The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1932-07-22
The Ring
by JANNIs PARKER
90 by Mcclure Newspaper syndicAts.)
fWNTY 0arv3raN

bAoNS pASActcu uy tdAl lKSea, VIII
lowy girl In white reclining on a
bright blanket.
He completed the picture. he with
his shock Of Jet hair against the fam
Ing sumac, his bright blue eyes riv-
eted spellbound on the unsuspecting
girl Under the sustained pressure Of
his moccasined foot twig snapped.
The girl swung around They stared,
their tense poses shattered only by
startled blue-jay screaming through
the woods.
Il thought you were In Europe"
she spoke in 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 shadowing you. I thought you
were in Reno"
II was"
There was an awkward pause.
Can't we reminise awhile? 1t can't
be called collusion now that we're
nicely divorced"
She hesitated. "What IL there to
reminiss about?"
II can think Of something" plant
Ing himself squarely on the blanket.
First, who told you I'd gone abroadY
Andy" She chose a tiny corner Of
the quilt.
$50 you still see him?" he snapped.
Don't be ridiculous, Ronald. Andy
II my adopted brother"
"He forgot that" he reviewed past
events. "All right-the man loved
you-he couldn't help 1t. But he could
have helped lettering aroundi 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? II you wanted to lose me
why didn't you tell me7"
She ignored this. "By the way.
haven't received your announcement" !"
The man was non-plussed.
"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 idiot! The man roared up
at the clouds. How can you pretend
such things! l never have got chum-
my with my models. Why the unre-
lenting spotlight on me when Andy
led you around by that funny little
nose? Andy was a lawyer, darling, you
cn 1dvsf halt oil hn
Didn't he just tell you I'd gone to
Asia?"
No answer.
Because he wanted you himself he
imported q fabric Of lies to hoist over
your vision and distort 1t. He picked
his time when l was slaving on that
fresco order, spending every minute
with my model! You should have
been your usual sane self and real
lied 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 customary to let fellow
know when you're through with him
When the matrimonial bond is severed
shouldn't an impressive document 60
forth7 Suppose had wanted to mar
ry Gertrude?"
Never mind" he continued ten
deriy, his tone sent the blood surging
up her neck, II never wanted to
know"
He sighed and rose heavily to, his
feet. Maybe you're right. Remin-
Using isn't so good. Instead Of switch
ing that poor ring around why not
throw 1t awayf Why, Ann! You're
crying"
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"
1--WE done something terrible r. she
sobbed.
He took his big handkerchief and
mopped her eyes. Sweetheart, we're
both In a fog. Pull yourself together,
dear, you're marrying me again to-
night. don't want to take woman
to the altar who's crying her heart
out"
But Ann. muddled up in her own
straining confession, hadn't heard.
"Ronny, I couldn't get it on non-sup-
port. You provided beautifully. You
actually spoiled me-"
he stroked her hair. 'Tll provide
better In the next world. Artists
aren't appreciated till they die"
II couldn't get 1t on cruelty! And
/ knew 1t wasn't another woman. AL
though / could have clawed out that
Gertrude's eyes the way she oogled
you"
His voice was soothing "She only
o0gled me, dearest, because was the
only artist who hadn't oogled her.
Why did his honor take pity on your
She lifted woe-be-gone eyes. 81
went all the way to Reno, went
through all the motions, and them
couldn't accuse you unjustly, could L?
And couldn't make up anything hor-
rid, not about you, Ronny-so I didn't
20 through with It." She shifted.
whatever you want to do now I'll
abide by"
Do Ronny, radiant and incredulous,
took the slim wedding band from her
right hand and put 1t where 1t be-
1cnged.