Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-03-28
THE HEART BREAKER
AREAL AMERICAN LOVE STORY
by VIRGINIA fERHUNE VAN DE WATER

the law forbidding one to strike a
man in uniform"
Chandler paied slightly. I'VE are
| making much out of nothing, Bruce,
and both are talking hastily and
foolishly, his tone changing from
anger to conciliation. You do not
for the moment, forget that a SOL
| dier must not drink, and | took a
| tiny glass of harmless cordial with
Mildred-just as little farewell
ceremony-for l am leaving to-mor-
| row.
Then, simply because we are
old friends, | kissed her on the
. cheek-as l would have kissed my
sister. That is the extent of my
offense. You may take this as
an apology if you wish. Had |
know you were looking on, | would
have done the same thing. Only
then, perhaps. l would have asked
your permission"
But" Mildred broke in shrilly,
softly that we did not know he was
looking on! He was spying-he and
! Honora"
II am going now" Toms voice
was calm and cool.
Wait a moment" Honora con-
manded. We did not come in with
any desire of spying on anybody
l opened the door with my latch
key. l supposed Mildred was up
stairs with Mrs. Higgins. l had
seen you, Mr.. Chandler, only few
hours ago, driving with-a friend
and it did not occur to me that you
were coming here after that"
There was a menace in her tone
o1 AIildrn1 wnnlar with
whom Tom had been. But the man
was not going to wait for any ques'
tion to be asked.
Good night ALL" he said. A.
Mildred held out her hand, he looked
at Arthur.
Mildred Is Uncomfortable
You have no objection to my
shaking hands with your fiancee
Bruce, have you?" he said with elab
crate politeness.
Arthur did not speak His eye
were eXpressionless as if he did no
hear. His look made Mildred un
comfortable.
"Good-by," she murmured to Tom
adding in a whisper-"S Send m'
your address-if it changes
A quick pressure of her hand wa
the only answer.
The trio did not move until tn,
front door had closed behind tn,
departing visitor
Katie's footsteps sounded in TIL,
stairs coming down from Mrs. Hig
gins room. Honora snatched III
the bottle of peach brandy ant
thrust it and the glasses-still un
washed-into the sideboard.
/ Then, as Katie entered the room
Honora greeted her, asked abou
Mrs. Higgins condition and wen
on into the library, Arthur and Mil
dred following her dumbly.
Here she closed the door ant
turned to her sister.
stop crying she ordered, foI
Mildred had begun to sob hysteri
cally. There is enough to or!
about, goodness knows. But vol
are not the one to be considered
just now"
"Oh, no." Mildred exclaimed. he
anger drying her tears. II suppos,
not! You never have any sympath!
for me, no matter how hard things
are for me.
| You can pity Arthur because hi
fathers ill, yet you can't pity m'
when Arthur gets angry with me
Why is he here, anyway? VIII!
didn't he stay at home If his fathe
is as sick as you people say he is?'
His father died two hours ago.
The words were said in a Low
voice. but Mildred startled as if sh,
had been struck by a whip.
Dead" she gasped. "Deadw
Yes Honora went on merciless
ly. "And in spite of all Arthur
grief and need of your sympathy h,
would not send for you. He said 1
would be too hard for you. For tn,
same reason he would not let mi
telephone you. Instead, he waitet