The Western news., 1904-10-26
The Other Woman

D~|~NN>N~~ ~<>N~~~~(
~ f course" said Polly, showing
VI her heel down into her skate
with little tramp and striking
out over the ice like a bird learning
to hop, ''it was the fault of the other
woman!"
We had been talking about the
breaking off Of Abingdon Dare's en-
gagement to the authenticated Down
ing girl, and of how Miss Downing
had discovered the other filtration by
listening down the dumb waiter shaft.
"Of course" agreed. 1T Is always
the fault of the other woman"
Polly gurgled mirthfully and
thought satirically.
Surely" l asked anxiously, "you
do not blame the dumb waiter shaft?
l never saw dumb waiter shaft
with peroxide hair and dimple in it's
chin"
Polly gave me reproachful glance
"And," l went on, you certainly do
not blame Miss Downing for breaking
it off when she found out"
"And, Of course" broke in Polly, 'I
could not possibly blame-Abbingdon
Dare, for instance
Wont you take hold Of my hands,
Polly? The ice is-er-very slippery"
For answer, Polly buried both her
hands deep in her muff and continued
to NOPE along in jerky little semicir-
cles.
And now," she went on, ignoring a
brilliant pigeon wing l had cut for
her benefit, 1.-The authenticated Down
ing girl and the other girl don't
speak,"
'"Then," said I, bringing up beside
Polly with flourish, Miss Downing
blames the other woman, tOo?"
Polly looked at me as though know
ing things like that were the most
natural thing in the world.
''Of course!" she declared emphat tic
ally. "a woman always does blame
| the other woman. That Is the funniest
thing about 1t. She seems just as
anxious to make a pack horse for the
masculine sins out Of some other WON.
an as the man himself. l suppose to-
morrow that, If you held one hand
over your heart and the other over the
family Bible and took an oath Of al
legiance and If the very next moment
l detected you admiring a pretty
face"
ut would have to have a brown
pompadour above it and dimple in
its left cheek" declared, looking at
Polly.
Polly. blushed.
'Or saying nice things to another
girl in the conservatory" she went on.
Everybody would expect me to blame
the pretty face or the other girl. but
shOuldn't! and In her momentary
excitement Polly forgot to be fright.
eDed. and almost did some real skat-
ing.
"Well," grumbled, "why shouldn't
your"
because" said Polly, ut wouldn't
be the girl who owed me allegiance" "
'Then l suppose" remarked, that
you approve Of the fact that Miss
Downing has cut Abingdon Dare of
irretrievably?"
Il would" said Polly, 'if she had;
but she hasn't. He'll only have to wait
until the first burst Of temper wears
off and then come around with q
pathetic story Of how the other WON.
an lured him
| nd invita1 him fn ca1I
"And I'D him with fiattery and lob
ster a la Newburgh"
"And told him sad little story OF
der past life."
"And actually pursued him to hi:
Office"
"And had her brother bring him ur
to dinner"
"And sent him pink notes-that h.
couldn't, In politeness, refuse to an
swer."
"Wen, that's the way they do it.
said l.
"Do-what?'
Polly had to wave her arms wildly
to catch her balance.
"Polly," said l, 1.-THE moment a maj
becomes devotedly attached to SOM
one girl all the other girls in her Sc
: begin to find him fascinating. I fame,
It's something like setting a new style
II one of you wears a fur hat or
feather boa Immediately all the rest o
you buy fur hats and feather boas
II one Of you finds q man worth Will