Middletown transcript., 1921-12-31
L.ARKE.

Copyright. 1891. wsstsra Newspaper Union.
'I'n walk home with lyou, Dick" said
Frank Fayles to his friend Richard
Talbot, and started away with him
from Miss Landis' door At the cor
ner Of the block he stopped and wrung
his friends hand violently
II congratulate you, old man." he
said warmly. "I think your fiancee Is
one of the finest girls I've ever met
and just suited to you, too, and l bet
your married life will be one long
dream OF paradise
Talbot did not reply, and his friend,
mortified by his, coldness, accom-.
panied him in silence. Talbot was
thinking bitterly of his folly-his alb
solute folly. 1t was too late to with
draw with honor now. The wedding
was only one month away. And dur
ing the past two weeks he had come to
realize that he had made. the mistake
of his life.
He had thought Elsie Landis all thar
could be desired in any woman until
until he had met Edith Spinner.
Honor forbade him to speak; but the
pressure Of their hands when they met
must have betrayed them to each 9TH
er They had met three times only
and he was head over heels in 1--we
with Edith.
He thought over his future THAT
night. He could not withdraw.
He rose up after a sleeI1ess night,
resolved to give Elsie the chance to
reconsider. It was not until eight
o'clock that evening that he found him
self in Elsie's presence.
Their greeting was commonplace
tnOugh: The handshake the kiss, and
even that seemed perfunctory. Talbot
sat down.
Richard" Said his fiancee, looking
at him curiNusly, do you know you
have been acting in a very odd man
ner lately:''
II? How is that?" he stammered.
You haven't seemed to love me as
much as you used to-" she stammered.
Il have been thinking-O, Richard,
don't you care for mel"
A moment later and she was on her
knees at his side, her arms around
him, weeping.
"ElsieI" exclaimed Richard, miser-
ably, IL love you"
"You won't love me when l have
told you something" she sobbed.
"Tell Ile and see," said he. He
could think of nothing better to say.
Il have been untrue to you," she
sObbed. Il don't mean that I've
kissed anybody else. No, but-O
Richard, you are SO simple and noble,
you would never understand. Well, +
had been wondering whether our
marriage was going to be happy. 1t
had begun to seem so ordinary, our
love. And then met man-just two
weeks ago. He fascinated me and
and loved him more than you, dear
est"
Richard sat up very straight. This
was turning of the tables with a
vengeance.
1--WE never told each other" she
went on, weeping bitterly. II felt that
we ought not to be married until you
knew-and l didn't dare to tell you
until today"
why today?" inquired Richard
kindly.
Because he is married now,"
sobbed Elsie. "He got married yester-
day. And he had been engaged to her
for whole year-just think of that!
He had just been flirting with me and
l-fooling me. And then sudden re-
vulsion came over me and knew that
1t was you / had loved all the time
Richard, can you ever forgive me or
shall give you back your ring?"
"Who was the mani" inquired Rich
ard, conscious of an odd sense of help
less jealousy.
Nobody you know, Richard" she
answered. $50 it wouldn't do you any
good to tell you his name. But I'll
tell you whom he married. l believe
you met her once. It was Miss Spin
ner."
Edith Spinner" he shouted,
"Yes, Richard. She is said to be q
dreadful firt. Why, what is the mat
ter?"
"Come here, Elsie," said Richard.
DO you know l have been fancying
myself in love with Edith?'
'You, Richard? Since I'VE were en-
gagged! Why, how dared your"
"HOw dared you?" he retorted.
II didn't" she cried. ut was purely
imagination. just feared that we
mightn't be quite suited to each other
and"
That's what did"
you never kissed her, Dick?
"Never!" he said, looking her in the
eyes, and then suddenly he drew her
upon his knee and kissed her.
"Elsie, darling, shall we start over
again?"
eyes, Richard" she answered, rails
ing her lips to his. "But-you're quite
sure that you never. kissed her, Dick?"
Boy Killed When Kite Touches Cable.