The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-01-18
The Other Girl
In the Case
What Winons Saw Through Hel
Window.
BY ADELlA DURAN

The streets began to fill with the
usual Saturday night traffic, and the
whiz and clatter Of dying carriages
and motorcars mingled with the
strldent ringing of car bells and the
shouts of i%mportunate cabmen.
Abruptly a big black automobile
like a giant tarantula slid up to the
curbing in front of the hotel oppo-
site and stopped. A man jumped
out and extended his hand to the
young woman who had risen TO fol-
low. There was something instant
ly familiar about the straight,
square shoulders under the cape of
the long black coat and the way his
gray alpine was drawn down over
his eyes.
Winona caught her breath and in
voluntarily stood up. Yes; it was
Richard Grayson, and he had not
even glanced in her direction.
For the brief space of a second or
two a variety OF emotions surged
through Winona's brain-frst a
flash Of JEALOUSY and Indignation,
then a pang Of sadness, and then ev-
erything seemed to be going black.
But she clinched her dainty white
hands and pulled herself together
and looked across again at the scene
that had so deeply moved her.
By this time the lady had alight-
ed from the automobile with the at
tentive aid of Richard Grayson.
The lights of the street we're bright
enough for her to see that his COM
panion a a w%ondrously pretty wo-
man, that they were laughing and
talking merrily, apparently oblivious
to surroundings, and that she took
his arm with a plainly affectionate
gesture as they went into the hotel
together.
For some minutes afterward
Winona stood motionless, a pain at
her heart which she dared not de-
fine even TO herself.
There was the brilliant fash of
light in the apartment directly OPP
posite. With a little gasp of aston
ishment she saw young Grayson
stoop laughingly and kiss the girl.
An older man was standing at a lit
tie distance, and she recognized him
instantly as Dicks father. He, too,
laughed and came up, saluting the
girl fondly on either cheek.
1t was the bride, she knew, for
that was the bridal suit. She had
been there herself once to call upon
a girl friend who had married and
was in Washington on her wedding
journey.
With her face on fire Winona
turned away and went to her desk
in a corner Of the room. She took
up two letters. The first read:
Dear Nona-May | come tomorrow even
Ing for a few moments? I have some-
thing important that ! want 10 tell you.
Say yes, will you not? Sincerely.
DICK.
This, then, was what he had
meant to tell her of-his marriage.
Her brief dream Of happiness COL
lapsed like a house Of cards. She
chokcd back a sudden rise of inward
bitterness and unfolded the other
letter. II ran
Dearest Winnie-Do run down to Palm
Beach and stay with US In our dear little
bungalow. Jack has invited a friend,
somebody from somewhere, and | am de-
pending upon you. dear girl. to help me
out. Let me know by return mail. Be-
seemingly. CLAUDIA.
Without hesitation Winona sat
down and took up her pen, jabbing
it viciously into the ink:
My Dear Richard-Sorry, but It will not
be possible for me to receive you tomor-
row evening, as | am leaving town for
some time. Yours In haste.
WINONA PAULDING.
She sealed and directed this and
rang for her maid. Then she dash
ed a hasty acceptance Of Claudia
Spence's invitation and sat staring
through the window at the black
vacuum of night.
When the maid came in she
thrust the two letters into her hand
and ordered her to take them di-
rectly to the postofice. She crossed
the room to a chcval glass. The
face that looked back at her was
youthful and delicatcly lovely.
She was blond and patrician, with
just enough pink in her cheeks to
redeem her face from pallor. Her
hair vas pale gold, but shining.
That other girl was pretty, too, but
in a rich, dark fashion that belong
ed to the south.
Dicks mother was from Dixie,
and she recalled, with a pang, that
he vas a worshiper Of southern wo-
men. A little sob shook her. She
turned away, covering her face with
her hands. Hot tears sprang
through her quivering lashes, but
she dashed them away in self con-
tempt and went into the next room
to pack her trunk.
She reached Palm Beach eighteen
hours later. Her courage had raj
lied amazingly under the stimulat-
inn Al.n - 4 N