The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-03-28
THE OTHER GIRL
BY EARL REED SlLVERS.
Copyright. 1915 by the Mcclure Newspa-
DER SYndicateO

|
months ago he had told Mildred all
about that wonderful week in the
mountains. He had been worn out
with the press Of work and had gone
to Coleville, where he had found Elsie.
She was the village school teacher,
| just out of normal school.
He had not known Mildred very well
then. But the day after his return she
had met him at country club dance,
| and she had listened while he told
her about Elsie. And then, two days
before New Years, he had told her
that he was going to Coleville again
to see Elsie.
II promised her the last time I was
up there that I'd come again on New
Years." he explained, "and don't like
to break my promise"
Something In the hurt of Mildred's
eyes brought an answering light in his
own.
you know, don't you" he asked
softly, that I'd rather be here with
YOU"
But Mildred shook her head. 81
don't know whether you would or not"
she answered frankly. you must care
a good deal for her"
He nodded. yes" he said; ~ do"
Two days later he had left for Cole
Vile, but not before he and Mildred
had talked it all out. And Mildred
tried to convince herself that he was
doing the right thing.
"She is very much in love with him,
| know she is" she told herself, "and
before he offers his love to me he
must find out whether or not Elsie has
lost her appeal to him"
1t was hard waiting until he should
come back again. Through seemingly
endless days Mildred tried to fix her
mind on other things, but 1t was use
less. Gradually an idea took posses
sion of her and worked It's way into
her mind until 1t became almost an
obsession. She began to think how
strange It would be If Ted should bring
Elsie to New York with him as a bride,
and 1t ended by believing that that was
exactly what Ted was going to do.
She resolved to go to the Grand Cen
trail station and to wait outside the
gates for Ted's train to come In.
~ can hide behind some other peo-
Pile" she said to herself, land II he
should come off the train with another
girl can see him first and come home
without him knowing 1t. Then he
won't have to tell me about II himself"
She was waiting at the station when
the train arrived, and as the people
started to pour through the gates she
felt a sudden panic.
"Supposlng he should come with an
other girl" she thought. ~ would
never speak to him again in the
world"
The fact that under those circum-
stances he wouldn't care whether she
spoke to him or not did not occur to
her
The passengers had almost all passed
through the gate, and Mildred had be-
gun to think that perhaps Ted had
missed his train. when he appeared
suddenly from the darkened platform
Mlldred's heart stood still as she saw
him, for he was walking beside one of
the prettlest girls she had ever seen.
With something like a sob, Mildred
drew back into the crowd, watching
with tear-bordered eyes while Ted and
the girl passed almost within six feet
Of her. When they had gone into the
main station she rushed into the sub
way and somehow made the trip to
her home
A doorbell rang downstairs, but Mil
dred did not notice. Nothing mat
tered. But a moment later a knock
sounded at her door and the maid an
nounced that Mr. Terrill was waiting.
Mr.. Terrill was Ted, and the announce
ment that he was downstairs filed MIL
dred with q sort Of dull rage. She
wondered vaguely why in the world
he was calling on her; but she re-
solved that she would not let him
know what pang his selection of the
other girl had given her SO she
washed the tears from her eyes and
went down the stairs, just as If the
bottom had not fallen out Of the earth. |
Ted stepped forward eagerly as soon
as he saw her.
mildred r. he said.
But Mildred only nodded casually.
"Iow are you. Ted?" she asked. with
studied formallty. you had a nice
trip hope"
He looked AT her with startled eyes. |
whats the matter, dearT he asked. |
softly.
There was something in the way he
spoke which shattered Mildred's re-
serve into tiny fragments.
"Oh, Ted" she half sobbed al saw
you get off the train with her. Where
is she2"
'Where is who?"
"The other girl-Elsie2"
why" Ted looked very much mystI-
fed when left her this morning she
was standing on the station Mt Cole
ville.-
"And wasn't that she coming from
the train with your"
mo, dear; That was my cousin, who
got on the train at Bridgeport, and
who asked me to take her over to the
Penn. station In New York"
"OhW For long two minutes NIL
dred's eyes looked anywhere except nj
the man before her. But they re-
turned to his after he had started TO
anauk fnr he una sovinc a.,