Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1921-03-30
The TIGER GIRL
BY JACK LAYTON.
Ia. ls2l. Western Newspaper Union.l
Nm % % % % 100

| (Cr l92l, western newspaper UnlOnJ
The girl who was about to enter the
room stood poised on the stair al
sound of voices below. She heard her
own name mentioned and waited Her
hair shone tawny in the window light,
| and her face was soft-tinted as q
| flower. The golden lashes yelling her
| yellow-black eyes glistened like sunny
dewdrops. She stood calm, expectant
| II call her the tiger cat" her hostess
was saying. 1--WE had one once just
like her. subtle, ever ready to stab
with her hidden claws. Greedy for
| that which was--or was not her own.
Claiming, by cunning or force, if might
| be. And yet, we could not part from
| the thing. 1t had an andsaring man
| ner of cuddling up b one, caressing
| with its yellow head on begging pardon
| with cushioned outStretChed paws. That
| is Pauline. When | lose patience with
her completely" Marian Bale smiled
her confession, Pauline is sure to
come it over me one way or another
She can charm and conciliate women
as well as men on those occasions
when it suits her purpose"
The small person on the window
seat turned so that the listener could
see her face
aren't you bitter Maron?" she re-
proved
"Bitter!" Mrs, Dale's tone expressed
evaporation.
at is you who should be bitter Nell,
with that woman taking Paul from
you, before your very eyes. And only
for passing within to show her powers,
not that a public exhibition is nee
csSary mercy knows for the men fol-
low her about for smile or frown
81 do not think" Nell said slowly,
that Pauline will throw Paul over"
Nell paused between the door
draperies.
Maybe" she suggested, at might
be better, Marion. to try to tame the
tiger"
The golden-haired girl on the stair
scorned to move as the one whose
'o'Si ohc hau tuhcli, CuLHe Wlue-eyeu
toward her.
You heard?" Nell asked in conster-
nation. Pauline nodded. She held out
her white fingers amusedly to the sun
light and studied their shining nails
"The tigers claws" she quoted.
The hall was silent and deserted.
Nell sinking down upon lower step
smiled bravely up at the girl
Pauline" she sad, tell me some
thing of your earlier life in that far
away West. | think that you must
have been brought up with people diff
ferent from us. People living by
different code. To be so cynical one
must be unhappy. 1t hurt me to hear
you mock at sincerity. Now l believe
in the good in every one"
The tiger-girl gazed through her
half-closed lids. Gwen YETI" she
asked insolently.
Even yet" answered Nell
Pauline leaned forward
and l could take your lover from
you tomorrow she declared.
"Take him, and keep him forever"
She laughed, impishly touching her
pink finger tips to Nell's arm. "With
my claws" she tainted.
"Unless,' Nell quietly replied, II
think it best to clip your claws.
could-do that"
The golden girls smile was incredu-
lous.
your she mocked
knowing Paul" Nell went on calm
ly, "do you believe that he would still
care for you If he knew that you had
deceived not only himself but others
more cruelty? Paul is not that kind.
His sense of honor is strong and he
must believe beyond all question in
the woman he loves. Or else love
would leave him.
"When the maid brought up our let
ters this morning one wrongly ad-
dressed was tossed into my lap. She
had mistaken the name, and l, think
ing of other things, tore open the en-
velope absently and began to read.
There was no other beginning to the
ItlttT llltIl llle WOIu Lear. IL WIS
from broken-hearted man, whom it
seems you had long ago charmed for
your school girl diversion. But when
you had carried the episode to the
point of runaway marriage merely
to prove your triumph, you returned
Immediately after the secret ceremony
to your parents, with desire that the
marriage be annulled.
This they were able to accomplish,
because of your minority. But the
man, it seems. continued true to his
love and sends now further plea
after all the years. Some men might
overlook such Il letter, but to Paul it
would he the condemning revelation
Of your nature"
And you are going to show 1t to
him?" Pauline asked tiercely. From
the pocket of her gray frock little
| Nell drew the letter With firm hands,
| she folded 1t into the hands of her