The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-25
JUST FOR TONIGHT
BY EARL REED sILvERs.

<~e~e~~~~~~~>~>>~~> ~~>e~s~~~~e~~~sS
The strains Of "Just for Tonight"
died away. Phil Kendall looked into
the eyes OF Mildred Arnold and smiled
"Is 1t going to be just for tonight with
us2" he whispered.
81 guess so, Phil" She spoke kindly,
but there was hint OF determination
In her voice. There's Arthur, you
know"
| Phil frowned darkly.
"Are you engaged to himT"
almost" Mildred's voice qulvered
slightly. ut isn't announced yet, but
| two years ago, when he was a sopho-
more in college, promised him."
sand now, when you know that he
isn't all you thought he was, are you
| going to keep your promisef"
EYES," They had walked to the porch
of the big gymnasium and were stand
Fling in the shadows. "It's the only
thing for me to do"
But your whole future is at stake"
81 know, but that doesn't make
/ UTOlitSC fCco DInUlD6s NJ tAak hcoAA
done anything wrong so far as | know.
He's just weak, but lots and lots of
men are weak, and girls have married
them just the same"
''He's a coward" Phil spoke hotly.
"You-you really haven't any right
to say that" The girl laid restrain
ing hand on his arm.
He was silent for a minute or two,
but suddenly he turned to her impul-
sively. II know / shouldn't say these
things" he said, 'but il hurts me so
to know that you are going to give
yourself to someone who isn't worthy
of you. Not that l am" he added
hastily, "but at least I'm more Of a
man than Arthur Martin Isl
II know you are" She spoke softly.
The music for the next dance drifted
out Of the open doorway, and Arthur
Martin appeared to claim his partner.
Phil watched them until they were lost
in the shifting crowd Of dancers.
"If only something would happen to
show her what cad he isl" he NUT
tered.
Phil saw them at the baseball game
the next afternoon, and In the evening,
when he stood on the porch of Ferrold
hall, where the final dance Of Junior
week was being held, he watched as
; they whirled of together to the strains
: Of mighty like Rose" the first waltz
: of the night.
: Phil managed to engage the sixth
and seventh dances with Mildred. and
instead of staying In the crowded hall
; they walked over the shadowy paths OF
D the Belmont campus until they came to
the steps OF the old Kings building
where they fingered. They were hall
hidden in the shadows, and the two
persons who stood beneath the. arc
. light, not ten feet away, did not notice
Q them. Phil started as he noted thai
a one of the figures was Arthur Martin
/, and the other Nellie Burt, whom hs
knew by sight as factory hand fol
the Thompson company downtown.
: They could hear Martin speaking an
grily.
4 81 tell you, I'm through" he said.
n "But you promised to marry me
There was hint Of tears in the .giri'i
voice.
= someone else"
"You mustw She spoke tensely, ant
a seized the arm Of his coat. you can
turn me down like this"
. "rm not turning you down. / didn'
$ promise to marry you-just suggested
q that we might possibly be married SOM
10 day."
"You asked me that night on tn
river"
II didn't"
"You did-you know you did"
] The two In the shadows could no
! help hearing what was said. Phil re
, covered from his amazement first, an
I took Mildred's arm.
y "Come on" he suggested. Lets g
back to the hail."
mo-" Mildred spoke firmly. ''Pr
q going to find out the truth about thi
L affair.""
ID Before he could stop her she had cor
2 fronted Martin and the other girl.
Arthur" she asked, us this gil
=, speaking the truthf'
Il Martin gasped as he saw her.
e Nellie Burt stepped forward.
,r care you the girl he's engaged tot
she asked.
d "Yes."
n "Well, he promised to marry me.
y - gave up all the other boys for him, an
!. now he's going to turn me down."
q Don't believe her" Martin stroy
II desperately to make his voice SCUM
Dr convincing.
is II heard you tell her that you ha
e suggested marriage" Mildred spok
firmly. 'Tve heard rumors of this kin
of things before, Arthur, but didn
believe them. Now know that the
i are so"
"But this girl isn't anything to me
at doesn't make any differenC
whether she is or not. You has
proved that you can't be trusted"
mildred !" There was world I
entreaty in his voice. He took ste
toward her