The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-22
EVENING STORY
The Other Girl.
BY EARL REED sILvERs.

Copyright, 1918, by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)
Mildred had always been afraid OF
the other girl. Ted spoke of her very
little now, but only a brief three
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, with eyes
the color of the sky on a clear October
day, and cheeks with the bloom OF
roses playing about them. she ana
Ted had boarded in the same house,
and thru the long week they had
seen each other SO much that when
Sunday rolled around Ted had be-
lieved himself in love.
He had not known Mildred very well
then. But the day after his return he
had met her at Country club dance,
and she had listened while he told
her about Elsie. Perhaps her listening
had appealed to him, for he had asked
to see her the next night; and when
he had come he had talked about
Elsie again. But as the weeks wore on
and he saw more and more of Mildred,
he had spoken less frequently of the
other girl, until Mildred had hoped
that he had forgotten. 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 1 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?"
7 But Mildred shook her head 'I
| don't know whether you would or not"
she answered frankly. you must care
a good deal for her"
He nodded. Yes he said; 81
do"
Two days later he had left for Cole
vile, but not before he and Mildred
had talked it all out. And before he
went they had both understood, al
tho no word was spoken concerning
! it, that he was going to the mountains
to test his love for Mildred. The
| image of Elsie, gentle-voiced and kind,
was all that stood between them and
happiness. And Mildred tried to con-
vince herself that he was doing the
| right thing.
she is very much in love with him,
1 know she is" she told herself, land
| before he offers his love to me he
must find out whether or not Elsie has
| lost her appeal to him.
it was hard waiting until ne should
come back again. Thru seemingly
endless days Mildred tried to fix her
mind on other things, but it was use
less The thought that Ted was up
there in the mountains with the other
girl never left her. She knew how
| wonderful their week together had
been in the early fall, and she was
afraid. Gradually an idea took pos
session of her and worked its way into
her mind until it became almost an
| strange it would be if Ted should bring
Elsie to New York with him as a
bride, and it ended by believing that
to do. s..
Mildred tried to tell herself that she
was foolish for thinking such a thing,
but she could not rid herself of the
idea, and when the time approached
for Ted to return she had worked her
self into a state of mind which was
fully prepared for any exigency. She
resolved to go to the Grand Central
station and to wait outside the gates
flor Ted's train to come in.
81 can hide behind some other peo-
ple" she said to herself, ''and if he
should come off the train with another
girl can see him first and come home
without him knowing it. Then he
won't have to tell me about 1t him.
SELF
She was waiting at the station when
the train arrived, and as the people
started to pour thru the gates she
felt sudden panic.
"Supposing he should come with
another girl" she thought Il 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 She was very much in love with |
Ted and she hoped that he was in |
love with her, but the shadow of the |
other girl still stood between them.
So Mildred waited. hoping that Ted
would be alone, but fearing tnat some
one else would be walking beside him. |
The passengers had almost all |
passed thru the gate. and Mildred had
begun to think that perhaps Ted had
missed his train, when he appeared |
suddenly from the darkened platform.
Mildred's heart stood still as she saw
him. for he was walking beside one of
the prettiest girls she had ever seen |
and behind them trudged grinning |
porter carrying two suit cases.
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. Then, feeling as If the
world had suddenly lost its brightness, /
she threw herself on the bed and lay /
for long while motionless. 1t was all
over. Ted had found that he cared
more Luz tAC OeICK anu haQ
brought her back to New York with
him.
A doorbel1 rang downstairs, but Mil
bred did not notice. Nothing mat
tered. But a moment later knock
sounded at her door and the maid an
nounced that Mr.. Terrill was waiting.
Mr.. Terrill was Ted. and the an
nouncement that he was downstairs
filled Mildred with a sort of dull rage
She wondered vaguely why in the
y1rId ~ line No. 49, L.
resolved 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
dnwn he stairs inst