The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-08-09
JUST FOR TONIGHT
~ Il go - ARt Esss ~
BY EARL REED SILVERS.

died away. Phil Kendall looked into
the eyes of Mildred Arnold and smiled.
rs it going to be just for tonight with
us!' he whispered.
II 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 quivered
slightly. ut isn't announced yet, but
two years ago, when he was sophie
more in college, promised him."
And now, when you know that he
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. .
Il know, but that doesn't make a
promise less binding. Arthur hasn't
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 holly.
''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 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 a
man than Arthur Martin u.s.
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 We're lost
in the shifting crowd of dancers.
IF only something would happen to
show her what q cad he is" 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 u 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 are
! 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 factory hand for
the Thompson company downtown.
They could hear Martin speaking an
griIy.
Il tell you, I'm through" he said.
but you promised to marry me ~
There was a hint of tears in the girls
voice
Il can't marry you; I'm engaged to
someone 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. l didn't
promise to marry you-just suggested
that we might possibly be married some
day"
You asked me that night on the
river"
q didn't"
You did-you know you did"
! The two in the shadows could rot
/ help hearing what was said. Phil re.
| covered from his Amusement first, and
took AIildred's arm.
Come on" he suggested. Lets &c
back to the hail."
No" Mildred spoke firmly. SIN
going to find out the truth about this
affair"
Before he could stop her she had con.
fronted Martin and the other girl.
Arthur" she asked, sis this girl
| speaking the TRUTH"
| Martin gasped as he saw her.
| Nellie Burt stepped forward.
Are you the girl he's engaged TOP
| she asked.
| "Yes."
well, he promised to marry me.
gave up all the other boys for him, and
now he's going to turn me down"
Don't believe her" Martin strove
desperately to make his voice sound
| convincing.
II heard you tell her that you had
suggested marriage" Mildred spoke
| firmly. I've heard rumors of this kind
Of things before, Arthur, but l didn't
believe them. Now l know that they
are So"
But this girl isn't anything to me-
1T doesn't make any difference
whether she is or not You have
proved that you can't be trusted"
Mildred !" There was a world OF
entreaty in his voice. He took a ster
| toward her.