The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-02-15
THE OTHER GIRL
BY EARL REED sILvERs.
Copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure NewspI
per Syndicate.)

i Copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure Newspa.
per Syndicate.)
i Mildred had always been afraid OF
the other girl Ted spoke of her very
little now, but only 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 Colevllle, 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 a 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.
81 promised her the last time I was
up there that I'd come again on New
Years" he explained, land don't like
TO break my promise"
Something in the hurt of Mildreds
eyes brought an answering light in his
own.
"You know, don't you,r he asked
softly, chat I'd rather be here with
you?"
But Mildred shook her head. II
don't know whether you would or not"
she answered frankly. "You must care
a good deal for her"
bo "a ftT d0 -
Two days later he had left for Cole
Vile, but not before he and Mildred
had talked 1t 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, land
tpfore 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 IT was use
less. Gradually an idea took possess
sion of her and worked its way into
her mind until it became almost an
obsession. She began to think how
strange 1t would be If Ted should bring
Elsie to New York with him as bride,
and ii ended by believing that that was
exactly what Ted was going to do.
She resolved to go to the Grand Cen
tral station and to wait outside the
gates for Ted's train to come in.
II can hide behind some other peo-
pie" she said 10 herself "and II 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 It himself"
She was waiting at the station when
the train arrived, and as the people
started to pour through the gates she
felt sudden panic.
"Supposlng he should come with n
other girl she thought. 'T would
never speak to him again in the
world"
The fact that under those circurn-
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 platforr%
Mildred's heart stood still as she saw
him, for he was walking beside one Of
the prettiest 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 doorbelI rang downstairs, but MIL
dred did not notice. Nothing mnn
tered. But a moment later knocE
sounded at her door and the maid AM
nounced that Mr. Terrill was waiting.
Mr.. Terrill was Ted, and the announce
ment that he was downstairs filed Mil
dred with a 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 a 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 II the
bottom had not fallen out of the earth.
Ted stepped forward eagerly as soon
aS he saw her.
Mildred I" he said.
But Mildred only nodded casually.
How are you, Ted7" she asked, with
studied formality. You had nice
trip. hope"
He looked at her with startled eyes.
whats the matter. dear?" 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. 'I saw
you get off the train with her. Where
Is she?"
Where is whof"
"The other girl-Elsle?"
why" Ted looked very much mysti-
fed, when left her this morning she
was standing on the station at Cole
Vile"