The Coolidge examiner., 1932-06-17
The Ring
By JANNIS PARKER

9 He lay on the Indian blanket she
~ Tad bought from an old squaw
in Reno, Slid the slim wedding-band
from her right hand to the left hand
then back again, thereby confusing
the man, hidden in the sumac, who
watched her avidly.
His painter eyes loved the set. A
grove picketed by tall trees, a will
lowy girl in white reclining on a
bright blanket.
He completed the picture, he with
his shock of jet hair against the
flaming sulnac. his bright blue eyes
rivited spellbound on the unsuspect-
ing girl. Under the sustained pres
sure of his moccasined foot a twig
snapped. The girl swung around.
They stared, their tense poses shat
tered only by a startled blue jay
screaming through the woods.
Il thought you were in Europe"
she spoke in a throaty monotone,
her creamy cheeks and neck hotly
tinged.
I'm not" The man stepped from
behind the sumac, softly tread the
thickly packed pine-needles. Nor
am l shadowing you. l thought you
were in Reno.
II was"
There was an awkward pause.
Cant We reminisce awhile? II
can't be called collusion now that
we're nicely divorced"
She hesitated. what is there to
reminisce about?".
Il can think of something" plant
ing himself squarely on the blanket.
First, who told you I'd gone
abroad?"
Andy" She chose a tiny corner
Of the quilt.
$50 you still see him?" he
snapped.
Don't be ridiculous, Ronald.
Anoy is my adopted brother"
HE forgot that" he reviewed
past events. "All right-the man
loved you-he couldn't help It. But
he could have helped lettering
aroundl he with his legal mind
framing situations and buttoning
them on mel Then goading you till
you saw things that weren't there.
Why did you seek his advice? If
you wanted TO lose me why didn't
you tell me?"
She ignored this. "By the way,
haven't received your announce
ment."
The man was nonplussed.
Yours and Gert's," she explained.
Surely you remember Cert? Long
fair hair and the best back in the
country. You said so yourself"
Little idlotw The man roared up
at the clouds. How can you pre-
tend such thingsl l never have got
chummy with my models. Why the
unrelenting spotlight on me when
Andy led you around by that funny
little nose? Andy was a lawyer, dar-
ling, you shouldn't have believed all
he said. Didn't he just tell you I'd
gone TO Asia?"
No answer.
Because he wanted you himself
he imported fabric Of lies to hoist
over your vision and distort II. He
picked his time when | was shaving
on that fresco order, spending every
minute with my model You should
have been your usual sane self and
rallied an unknown painter doesn't
reap orders like that every day.
"You might have let me know
when you flung me back to the
worlds other women"
"What do you mean?
isn't 1t customry to let fellow
know when you're through with
him? When the matrimonial bond
is severed shouldn't an impressive
document go forth? Suppose l had
wanted to marry Gertrude?
He sighed and rose heavily to his
feet. maybe you're right. Remin-
iscing isn't so good. Instead of
switching that poor ring around why
not throw 1t away? Why, Ann
You're cryingl"
In an instant he was on his knees,
had gathered her Quivering form
close. 'Annsome PIT was his pet
name for her-"darling. don't heave
like that, you'll wear yourself out p
I've done something terrible !"
she sobbed.
He took his big handkerchief and
mopped her eyes. Sweetheart,
we're both in fog. Pull yourself
together. dear, you're marrying me
again tonight. l don't want to take
a woman to the altar who's crying
her heart out"
But Ann, muddled up In her own
straining confession. hadn't heard.
"Ronny. l couldn't get it on non-sup-
port. You provided beautifully. You
actually spoiled me-"
He stroked her hair. "I1l provide
better in the next world. Artists
aren't appreciated till they die"
ST o0IlIHn'f n ON arT1oItuf Ana