Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-06-12
LONGS RIVAL
BY JOHN ELKlNs.


company's Office, and laying by a lit
tie each week. had always been think
ing of the time when he could have
his own business. But the little pile
grew very slowly, and one day when
he found himself In love with his cou-
sins chum, Anne Waters, the pile
seemed Of such very puny proportions
that sort Of desperation seizeH upon
him at his powerlessness to at once
strike out into larger fields. He
couldn't ask a girl like Ann to share
his small salary, and even n she
would. that meant an end to the laying
by Of anything to start for himself.
AS for Anne, she drifted along in
the enjoyment of Alden Longs society,
taking pleasure In the modest little
treats he gave her, and not making 1t
ct all certain to him whether she
would say yes or no to the momentous
question if he should ask 1t.
One evening Long met at Anne's
home an elderly gentleman. Amos
Mead by name. Concluding he was a
friend Of the aunt's he paid not much
attention to the caller. But when he
found Mr.. Amos Mead there on several
other occasions, and noticed the way
In which the gentleman looked at
Anne, and his almost loverlike atten-
tons, his suspicious aroused and jeal-
ousy gripped him. The browning blow
came one day when he beheld Anne
being whirled along In a very hand
some car, with Mr.. Amos Mead. 1t
was then he found out from the man
with him that Mead was a very rich
man, in fact a millionaire. His heart
went down in his boots. SO he called
up Anne and arranged to see her. He
did not notice any change in her man.
ncr. He even thought she was kinder
than usual, and he was on the point of
bringing matters to a crisis and ask
ing her to choose between him and
Amos Mead when Marion Black came
in, and the opportunity was gone.
The next day Anne bowed to him
smilingly from an automobile where
she sat beside Amos Mead speeding
past him on the avenue. He seemed
to have received his answer then and
there. But he meant to have It from
her own lips. AS fate would have 1t,
he ran upon the pair later In the day.
Their car stopped before a furnishing
and decorating establishment, one Of
the finest and most expensive in the
city, and the two went In together.
ESQ It has got that fari" thought
Long, srhey are even selecting the
waii paner and furniture :, for i; ths
hDuse." And his usefulness to- his
Arm was as nothing for the rest Of the
Sdaysa
In desperation. he sought Anne that
evening, without any preliminary tele-
phoning, AS. he rushed into the room
he overheard Mead saying:
aaWhy, yes, little girl; have tins
cream wall Instead of the gray. II you'd
rnther."'''t ~ ~ g ~
y Long Confronted the two with q,
rather futile attempt at being calm.
/. Pardon me-" he said. "but, Miss
Waters, may see you alone for few
minutesY'
: Certainly" she answered. And
with a smile at the other man which
seemed to indicate a very good under
standing between them, Mr.. Mead dis
ereetly withdrew.
:, at suppose" he said. ats idiotic
madness for me TO speak. You must
have known all the time I was Just
crazy about you-and-"
- He paused, his voice choking. Anne's
face was lnscrutable.
~ thought" she said. "you Just
meant to be a good friend. These
days girl meets so many men who
only want to fiirt, or be friends; 1t
doesn't do 10 wear your heart on your
sleeve. have too much pride for
that"
"Oh. but you must have seem"
"No," she said, 1T did not see. You
were always speaking about your