The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-04-05
NOT VERY WHITE LIES
BY GEORGE MUNsoN.
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fire while the winter gloom came
down and filled the living room with
shadows. Jack Strange was to return
that night from his trip West she had
not seen him since he had slipped the
, engagement ring upon her finger the
night before he was called away on
a business trip to California in Au-
gust. And now--she was trying to
think how she should meet him and
what she should say to him.
She was a sensible girl. She had
never believed in romantic love, and
Jack, too, was of the matteroffact
temperament She knew Jack wassas
true as STEEL he was rising in his
business and had excellent prospects
After Jacks departure she had broh-
en- down and gone with CIR friend
Louise Martin, to a small summer no.
tel in the Catskils. A week was all
she could afford; besides, there was
no one to look after her aunt and the
old woman was largely dependent on
the kindly neighbors. So she had
hastened back, leaving Louise to
spend the second week of the vaca-
tion alone. But by then the mischief
had been done.
The mans name was Frank War
ner, and he had made love to her
from the beginning At first amused,
later the girl had been thrilled by the
impassioned nature Of his loye-mak'
Ing He had been everywhere ana
done everything; his stories read like
romances. and the thought that she
was the only girl who had ever en-
raptured him gratiiied her pride. lie
touched her heart too How different
from prosaic Jack Strangel
She remembered with mixture OF
pcnitence and delight, that last eve
ming he had taken her into his arms.
81 love you, May he had said, "and
shall always love you.
Then she had blurted out the story
Of her engagement She had told him
that her fiance was away, that she
could not in justice release herself
until he returned After he comes
pack l shall know my heart, and write
20 you; till then ] cannot see you
again." she had said, and fed from
aim.
She had the address he had given
aer in New York. 1t was a fashiona-
Sic hotel. where Frank Warner lived
most Of the year. And now, with the
apse of two months, she was still
Uncertain.
She was waiting for Jack. She ex-
pected him that evening, and she
.tarted up as ring came at the door,
ler heart beating wildly. But it was
,nly Louise, who often came in to
see her at that hour, on her way back
rom the Office. where she was de-
aimed an hour later than May.
''IIe hasn't come. yet?" she asked.
mo" answered May.
"You must be anxious to see him,
May. If my fiance had been away for
two months, you bet I'd have worn
7ut my shoes running to the door to
neck up the street and see whether
he was coming"
Il hope you will have one soon,
Louise" said May.
Louise Martin giggled. 81 came near
having one this summer" she said.
Listen, May. Can you keep a Sc
cret? You won't tell a soul, because
well, there's somebody l shouldn't
like to know about it"
May promised.
40 you remember that awfully
4 FOL NJ hotel NThO
seemed interested in you-what was
his name? Frank Warner, to be sure.
Well, after you'd gone he just fol-
lowed me round same way he followed
YOU. MY! / used to laugh at him at
FIRST, but he had sort OF irresistible
way about him, and and I let him
kiss me once. That was the night be-
fore | went away"
May felt her heart grow colder than
ice
"Well, what do you think? found
out after, through the Hoffmans-you
remember those nice girls from Sara
toga, who were staying there?-that
he'd tried the same game with half a
dozen Of the young women at the ho
tel. and some of them had fallen for
It. And what do you think he is? A
professional lady-killer. I mean, he
does it for a living"
'Louise!"
q shall never 60 there again, will
: you, May?'
Indeed, no." answered May Halli
well.
"Well, that's all dearie, and now
guess I'll be going, because don't
want to spoil your pleasure when Jack
arrives" And she made her way out
Of the house.
May looked into the fire, and the re
membrance of Jack came home to hel
with a flood tide of bitterness. She
thought of his goodness, his unfailinf
Kindness, his tender consideration fol
q her, mis- eternal faith.
I've been a little fool she said
"and I've been Justly punished. AND
now-I must make it my task always
to love Jack, and never let him sus
, !