The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-12-09
THE OTHER ONE.


81 can't keep all this straight. The
One, the Other One, Kitty, Emma
they are too many for me. This girl
who is waiting over there. is she the
girl you can neither marry nor forget?"
Most self-evidently not! If she
were, do you suppose would keep her
waiting in order to listen to your non
sense? Let ME explain; the case is
more typical than you imagine. The
girl you can neither marry nor forget
is the One. You never think about
either marrying or forgetting the Other
One. She is the counterpart of the
One in may ways. In the first place
in my case--she is actually only 20,
and she looks, while the One, between
you and me, is much nearer 30. They
are both pretty but il were not in
love with the One | should think the
Other One the prettier. The Other
One is an angel of goodness. She
has only one fault, but that is an un-
pardonable one-she loves me! The
One, if she is an angel at all, is a
very despotic one; she has many faults,
and yeti love her! The Other One,
you see, gives us everything and
thanks us for accepting it. The One
demands everything and expects us to
be grateful for the privilege of giving
it, She drives us to despair with her
caprices and then the Other One con-
soles us, without asking why we need
consolation. Once, indeed, she said
sadly: You love another 1T is not
impossible l replied jauntily. She
forced back her tears and never men,
toned the subject again. | would not
advise you to give such an answer to
the One. With her there is no jesting.
She has the power and she knows it.
She insults you and calmly waits for
you to come and beg her pardon.
with the Other One you may do as
you will, you cannot shake her off; but
the One does with you as she pleases,
you cannot leave her She has poison
ed my youth, but | canot give her up.
Yesterday I met her for the first
time after a serious quarrel"
And the shameless wretch went on
talking about the One, while the Other
One was waiting for him.
| cut him short and he walked on.
Presently he plucled my arm and
whispered: 'Kitty!"
l looked up and saw dimly in the
twilight lady past the first flush of
youth, dressed expensively and in poor
taste, looking sharply at my friend.
In an instant he was at her side, kiss
ing her hand and that of her mamma,
who did not appear particularly pleas
ed. In a few seconds he returned and
said in a voice that betrayed thump-
ing heart: You must go to Emma
and make my excuses. Say-anything
you choose"
He darted back to the ladies and
walked off with them, laden with
Kitty's jacket and a little parcel of
her mamma's.
/ found the Other One exactly as he
had described. The little green table,
the melted ice, the sad eyes on the
Bellaria-not detail was lacking.
felt deep compassion for the poor,
young beauty, sitting alone among
the merry throng, on an evening made
for love, and dreaming of one who
thought not of her.
A handsome young fellow passed
close by her table and ogled her, but
she did not seem to see him. Then
the thought came to me: What an op-
portunity for me to become the Other
One to the Other One! But knew the
attempt would have failed; besides,
was Gustav's friend.
AS such l introduced myself, and as
told q tale of relatives arrived unex-
pectedly, I saw her fine eyes fill with
tears.
She thanked me weakly and
hurried away-none too soon, for the
first drop hung on her long lashes,
ready to fall.
AS said at the beginning, thought
her little fool, but still / was very
sorry for her.
A week later l met her returning
with Gustav from an exclusion. She
had her hat in her hand, and heath
roses in her brown hair, and was
radiant with the JOY of whole after
noon spent with her lover.
II couldn't help It," Gustav explain
ed to me afterward. ITO please her !