The Pulaskian., 1918-02-15
THE OTHER GIRL
 By EARL REED siLvERs.
wright, 1918, by the Mcclure Newspa-
 per Syndicats.)

 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 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.
 "I promised her the last time 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 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 you7'
 But Mildred shook her head. "I don't know whether you would or not" she answered frankly. You must care good deal for her"
 He nodded. "Yes," he said 'T 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, I know she is," she told herself, "and before he offers his love to me be must find out whether or not Elsie has lost her appeal to him."
 It 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 its 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 bride, and 1t ended by believing that that was exactly what Ted was going to do.
 She resolved to go to the Grand Gen. tral station and to walt outside the gates for Ted's train to come in.
 q can hide behind some other peo- pie" she said to herself, land 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 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.
 "Supposing he should come with an other girl,' she thought T 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 Mildred's heart stood still as she saw him, for he was walking beside one of the prettiest girls she had ever seen. 1 With something like sob, Mildred l 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 moment later knock sounded at her door and the maid an nounced that MT. Terrill was waiting. Mir. Terrill was Ted, and the announce ment that he was downstairs filled Mil dred with 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 if the bottom had not fallen out of the earth.
 Ted stepped forward eagerly as soon
 
 Mildred p he said.
 But Mildred only nodded casually
 "How are you, Ted?" she asked, with studied formality. You had nice trip, hope"
 He looked at her with startled eyes
 What's 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 who?'
 '9rhe other girl-Elsie?"
 Why" Ted looked very much mysti- fled, "when left her this morning she was standing on the station at Cole ville."
 And wasn't that she coming from tbo +rair with votY 1',