The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-04-28
THE TIGER GIRL
BY JACK LAYTON.
|eSeSeSeSeSe SeSeSeSeSe
"a. 1874. western Newspaper UAion.)

&C. 1Sz1. Westerh Ne"sp~S"A
The girl who was about to enter the
room stood poised on the stair ae
sound of voices below. She heard her
own name mentioned and waited. Her
nair 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.
81 call her the tiger-cat," her hostess
was saying. "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 endearing man
ner of cuddling up to one, caressing
with Its yellow head or begging pardon
with cushioned outstretched paws. That
is Pauline. When I iose patience with
her completely" Marion Dale smiled
her confession, pauline is sure to
come 1t over me one way or another.
She can charm and conciliate women
as well as men on those occasions
when 1t suits her purpose"
The small person on the window
seat turned so that the listener could
see her face.
aren't you bitter, MarionT she re-
proved.
"Bitter ~ Mrs. Dale's tone expressed
evaporation.
"It 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 q public exhibition is nee
essary, mercy knows; for the men fol-
low her about for smile or frown.
IL do not think" Nell said slowly.
''that Pauline will throw Paul over"
Nell paused between the door
draperies.
Maybe" she suggested, 'it migba
be better, Marion. to try to tame the
tiger" aa,
The golden-haired girl on the stair
scorned to move as the one whose
lover she had taken, came wide-eyed
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
1.-THE tigers claws" she quoted.
The hall was silent and deserted.
Nell sinking down upon lower step
smiled brayely 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 a
different code. To be so cynical one
must be unhappy. It 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. "Even YETI" she
asked insolently.
"Even yet" answered Nell.
Pauline leaned forward.
"And I could take your lover from
you tomorrow" she declared.
"Take him, and keep him forever"
She laughed, impishly touching her
pink finger tips to Nelrs arm. with
my claws" she tainted.
Sunless" Nell quietly replied, u
think 1t best to clip your claws. ]
could-do that"
The golden girls smile was incredu-
lous.
your she Knocked.
"KnOwing Paul." Nell went on calm.
~, "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
tiers this morning one wrongly adj
dressed was tossed into my lap. She
had mistaken the name, and ], think
Ing OF other things, tore open the en-.
velope absently and began to read
There was no other beginning to the
letter than the word "Dear." 1t was
from broken-hearted man, whom II
seems you had long ago charmed for
your school girl diversion. But when
you had carried the episode to the
point of a 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, 1t seems, continued true to his
love and sends now a. further plea
after all the years. Some men might
overlook such letter, but to Paul ii
would be the condemning revelation
Of your nature"
"And you are going to show 1t to
himY' Pauline asked fercely. From
the pocket Of her gray frOck little
Nell drew the letter. With firm hands,