The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1901-01-31
:. THE ~OTHER MAN. :.


l.
00 E stood on the brink of the preci-
I6l pice and looked over. Three hun
SS dred feet below him the sea broke
on the somber rocks.
The mans muscles tensioned and he
drew a deep BREATH What an easy
way to end it all. Just one little step
those rocks below We're no bungiers'
they would make no mistake over their
work. and the sea would tell no tales
and then-then he would be away from
It all, and would never have TO bear the
agony of hearing that she was married
to Everett.
Married TO Everett-married to Ever
EFT! The words changed in his ears
He groaned aloud and bent hastily
over the edge.
A mist came before his eyes and his
breath rose in a choking heave to his
throat: the ground rocked sickeningly
beneath him, and for one dizzy second
he thought he was falling-falling
down tha. interminable space.
Then the mist passed, the ground
stopped rocking and he Sasped with
relief to find himself still standing safe
and sound on firm earth.
He turned away with a scornful
laugh at his own weakness.
Home again, he flung himself into an
easy-chair and Lit his pipe. resolved to
give way no longer TO morbid imaS-
inings.
He picked up a magazine. but his
thoughts fiew on at a tangent TO the
dance which was to take place that
very evening, to which he had been
invited.
He had vowed not TO see her again
till he could settle once for all the dem
ON OF unrest within him, and a crowded
ballroom was the last place for impas-
stoned avowals.
He thought how cool and beautiful
she would look in her white muslin,
with her fuffy golden hair framing her
sweet little fiower-like face. Perhaps
ne would 60. after all. Then q second
figure rose up to spoil the picture
handsome. happy-go-lucky Everett,
with 4 merry word for everyone.
dancing untiring attendance on the fas-
cinating hostess and never leaving her
side for q moment.
How dared he take possession OF her
In that way, And how could she put
up with II, unless
His pipe-mankind's universal baby
bottle-for once failed utterly in its
mission Of soothing. He tossed it an
griiy across the table and buried his
face in his hands, lost in whirl of mis-
erable conjectures.
His thoughts Few back to that dance
! one week ago-one week so crowded
with hopes and fears that it seemed a
lifetime
He remembered those two dances,
he music, the scent of flowers in the
conservatory, and, more distinctly than
al, the laughing face of Dolly.
Then those few overheard words
rushed through his brain. He clinched
his fists and his face flushed at the rec
election. He had drifted from the ball
lOOn ~ A9C SOncCA VO0A0 sue
consent? That was the question that
throbbed in his brain. Should he say
the words that would decide his future
life and hers? He had puffed at a ci-
garette. and stared at the thin wisps
of blue smoke. Would his hopes fade
into nothingness as that fragrant
smoke faded and vanished into airg
And then he heard people talking. He
recognized 1.-The voice Of Everett, and
then Dolly's. They were seated on the
had not seen him as he sat almost COM
cealed behind a tangle Of palm leaves
Dolly" Everett was saying. You
must say Yes My whole life depends
upon it. We have been chums SO long.
Say you will and make me the happiest
man in England not to speak of Scot
land, ireland and Wales. Say 'Yesv 1
know what you want to say-that we
ought to be getting back again. And
there are all those loathsome people
viii? knew you would"
Fraser had sat there, almost unable
to move. He did not know how long,
The music from the ballroom foated
cut into the conservatory. mingling
with the laughter and chatter Of the
guests. All hope, all interest in life
was gone-snatched from him by those
few overheard words. People were
asking for him. What did it matter;
nothing mattered now. A voice aroused
him. He looked up, and saw Everett
before him-Everett, who was his
friend; who was now his 'rival-his
eenmy!
Halo, Fraser, old man, you seem to
be ten fathoms deep in the blue dumps!
What's the matter now? Come and
have a smoke with me. I've been look
ing for you half the evening"
And that all happened a week ago! A
week-the most miserable in his life.
And now he was trying to forget her.
What fool he wasi