The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1918-09-03
Her
Mistake
Copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper union.1
By MILDRED WHITE

the sun went down, begging that she
would persuade herr brother Bob to |
drive her over to the park for pic
mic lunch, with moonlight sail on !
the lake to follow: Bob had been
eagerly agreeable, and soon after their |
big car was safely parked near the |
monument Dulcie lost her brothers
companionship, as he Immediately at
tached himself to one of the girls.
Dulcie was glad that the laughing
departures of the party for the lake
ride left her in retrospective solitude.
Walking backward in little separate
groups, they had not noticed her alb
sence. All day long the girl had
longed to be alone to think things
out, to fight down the great barrier OF
pride which had caused her such
useless misery.
Ronnie was going to war. That was
the uppermost thought. Tomorrow he
would be on his way to camp.
Of course it had not been Ronnie's
fault that the two were obliged to
play in the same club orchestra they
had merely been selected as the most
skillful players. That the girl musi-
clan should be unusually attractive
was not Ronnie's fault either; but in
the evening darkness of the park with
the tears still upon her cheeks, Dull
cie's chin tilted defantly; there was
no reason why Ronnie should have de-
voted all his spare hours to practice.
Dulcie's presence being unnecessary
at these club rehearsals, she awaited
her lovers return upon her own We
randa; and her grievance grew. Had
Ronnie not been hers to command,
since the time he had carried her
books from school? What right had
blonde violin girl to fusurp that
which was hers? Of course Dulcie
would not deign to put this in so many
words. Her attitude alone spoke her
displeasure.
1t was, therefore, a perpleNed young
man Who after one of these waiting
evenings upon the veranda, was dis
missed with GOODNESS at an early hour.
The final break came upon that night,
when he, all unsuspecting of tragedy,
walked to those same veranda steps
with the violin girl at his side. The
girl, as he raised his hat in departure,
had smilingly asked him ito come
around to the house for q moment,
and she would give him that music"
Ronnie had gone; when he came
back to Dulcie's veranda Dulcie had
disappeared. 1t had taken some IN
genuity upon her part to avoid hm
since that fateful time, but Dulcie had
persisted. Twice, upon ROnald's ac-
cepted calling evening, her mother
after q puzzled search of the house
for her daughter, had been obliged to
tell him that she was not at home.
Receiving no explanation or apology
for his sweetheart's absence, Ronald
remained away, while the rehearSalS
continued. AS weeks passed they met
occasionally upon the street. After
one swift questioning glance in the
| direction of Dulcie, apparently uncon-
! scious of his presence, the young man
had squared his shoulders and passed
! on. a hurt look in the clear eyes. But
!! now, like some great hand brushing
| aside the petty jealousy and heart
burnings of the past, came news of
/ Ronald's going to war.
ooh. he would be bravel !" She
| choked a little at the thought. Gould
| she let him go with no kind, encour-
aging word?
/ Dulcie sat up and looked at her
wrist watch; already the choice was
i out of her hands. When Bob came for
her it would be too late for hope OF
/ finding Ronnie Early in the morning
| the troop train was leaving. Hope
lessly she arose and made her way to
| Monument square, where the auto
was parked She had no wish to meet
her friends again this night.
Like a tired child Dulcie crept into
the back empty seat drawing the dark
robe over her body. Grief is weary
ing. With loud, quiyering sigh she
| closed her eyes and slept. Half
dreamily she realized that, her brother
had slipped into the front seat, evi-
IDENTIFY having seen her sleeping; cas-
ily the car swung about and rolled
down the broad avenue Silently Dull
Gle lay and blinked at the stars. At
last she spoke:
"Oh, Bob" murmured her saddened
:, voice, do you think it would be toe
late to go and find Ronnie? OF course
it would be-" she added hastily
"but'-her voice broke-"I do so want
to bid him good-by."
For a moment there was no reply
then the car came to an abrunt stand
still, while the driver stepped quickly
over to the rear seat.
'Dulcie, as I'm alive cried dearly
familiar voice, and Ronnie the soldier
clasped his sweetheart in his arms
81 don't know how you got here he
went on joyously. land | don't care
as long as the blessed fact remains
Afterward as they rode along to
gether, Dulcie lifted her head from
her lovers shoulder. 1T was fate
she remarked positively, your cal
being parked there beside ours, the
same make and all. Even girl il
her responsible mind might have made
the same mistake
Ronnie did not answer. He raised
his hand very tendeHy and pressed