The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-06-29

few minutes later, when they
drove up before the Middleton house.
No-thanks, won't stay for sup
per, he refused her invitation to
come in. You've spoiled my appe-
tite for today. Good-by-"
She watched the black car with its
windshield and dustshields shining in
the slanting rays Of the sunset, as
he drove away.
Five minutes afterward, as she
struggled with can of peaches in
the kitchen, he appeared suddenly
at the screen door.
well, here I am. Ask me to stay
to supper, again, will your" he
asked, opening the door and coming
in. "Here-I'll open that can for
you'll guess I'm just plain foolish
about you, Mary Rose. The worse
you treat me, the better I like you,
and the more stick around. I hate
myself for it, too, believe mel"
She brought the cold roast of beef
from the icebox and began to slice
it. But he took the knife from her
and set to work, carving it with the
air of headwaiter. 81 just want to
show you what a handy man I'd be
around the house." he said, grinning
at her. you want to think twice
before you turn me down.
She shook her head slowly. Lets
not be sentimental any more today"
she pleaded. "You \carry the meat
In ord MT ~, tho 40 io will va,
And Flossie's in there, helping Sam
set the table. She says she has a
headache. Thinks it's from striking
her head on a stone or root or some
thing last week when she took her
famous dive. So If you have any
sugar pills out in your car, you'd
better give her couple
He disappeared into the dining
room and a second later Sam Jessup
put his head around the edge of
the open door. you alone?" he
asked in a stage whisper.
yes Mothers gone to Aunt Hen
ny's to borrow some cream Mary
Rose answered. whats on your
so-called mind, Sammy"
Sans round cheerful face grew
serious. IL just wish you'd go in
there" he 5erked his thumb in the
direction of the dining room, land
see what she has on her f1ngerr'
Whenever Sam said "she" in that
husky tone he meant ''Flossie.'
Mary Rose poured the canned
peaches into a glass bowl and carried
them into the dining room,
Toms gone out to his car to
get me some aspirin for my head
ache" Flossie said to her, without
looking ur from the howl of roses
Hillary Dexter's roses-that she
was arranging in the middle of the
supper table. On the third finger Of
her left hand sparkled the sapphire
ring that he had given her!
did you see 1t? Where do you
suppose she got it?" Sam asked
when Mary Rose went back into the
kitchen, closing the door behind her.
And while she racl1ed her brains
for an answer, he went on: "A couple
ment ring-not much of a diamond,
TIL admit. But the best could af-
ford. Better than 1 could afford, to
tell the castiron truth. y And do you
suppose she wears it?N She does
notr'
Mary Rose peeled tomatoes 'or
salad, in sympathetic silence.
II wouldn't mind that so much"
Sam added, miserably. But when
I see her with this blue stone on
her engagement finger, it makes me
pretty darn sore. let me state in
passing! And she won't even tell
me where she got it! She just laughs
when I ask her.
That night, when the two girls
were undressing for bed, Mary Rose
spoke to FTossie about Sans
diamond
she asked, as she began to lay out
the clean clothes that both Of them
were going to wear the next day. ct
think 1t hurts Sans feelings to think
that you're ashamed Of it. And it
seems to me that when man gives
you ring, the least you can do is to
wear it,
F'lossie, sitting on the edge Of her
bed as she combed her hair, giggled.
well, then, what are you kicking
about? ] am wearing this one that
Mr.. Dexter gave me!'' she said i'm
pudently, stretching out her left
hand so that Mary Rose could see
the sapphire cleaning on it.
Don't scold me. I only put it on
tonight to get Sans goat she
went on And believe me it didr'
Then her expression changed like
lightning. Anger swept over it,
leaving her bright-eyed and pink
checked.
IT don't want to wear Sans ringi'
she said with one of her rare bursts |
of frankness. No matter what she
said at other times you could de.
pend upon her telling the truth,
when she was angry.
And / won't wear itp' she added, !
taking off her slippers and kicking
them violently into the clothes
closet. II hate it! It's a dingy
little thing. And it looks just what
it is-cheap! cheap, cheap And
anyway, wouldn't wear it If 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 girl-all the fellows
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