find out fast enough
the position I hold without you kids
bOaSting about it and don't act as tho
you were better'n other folks! Be
kind to them
''None OF our family would 60
around pretending diamonds was the
dirt under our feet, tho the land
knows we could have diamonds If we
wanted 'em! Not that we'd be foolish
as to spend hard-earned money for
Soolishness like that!"
II think said the extremely blond
young woman at the lace counter,
shat you are very sensible, Julia
Mree. Land knows when a girl is
so homely she hasn't any chance of
marrying she is wise to save up for
her old age! Not that I'm saying l
bought my ring myself"
Il don't suppose you did!' said her
friend, Il never supposed you ever
saw so much money at one time in
your life! It's awful, being so impro-
vident! Wen, If you didn't buy it l
suppose some one gave 1t to you-and
I must say that what any girl can
see in that sappy, weak-eyed pinhead
Of a Percy Fox that floorwalks in the
next aisle but one is beyond mel I'm
sorry for the girl that ties up to him
two-room flat for her for the rest OF
her life"
"Ye-es," agreed the blond young
woman at the lace counted. languidly,
Il don't think much of Percy myself"
"Oh!' said the girl at the ribbon
counter, somewhat blankly. 'Then he
didn't give 1t to you? ! don't like to
pry, but must say have my opinion
- = Svlrl ~x,J1< lraa.nc how offoi,.c frorrr
her best friends and never talks about
her steady company. I've told you all
about Oscar long ago. and you never
saying q wordi Any child would
know that fellow who gives q girl
a diamond ring expects to marry her!
don't suppose I'll even be invited to
the wedding! Not that / care-but
must say it's shabby way to treat
an old friend!
II don't want you to think that /
care in the least, Hattie Doggett,
about your affairs! / don't want to
s,nout your feenonsay, for he's
not OF the slightest consequence to
met I have plenty of interesting
things happening to myself to take up
my time. Only q girl can't be very
proud Of man she's ashamed to talk
about oven II he can afford to give
her diamond rings. which isn't any
thing they're In good taste when
they're al big as chunk Of ice!"
"You make me laugh" said the
blond young woman, turning her hand
so that the stone In question caught
the rays OF the arc light above. 1T
does sparkle, doesn't it? ia Just as
soon tell you as not about the ring.
Julia M'ree. My hid sister got it in a
stocking full Of candy and popcorn
and truck at a Christmas party and
maybe It cost ten cents. wore 1t
Just for fun"
'.H'm:" suspiciougly shifted the girl
who was pinning tags on ribbons
aWhy didn't you say SO before? ]
Il T<~<e