The herald., 1916-11-30
JUST FOR TONIGHT
BY EARL REED SILVERS.

Is IL going to be just for tonight witt
usT 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 him?"
almost" Mildred's voice qulveret
slightly. 'lt isn't announced yet, bu
two years ago, when he was a sophie
more in college, promised him"
"And now, when you know that hi
isn't all you thought he was, are you
going to keep your promise?"
Yes" They had walked to the porch
of the big gymnasium and were stand,
ing in the shadows. ITS the only
thing for me to do"
But your whole future is at stake.
VI know. but that doesn't make a
promise less binding. Arthur hasn't
done anything wrong 10 far as / know.
He's just weak, but lots and lots of
men are weak. and girls have married
them just the same"
Hes coward" Phil spoke hOtly.
"YOu-yOu really haven't any right
to say that" The girl laid a restrain.
ing hand on his arm.
he was silent for minute or two,
but suddenly he turned to her impul-
sively. Il know l shouldn't say these
things" he said, but it hurts me so
to know that you are going to give
yourself to someone who isn't worthy
of you. Not that / am" he added
hastily, ''but at least I'm more of
man than Arthur Martin is"
81 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 q cad he 81" 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 off 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 /
the Belmont campus until they came to !
the steps of the old Kings building, |
where they fingered. They were half |
hidden in the shadows, and the two |
persons who stood beneath the arc
light, not ten feet away, did not notice
them. Phil started as he noted that
one Of the figures was Arthur Martin
and the other Nellie Burt, whom he
knew by sight as a factory hand for
the Thompson company downtown.
They. could hear Martin speaking an
grily.
81 tell you, I'm through" he said.
"But you promised to marry met"
There was hint of tears in the girls
voice.
II can't marry you; I'm engaged to
else"
"YOu must!" She spoke tensely, and
seized the arm of his coat. "You can't
turn me down like this"
I'm not turning you down. I didn't
promise to marry yOu-just suggested
that we might possibly be married some
day."
"You asked me that night on the
river"
81 didn't"
"You did-you know you did"
The two In the shadows could not
help hearing what was said. Phil re-
covered from his amazement first, and
took Mildred's arm.
"Come on" he suggested. Lets go
back to the hail."
"No." Mildred spoke firmly. I'm
going to find out the truth about this
Affair.""
Before he could stop her she had con-
Martin and the other girl.
Arthur" she asked, 'is this girl
speaking the truth?'
Martin gasped as he saw her.
Nellie Burt stepped forward.
"Are you the girl he's engaged tor
The asked.
"Yes."
well, he promised to marry me.
ave up all the other boys for him, and
how he's going to turn me down." q
Don't believe her." Martin strove {
to make his voice sound
II heard you tell her that you had
marriage" Mildred spoke
1rmly. 'Tve heard rumors of this kind
" things before, Arthur, but 1 didn't
'elieye them. Now 1 know that they
ire So"
But this girl isn't anything to me.n
ut doesn't make any difference
whether she is or not. You have
proved that you can't be trusted"
"Mildredp There was a world of
'ntreaty In his voice. He took a step
oward her.
No" She turned away. "You may
our engagement at an end"
another word, she took PhiTs
Irm and they walked away.
They were silent until they reached
'erroll hall. As they entered the door
he strains of "Just for Tonight" float