Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-05-20
HIS RIVAL
BY " O. sRoeAN.

kkfct udu DcCOhuo uIecOIue. A1UCl-
bkfed happy hours were spoiled by
4tacie's absent-minded responses to
az personal conversation-for Jimmie
8bs discussing the possibilities of
fleir new home.
He had counted upon his ~fancee's
@thuIiasm and help, as they would
E3fn together the furnishings of that
b9he which was a long-dreamed-of
fPal. But during the stress Of war
fine Oracle had been distract, indiffer-
DIT. What could have caused the
khangel Surely. oh, surely. and jim
Ole had caught his breath at the
Bought, she could not have ceased to
Ere; neither could anyone else have
Ebpe between them.
Night after night, and day after
nay she had sat at his side here In her
other's comic rtable living room, with
Hon.
"Shall we have the dining room In
Helft blue. dearf' he had asked one
tSening.
"M-m'm-p," murmured the girl unin-
kflligibly. as she was counting stitches.
nOr old rosef' queried Jim.
Gracie's eyes had rested for a mo-
Fent upon him blankiy. They were
Very beautiful eyes, and the lover pa
hently waited.
Presently Oracle rolled up the knit
Eng and slipped 1t into her ~gay-colored
bag coming close to rest her hand on
bis shoulder. "Jimmie," she had
begged, don't you think. at this trou-
bled time, that we ought to put all
thoughts Of personal comfort, apd-er
Htriumph, from us In one devoted eff
kort to help the brave men who are
living their very lives for our coun.
Ey2 Just because you are a little be-
{bnd the age limit is no reason why
tOu should not sacrifice, too, in your
fvay. Marriage means added expense.
Jimmie. Yourself only to provide for,
tou could give most generously to the
fauses, and I am well cared for at
bone. Later, In a peaceful time, we
blight more consclentioVsly realize our
Future Joy, but now"
Oracle had paused then, quite out
bf breath. She vas wondering what
Use 1t was that Myra Bally told her.
fyra, a great Red Cross enthusiast,
bad advised freely among her young
Friends.
Jimmie. staring at his formerly SUBJ
@issive sweetheart as though she had
truck him, told her that she could
bot realize what she was saying, and
S-acie. calmly opening the bag to re-
kain her knitting. had dropped from
ITS depths a crunpled note.
Flushing almost guilty. the girl
reached for the note, but Jimime fore
tailed her, and a Jealous flash shone
in his fine eyes.
"who is it fromf" he iercely asked
her. y
Rsaixing her chin defantly, Oracle
bad admitted that the note was from
soldier-ths man for whom she had
been knitting.
"what right" demanded the angry
lover, has a strange man to CORE.
bpond with your"
1.-THE right Of courtesy" she had
erisply answered; ats a letter Of
Thanks for the sweater and helmet and
floves, and"
"Heaven knows, you must have fit
led him out completely" Jimime &C.
Gowledged. 'Swil you let me see
That lettsrT
t Grudgtngly, the girl obeyed.
It had been his turn to flush then,
Ind the angry red creeping up to his
heavy, dark hair. left Jim in an unen
fiable mood.
Sentimental stuffp he muttered
nisgustedly. Dreamed gratefully Of
bis b~enefactress. while the warm
Gweater sheltered him from the
breeze" Calls you his angel lady
"You are silly, Jimmie Taylor" she
said at last. You'd better 60 home"
! And abruptly her lover had gone.
After his departure Oracle smoothed
carefully the extravagantly grateful
aote, while a smile played about her
lips.
OF course, she could not be actually
IN love with the clever writer Of those
beautifully penned epistles. but ro-
nance held her IN tts grasp-romsnce
and idealism. And be. Jim, must stand
aside until the fancy had passed.
Mould 1t pass1 Returning soon now,
perhaps. would this absent soldier seek
her out, and finding her more lovely
than even he could have dreamed,
Would he make her ideal" q fealiza.
ton!
Resolutely Jimmie kept away from
Ills beloved. Hers had been the fault,
be told himself-hers, If she wished
Il, must be the undoing.
And evidently Oracle wished 1t.
"If you will come tonight" called
her sweet voice over the phone. II will
3how rou my last letter-from the
toldier."
A laughing note IN the request forced
Vim to Ignore Its mockery. Still for
Bidding was his attitude as he await.
ID his sweetheart In the lamplight.
I Smiling, Oracle slipped her arm
through bis as she thrust the note be-
Tore him. Then she pressed her face
kgalnst her lovers shoulder. This Is
What he read:
my dere Miss Lady:
THE comrade who rote my letters
Is gone from here. ! no al spek or
fite mooch english. But I want to
tanL yoy Afv wife eha say tank