The Detroit times., 1917-08-08
TheEpening Story
Second Choice.
Copyright Isis BY W. wsrnsr)

Downright, 1919. ~ W wsrnsr)
As Aurilly Sawyer entered th'
room she heard voices coming from
the front porch Her husband evi
IDENTITY bad arrived early on account
Of the heat and brought some on
with him She recognized tho sec
ond voice ~ thai Of Jack Dayidge
Jack was one a. Wins oldest
frlendA. the one tc Nhom he had al
ways given MS utmost condolences
She wa always glad a. SEQ Jack
and she Was on the point Of going
10 tell him so when she heard SOME
thing that startled fer
Il suppose you kr0r- Gvendolyn
Gait is In town. Jack aid.
Winn exclaimed "No You don I
ray So How long has sne been
here
Just a day % two ! saw her this
morning shes sIayias ~ the Den.
nys'."
How does she look
Pine" Jack laughed BY the
way. VIM. you used 10 think con
siderable ~ her, didn't you' WHY
didn't you
she wouldnt have me-" VIM T.
voice was crisp
Then Aurilly was second choice.
sh?" Jack laughed again Got
match, winn7 Ny cigars gone our
Aurilly turned and went silently
out OF the room, never stopping IN
III she had reached The arbor IN ne
back yard. She sat down and stared
out al the sunshine which was bath
ing her peoples and cuckoo flowers
with liquid gold Ten minutes be
fore these flowers had stood 70 her
for a symbol OF all that was rich and
lovely In her NE Now they seemed
10 mock her From being the hap
pIest woman in the world she WAS
now one OF the most miseI able-nli
because OF few words which she
was not supposed 20 overhear
Gwsndolyn Gait had come back
The information had whisked her
back II years even before she real
lied what II meant GvendOlyn had
been the reIgning girl OF her eour,
so, lovely that she had attracted al
mirers as honey attracts sa's she
was small. supple and sold-blond
Aurilly had felt like cave woman
beside her. And yet she had hither'
TO always enjoyed sense OF tri-
umph over GWend0lyn IN that she
had been able 10 capture VIM
where Gwendolyn had failed. Now.
after all these years. she had learn
ed 10 her undoing that Gvepdolyn
had not failed, she had merely had
firrt chance a. him and refused Al
riliy's triumph was dust In her
mouth. She was second choice.
winn had wanred GWendolyr al.
the time. he had been an adorable
husband, hut VIA, did that matter
She was not mis- only love, Perhaps
he had never loved her al all. but
Gwendolyn in secret all these IL
years.
And now Gwendolyn was back.
still Gwendolyn Calf Aurilly began
10 have cramps m her heart. She
was not an imaginative woman. bur
she had the supernal sensiDility OF
woman who is warm tender. hum
Bile In all her possessions. She sut-
fered as she sat there. as she hac
not suffered when her children were
born or even when VIM had been
hurt in a railroad smashup. There
was hope in that suffering, bu' IN
this was no hope. only the promise
OF barren agony
She smelt the aroma Of cigar
and became aware that her husband
was approaching. He appeared in
the arbor entrance with sleamy.
yellow cuckoo flower in hts hand
and a stub Of cigar between his
teeth.
"Ive been looking all over the
house for you, he Eaid He nung
away the cigar. entered. and stuck
the flower In her hair. She received
this attention passively. Mrs. Den
ny called up 10 ark ia over 70 her
house tonight Gwen Gait Is here
and they're giving a little informal
party for her. ! told her we'd
come"
Aurilly's breath seemed 10 come
from her shoes Il knew she was
here" she said.
why didn't You tell me? Jack
says he's seen her Hes waiting
on the porch. | asked him 10 stay
TO supper. thought maybe you'd
be glad OF some company since the
children are away from home"
She stood up, lodging caress
with a skill new 10 her. I'm always
glad TO see Jack. she replied
quietly. Then she passed into m.
house.
Her role was new 10 her. but she