The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-09-11
HIS RIVAL
BY AGNES c. BRoGAN.

4 Gracie'S abSent-minded responses to
| his personal conversatiOn-for Jimmie
was discussing the possibilities OF
| their new home.
He had counted upon his fiancee's
enthusiasm and help, as they would
/ plan together the furnishings of that
home which was a long-dreamed-of
/ goal. But during the stress of war
time Oracle had been distract, indfffer-
ent- What could have caused the
I change? Surely, oh, surely, and Jim
/ mic had caught his breath at the
thought, she could not have ceased TO
care; neither could anyone else have
come between them.
Night after night, and day after
day she had sat ut his side here in her
mothers comfortable living room, with
no intruder TO cause him apprehen-
sion.
Shall we have the dining room in
delft blue, dear?" he had asked one
evening.
M-m-m-n," murmured the girl unin-
telli6ibly, as she was counting stitches.
COR old rose?" queried Jim.
Gracie's eyes had rested for n ms
ment upon him blankly. They were
very beautiful eyes, and the lover pa-
tiently waited.
Presently Oracle rolled up the knit
ting and slipped it into her gay-coIored
bag, coming close to rest her hand on
his shoulder. Jimmie" she had
begged, don't you think, at this trou-
Died time. that we ought to put all
thoughts of personal comfort. and-er
triumph, from us in one devoted eff
fort TO help the brave men who are
giving their very lives for our coun-
try? Just because you are little be-
yOnd the age limit is no reason why
you should not sacrifice, too, in your
way. Marriage means added expense,
Jimmie. Yourself only to provide for,
you could give most generously to the
causes, and 1 am well cared for at
home. Later, in Il peaceful time, we
might more c0nscientiCNsly realize our
future joy, but now
Oracle had paused then, quite out
of breath. She was wondering what
else it was that Myra Baily told her.
Myra, great Red Cross enthusiast,
had advised freely among her young
friends.
Jimmie, staring at his formerly sub
missive sweetheart as though she had
struck him, told her that she could
not realize what she was saying; and
Oracle, calmly opening the bag to re-
gain her knitting, had dropped from
its depths Il crumpled note.
Flushing almost guiltily, the girl
reached for the note. but Jimime fore
stalled her, and a jealous flash shone
in his fine eyes.
''Who is it from?" he fiercely asked
her
Raising her chin GefantIy, Oracle
had admitted that the note was from
a sOldier-the man for whom she had
been knitting.
what right" demanded the angry
lover, "has strange man to CORE
spOnd with you?"
1.-The right of courtesy" she had
crisply answered; 'ft's a letter Of
thanks for the sweater and helmet and
gloves, and
Heaven knows, you must have fit
ted him out completely" Jimime &C
knOwledged. 'Will you let me see
that letter?'
Grudgingly, the girl Obeyed.
1t had been his turn to flush then,
and the angry red creeping up to his
heavy, dark hair, left Jim in an unen-
viable mood.
Sentimental stuffI' he muttered
Dreamed gratefully Of
his benefactress, while the warm
sweater sheltered him from the
breeze" Calls you his angel lady
You are silly, Jimmie Taylor" she
said at last. You'd better go home"
And abruptly her lover had. gone.
After his departure Oracle smoothed
the extraTagantIy grateful
note, while a smile played about her
lips.
OF course, she could not be actually
in love with the clever writer of those
penned epistles, but ro-
nance held her in its grasp-roIaance
and idealiSm. And he, Jim, must stand
aside until the fancy had passed.
Would it pass? Returning soon row,
perhaps, would this absent soldier seek |
her out, and finding her more lovely /
than even he could have dreamed, /
would he make her "idear' a reaIiza- /
ton?
Resolutely Jimmie kept away from
his beloved. Hers had been the fault, /
he told himself-hers, if she wished /
It, must be the undoing.
And evidently Oracle wished i.
eff you will come tonight" called /.
her sweet voice over the phone, al will /
show you my last Ietter-from the
soldier"
A laughing note in the request forced
finn to ignore its mOekery. Still for
bidding was his attitude as he await
ID his sweetheart in the lamplight.
Smiling, Oracle slipped her arm
through his as she thrust the note be-
ore him. Then she pressed her face
lgainst her lovers shoulder. This is
what he read:
My dere Miss Lady:
'aThe comrade who rote my letters
s gone from here. I no can Spek or
lite moOch english But I want to
ay tank you. Ny wife, she say tank
TOME SENTELLO."
Copyright. 1919. by Western Newspaper UnionJ /,