The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-09-02
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Ay ELEANOR EARLY wy @ 1920 By NEA lne
@ 1920 By NEA Jervice Ire.

nstly. Can you get them all under
your knuckle?"
They just CO." she proclaimed,
clipping the turquois circlet over the
My dear, it's the lowell
nst engagement ring q girl ever
had"
Soft-footed Natsu stood at the
door.
Mr.. Flynn he announced.
"Oh, heavens" she cried, I'D
forgotten all about Rital That's
how much I love you, Jack Wells. :"
She greeted Red historically.
Look! I'm engaged! See my
ring. Oh, Red, I'm so happy! 1
mean I'm SO miserable. What do
you suppose Bob's going to do with
l2ita?"
Red took her left hand, and con-
templated the seven little sparkling
rings.
They spell DEAREST" she ex-
planned. Jack thought of it him
'elf."
Darn clever" approved Red.
so you're engaged to Jack to-
night?"
ooh, it's forever this time" she
assured him. you know yourself,
RED, I never loved anybody else
but him."
Red shook hands with Jack, and
kissed Molly.
I'm glad he told them simply.
This is the first sensible thing
you've done in a long time, Molly.
T. suppose you've counted the coSt?"
I'm Jacks sweetheart" she de-
',lared demurely. I'm not mathe-
matician."
But you know Bob will keep
Rita"
IT know" Her eyes filed with
tears. But I guess Jack and I
might have a little girl of our own.
Of course she wouldn't be like Rita,
But she might be nice, don't you
think so, Jack?"
Il II
H EELLO' What's this?"
L 4 Red had strolled to the win
dow, and was looking down the
street.
Isn't that Rita running along the
sidewalk? She just left that taxi
On the corner"
Molly flew to the window.
ut isl" she cried.
She threw the window open, and
leaned out.
Rita! Rita"
The child looked up and waved.
Hello, mammal"
Natsu must have seen her first,
since he was on the doorstep walt
ing. It was he who carried Rita
triumphantly into the house, and
up the stairs to Molly.
Where did you come from,
sweetheart"
"Daddy's going away" explained
Rita carefully, where little girls
can't go. It's on big ship. And he
said would you take me for your
little girl. He wrote a letter, and
have it pinned with a big safety
pin. Daddy pinned it himself, so
I couldn't lose it,
She unclasped the pin, and held
an envelope to Molly. Molly took
the paper out, and read aloud:
II am going away. Will you keep
Rita until I come back? It may be
for year, and may be forever.
When I took her away today, I
meant to keep her with me. I guess
all I need say is that I changed my
mind. I am going to Australia. I
reckon that's the farthest place
away there is. I hope you will be
married and happy, when I come
back. Maybe then we could be
friends, and you wouldn't have to
hate. Goodby, and God bless you."
Red cleared his throat.
THE poor sap" he said, and his
voice was very gentle. Hes not
such bad egg after all"
I'm hungry" announced Rita
Daddy and I didn't
have anything to eat, not any,
''I'll get her something" offered
Red. 81 haven't eaten myself yet.
Want to come out, Rita? I'll buy
you some ice cream"
"Oh, goodyl"
She smiled beautifully. Daddy
said I'd feel better by and by. I
guess maybe he knew you was 60
ing to buy me some ice cream, I'm
Gle Red. was crying like every
thing, but he said little girls al
ways felt better by and by. Is this
by and by, mammal"
Molly smiled mistily.
Il think it must be, DEAR"
VXTHEN Red had gone, and taken
w Rita with him, she went to
her desk, and took out a copy of
Ashes OF Desire.
Putting it in Jacks hands, she
said. This one is yours. I had it
bound for you. But I didn't think
I would ever give it to you.
Did you ever read about how
Rossetti, when his wife died, bur-
led his poems with her? Years
afterward his friends persuaded
him to have his earlier verse pub
lished But his loveliest things were
in the grave. In the caSket, with
his wife. Then his friends con-
WINGED him that he should have the
grave opened-and the casket. And
that he should take the beautiful
verses that had never been pub
lished away from his dead wife's
possession. So Rossetti did as they
urged.
But when the grave was opened.
it was discovered that his wife's
hair had grown around the little
manuscript in her hands Che I,o5