The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-09-16

"Emeralds Two rings. Jack?"
Seven he corrected gravely.
"Amethysts for A. Rubies for r.
More emeralds for E. Sapphires for
s. And turquoise for T. What does
that spell. sweetheart?'
Dearest she cried. ooh, Jack!
Jack, you angel, did you think of
that yourself?"
All by myself" he admitted mod
estly. Can you get them all under
your knuckle?"
They just CO." she proclaimed,
slipping the turquoise circlet over the
sapphires. MY dear, it's the love-
Hest engagement ring a girl ever
hadl"
S~oft.footed Natsu stood at the door.
Mr.. Flynn" he announced.
"Oh, h~eavens!" she cried. I'D for
gotten all about Rita. That's how
much ! love you. Jack Wells"
She greeted Red Historically.
LOOK! I'm engaged! See my ring.
Oh, Red, I'm so happy mean I'm
80 miserable. What do you suppose
Bob's going to do with Rita?"
Red TOOK her left hand, and con-
templated the seven little sparkling
rings.
They spell DEAREST" she ex.
planned. Jack thought Of it him
self.
Darn clever" approved Red. $50
you're engaged to Jack tonight?"
"Oh. it's forever this time." she as
sured 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. I suppose
you've counted the cost?"
I'm Jacks sweetheart" she de-
clared demurely. I'm not q mathe-
matician."
But you know Bob will keep Rita"
Il know" Her eyes filled with tears.
But l guess Jack and I might have
a little girl of u own. OF course
she wouldn't be like Rita. But she
might be nice, don't you think SO.
Jack?"
Hello! What's this?"
AtCN AlQN OkA VlACO w LllC WAlIOOWs
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.
1T Isl" she cried.
She threw the window open, and
leaned out.
Rita! Rital"
The child looked up and waved.
Hello, mama!"
Natsu must have seen her first,
since he was On the doorstep waiting.
1t was he who carried Rita trium-
phantly into the house, and up the
stairs to Molly.
where did YOU come from, sweet
hearth"
"Daddy's going away" explained
Rita carefully. where little girls can't
go. It's on a big ship. And he said
you would take me for your little girl.
He wrote q letter. and / have 1t
pinned with a big safety pin. Daddy
pinned It himself, SO ! couldn't lose
It."
She unclasped the pin, and held an
envelope to Molly. Molly took the
paper out. and read aloud:
Il am going away. Will you keep
Rita until ! come back? It may be
for Q year, and may be forever. When
/ took her away today, / meant to
keep her with me. ! 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. /
hope you will be married and happy,
when I come back. Maybe then w
could be friends, and you wouldn't
have to hate me. 0oodby. and God
bless you."
Red cleared his throat.
THE poor sap" he said, and his
voice vas very gentle. Hes not such
Z bad egg after ALL"
I'm hungry" announced Rita prac-
tically. Daddy and I didn't have any
thing to eat, not anywhere"
I'll get her something" offered
Red. Il haven't eaten myself yet.
Want to corne out. Rita? I'll buy you
some Ice cream"
"Oh, goody!" 4.
She smiled beautifully. Daddy said
I'd feel better by and by. I guess
maybe he knew you was going to buy
me some ice cream, Uncle Red. ]
was crying like everything, but ne
said little girls always felt better BY
ana by. Is this by and by mamA?"
Molly smiled mistily.
II think 1t must be. dear"
\ \
When Red had gone, and taken
Rita with him, she went TO her desk.
and took out 4 copy Of Ashes O re.
sire.
Putting II in Jacks hands, she said.
This q Is yours. ! had IT bound
for you. But ] didn't think ] would
ever give It to you.
did you ever read about how Ros-
setti. when his wife died, buried his
poems with her? Years afterward
His friends persuaded him to have his
earlier verse published. But his love.
Hest things were In the grave. In the
cosket, With his wife. Then his friends
convinced him that she should have
the erave opened-and the casket.
And that she should take the beauti-
ful verses that had never been pub.
lished away from his dead wife's pos
session. 90 Rossctti did q they
urged.
"Dut. when the grave was opened. It
WAS discovered that his wife's hair
had grown around the little manu-
script In her hands. She had long
golden hair. and It had become loos-
ened. and had fallen down over her
shoulders. 70 take the verses away.
they had to cut the strands that had
tWtned themselves about the verses.
"Roeeettt,s friends did not tell him
| that, and the verses were published.
| They made Hossetti famous. But his
success Ma tinged with melancholy.
Years later someone told him the
story d the way his wife's hair had
grown around his poems. Then Ros-
setti went insane"
Molly paused
i NSeunAAt. 49, ~stssN avnANes r&r~s,S . -