The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-10-09
Chapter Four
Freda's Ring

Freda's Ring
you might ten me who she {. /"
Freda sale finally.
Jerry turned to search the airTs
face There had been son1afninS
IN her voice that caught his AZ
tention- Freda Darlington was The
girl his name had ALWAYS been
linked with He had squirrel her
10 dances and made gay whirIs
OF night clubs with her. And
somehow she always showed up
at the places his family spent
their winters.
Ereda and her mother, the in
dulgent and very rich Toni Bar
1ngton, invariably arrived a few
days after the Winthropes had
settled In winter quarters. II had
been a acknowledgement thing.
and Ereda was a nice girl. jerry
admitted. She had been a grand
playmate.
Jerry glanced at her now and
was acutely aware of the large
square diamond on the third fin
ger OF her left hand. His diamond
he remembered the day he got it
for her.
He had driven Freda and her
mother back to their apartment
IN New York after weekend
with his mother In Westchester.
Mrs. Darlington wanted 10 pick up
bracelet she was having re-
paired at a fashionable jewelers..
Freda was intrigued by the dia-
mond display and the clerk, rec
ognizing her as the daughter of
one OF the firms best customers.
got out the ring that interested
Freda most.
Freda slipped it on her finger
and turned delightedly to Jerry.
Look. darling! ! just ache with
envy Of the girl who'll get tilisl"
Mrs. Darlington had breezed
along just then. Her blithe, care
less glance had gone from Freda
to Jerry.
We'll. why not now, Jerry?"
she had asked lightly.
Freda's eyes had questioned his
Tor a full minute.
why notl" from Jerry.
So FTeda kept the ring and the
price of it was put on Jerry's
fathers account.
Freda took off the ring and
there on Fifth Avenue insisted
Jerry make a ceremony of put
ting II on her finger.
"Now kiss mel" she commanded
imperiously.
Jerry kissed her.
You two darling idiotsl" Mrs.
Darlington said, laughing gently.
And people passing turned to
look and smile at the handsome
young couple so obviously in love.
Next day when he got home
he had told his mother about Civ
ing Freda the ring.
"Oh, darling, I'm so gladl" She
had stood on tipOe then and
kissed her tail. handsome SON
His mother and Toni Barring
ton had been girlhood friends.
Only Toni had been rich even
then, as the only daughter of the
owners of prosperous glass fac
tory at Shirley, Indiana. His
mother liked Freda. -.
who is she, Jerry?" Fredas
voice penetrated his thoughts.
Her name is Pamela" Jerry
heSitated. as If realizing for the
first time that he knew little
more about her than Just her
name.
"And she's the sweetest, lowell
est thing in the World!" Freda
finished for him, laughing. well,
/ suppose there are times when
that's all a man needs know about
a girl"
Dinner For Two
uER voice was light, but her
II eyes were on him with more
than a casual glance
"You haven't said a word to me,
Jerry" she continued. "You
haven't even noticed the dress
that ] put on purposely for you.
Mother made me buy it because
she said you'd like il. Can't you
put yourself out a little and say
something nice to girl once in a
while?"
Jerry looked at her then. Freda
was beautiful in a sleek, smooth
way. She was always dramatic as
to dress.
you're magnificent tonight.
Freda," he said obediently.
''Therel That's much betterT
she smiled. "And now aren't you
going to ask me 70 dances"
''Of course. FEeda-"
They danced. Then Jerry was
back beside Pam, claiming her
from the little group of young
men milling about her.
He insisted upon dinner at the
hotel. you owe me that, ne
urged when Pam suggested home,
'for all the time I've let you
spend with these other fellows.
Pam said then she must tele-
phone Melita- She always let Me-
lita know when she wouldn't be
home for dinner so Melita
wouldn't wait and spoil her own
evening.
Jerry smiled whimsically. "All
right" ne said. you've got some
quaint tricks. but / like them.
And he did, he reflected, as ne
slipped the coin in the box f9r
her and waited while she talked.
She was so refreShingly differ
emit So sincere and considerable