The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1916-08-25

BY EARL REED SILVERS.

| III ilef voice. InereE Arthur, yo
know"
Phil frowned darkly.
Are you engaged to him?"
almost" Mildred's voice quivere
slightly. 1T isn't announced yet, bu
two years ago, when he was a sophie
more in college, promised him."
And now, when you know that h
isn't all you thought he was. are yo'
going to keep your promise?"
Yes" They had walked to the porcl
of the big gymnasium and were stand
| ing in the shadows. Its the onl,
thing for me to do
But your whole future is at stake.
II know, but that doesn't make
promise less binding. Arthur hasn'
done anything wrong so far as know
He's just weak, but lots AID lots O.
men are weak, and girls have married
them just the same"
Hes coward" Phil spoke hotly.
"You-you really haven't any righ
to say that" The girl laid 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 SC
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 a
man than Arthur Martin is"
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 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.
Il tell you, I'm through" he said.
But you promised to marry me I"
There was a hint of tears in the girls
voice
Il can't marry you; Tin engaged to
someone else"
"You mustw She spoke tensely, and
seized the arm of his coat. "You can't
turn me down like this"
TIN not turning you down. l didn't
promise to marry you-just suggested
that we might possibly be married some
lay"
you asked me that night on the
liver"
Il didn't"
"You did-you know you did"
The two in the shadows could not
help hearing what was said. Phil re-
ook Mildred's arm.
"Come on" he suggested. Lets go
back to the hall"
NO" Mildred spoke firmly. "Tm
,oing to find out the truth about this
Iffair."
Before he could stop her she had con.
ronted Martin and the other girl.
Arthur" she asked, sis this girl |
the TRUTH"
Martin gasped as he saw her.
Nellie Burt stepped forward.
Are you the girl he's engaged TOT"
he asked
"Yes."
well, he promised to marry me. ] |
ave up all the other boys for him, and
ow he's going to turn me down"
Don't believe her." Martin strove
esperately to make his voice sound |
onvincing.
Il heard you tell her that you had |
uggested marriage" Mildred spoke
rmly. 1--WE heard rumors of this kind
things before, Arthur, but / didn't
elieye them. Now | know that they
re So"
But this girl isn't anything to me-"
1T doesn't make any difference
neither she is or not. You have
roved that you can't be trusted"
Mildred !" There was a world of
ntreaty in his voice. He took a step
ward her.
mo" She turned away. "You may
)nsider our engagement at an end"
'ithout another word, she took Phils
IN and they walked away.
They were silent until they reached
prroll hall AS tbay aptaraI tbn dno,