The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-06-09
THAT OTHER WOMAN
BY ARTHUR COTTONWOOD.

drew out a little case of morocco.
Il got the one l wanted, Betty, y
said he 81 made em take it out of
that pendant There wasn't another
one Ike it."
He snapped open the cover of the
case and the dancing flames burned in
a thousand many colored reflections
in the heart of a perfect diamond.
Standish reached over for girls
slim hand. but to his utter amaze
ment she drew 1t back-very gently,
but with determination. CHANGING up
he saw her eyes were troubled
"Oh, Just a moment-just moment
before you put it on my finger, dear,
she breathed quickly. 'I-I-don't
know Just how to say it. I'm afraid. .
"Afraid?" he echoed with boyish
laugh. "Of what, you dear little Miss
Tease"
Honestly, Bob" she painted, as he
would have snatched her to him ooh,
please-just a minute-let me be
| surei"
She drew away from him. Her face
was just the least bit twisted as with
pain-for him.
yes, that's just it," she said with
downcast eyes. 81 want to be certain
that | am sure of you"
Betty" he cried reproachfully.
But still she held him of
Twelve heard sonethin&" she
said 4 dont believe n, but fit
hurts. Il will hurt till you let me
know 1t isn't So"
| He scowled. Who's been talking
now?" he said almost harshly.
Mrs. Malvern"
"ThatAthat trouble-mongeri"
Bob"
We'll, what has she been saying?'
The girl stared long into the fire.
Bob Standish saw she was biting her
under lip.
Il wouldn't listen to her nor believe
| It," she said at last Still ] had to
hear some of the things and-and-
thinking them over-the few / did
hear-Im afraid; just the weeniest
bit afraid, dear. She said you were
buying whole lot of flowers every
Thursday at Rondeau's-that you
went away every Thursday in your
car right after lunch and-and that
you didn't get back until dinner time.
She said you always wore your heart
on your sleeve and that-Bob!" she
said suddenly sitting very straight.
tell me 1t isn't so. It's hurt-awful-
ly; more than I'd admit"
His own face became very grave.
He kicked back an ember that came
hurting across the hearth.
about wearing my heart on my
sleeve-that isn't So" he said. About
the flowers-well, I'll have to admit
them"
She looked up quickly He wasn't
looking at her. She felt some vague
sense of something dreadful impend-
ing
"Oh," she said.
"And perhaps l had best explain
about them before I put the ring on, :"
said he.
She waited silently for him to go
on. She did not know she was press
ing her hands tightly together
ITS really all right, dearie," he
said quietly at last She's an old
friend of the family. Her people have
met reverses. She's living on gamely,
pluckily, on what was left She isn't
asking odds Of anybody II-want-
ed to make it just little easier for
her. / want to think that once In a
while she has few of the things
she used to have. So every Thurs
day l blow myself for some orchids
for her at Rondeaus's and-yes, take
them to her myself, / might as well
own up, and take her for a spin in
the car for few hours-out to Mil
vile, or over the old turnpike to that
coy little inn at Bridgton for tea. It
makes her forget. It's SO very little
do and SO entirely innocent You've
forgiven me already. haven't your"
II don't know" said she rather
hoarsely.
She noticed he stiffened bit. Then
he grinned; she thought to cover his
embarrassment.
"She is here in town then all the
timer" she asked
"Oh, yes"
is she pretty?"
He wrinkled his brows as Of de-
batting a point In his mind.
Beautiful is better word" said
he.
Again she looked up. His face was
all ashine. She turned away that he
might not see how badly she was
hurt
81 don't know why have not told
you all this BEFORE" said he. "The
very fact haven't shows how lightly
I thought of 1t. have meant to tell
you at different times. and certainly
should have told you before we were
married, because I want to buy her
those flowers every Thursday Just the
same and take her for the spin. You
wouldn't mind, would your
She flushed beautifully He caught
the sound of little half-frfghtened
gasp.
"Oh, Bob, I'm afraid do care" she
said. I'm afraid Pm not bit broad
I'm selfish. OF course It's very noble
of you and there isn't the least bit
of harm in it, still"
She's so plucky about it ALL" he
said, as if in self-defense.
She tried to stop them. but two
big tears slipped out of her eyes and
coursed, one down each cheek.
Suppose you come and see her
with me-now, this afternoon, this
minute" he said. Then you can de-
eide, and I'll abide by it."
You don't understand" she said
holly. 1T isn't that"
Come just the same" said ha
She shook her head.
mot If I insist"
you wouldn't"
But l do"
She arose very proudly. Very
well" said she.
She ran up stairs. In a moment
she was down again. smiling now.
but very coldly, he noticed.
I'D best take furs?" she asked.
Yes" he said shortly, and opened
the door
His car was drawn up at the curb
outside. He tucked her in, climbed
in himself and sway they spun
through the crisp autumn air with its
more than hint of frost
He did not speak; neither did she,
watching the streets slip past one
after another. At last they shot into
the suburbs, turned in at a wide gate.