Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1922-06-30
THE OTHER MAN
So JOAN NJ. GRAY

ana Marie worked unit. She 90, him.
Mare MAS i!avriri'S best tricnd a::d
had AL III" "lpurt unlties in the world
-ai:d u'cl t.."m. Harriet had liked
Tie itah very mulch and thcy had bc,,u
'h>"ua:ahie for Years. He had br,.:l
everything To i.cv since her mothers
'l"ath amt >h. hui taken It FOR granted
thai they would always Ue everything
to each other.
She returned unexpectedly from a
visit to dance at the Country club
and found them there together. She
packed her things and went to live
with Aunt Harriet.
Aunt Harriet invited her husbands
nephew out for weekend, KNOWN.
that heart can be caught on the re-
bound
Harriet met Richard and Richard
fell In love with Harriet. She ac-
cepted it all with a maddenins half
smile, plainly showing that she didn't
believe it.
Don't smile like that. Harriet" he
pleaded. "Iou'rc too sweet to be cyni
cal"
I'm not cynical. lin just very, very
careful" she returned. IL do not in
tend to let you make me think yuu
love HE and then nave you leave ne
for the first attractive girl who Smiles
1T YOU"
''L""! ut me-" he sad. "Somrune
has done something to turn YOU against
everything. Its hot pose AMI lis
not Il broken heart you're hiding. It's
" ,i,,l a,,l.i, Inr ,r;,
chance"
Its not wounded pride and l don't
want to talk To you again"
but YOU are going to Mrs. Her
rick's dance with me-"
| Dick was 4 wonderful dancer 'WrN.
| ye-eS," said Harriet. but don't want
! 10 see YOU again until thcn,' and left
! Him staring moodily ut the fire.
When Harriet came down the stairs
! dressed for the dance, it was decided
| ~ pleasant to have Dick waiting for
her and to hear him say that She
| looked lovely in her crisp little rose
! frOck. She shut her heart to all soft
ness and kept the conversation ON Il
| safe basis.
They entered Myra Herrick's pretty
living-room now stripped bare for
dancing, and greeted her. With a
| shock Harriet saw Marie and the man.
| She passed them with Il little nod and
Introduced Dick 10 Il group of friends
amid the amused glanccS of many
| eyes. She would show them!
The evening wore on and Marie aad
the man were outraSts as far as Iar-
| ript and Dirl; wprp cnprnrDnl
Harriet suddenly became aware that
Marie was smiling at Dick and that
! Dick was not alOof
Lets go out and sit on the s.uirS.''
| she said to Dick. The stairs were
ShadOwy. Dicks heart leaped.
"Would you like an ice?" he. asked
rs she dropped down near the top. She
nodded YEARLY AMI he went down to
fetch one. She got up and walked
along the palm-embowered balcony
looking down upon the dancers passing
the door. Suddenly she Stffened
Richard was dancing with Marie!
She dropped into a chair, her face
white. Suddenly the man stood before
her. Harriet" he said softly, "you
don't think much OF me, do you?"
| ulu, Sne Siliu Nuiiy.
Dear little girl" the man ex-
claimed, do YOU love this splendid
Dick? 1t was l made him dance with
Marie! I wanted this talk with YOU"
you mean-hc knows about us?"
"No. I had hoped you'd take me
back-and tell him yourself Harriet.
think. I've missed YOU horribly Won't
you take me back?"
mo. no." she cried. "They're com
ing up the stairs. Go and take Marie
away"
The man looked at her strangely a
moment and turned away and left her.
She saw him laugh Il moment with
Dick and turn away with Marie. Dick
came to her with white face and grim
! mouth
Harriet, what Is that man to you p
ooh. Dick he-he-"
"Tell me, Harriet"
"Dick. he's my fatherw she said
tragically.
"YOur Father" Dick answered.
"Oh, Dick. ] loved my dad and he
loved me, and he loved mother so.
How could he let Marie take her place?
i'c was the oh'S 'du nuu ana i WAS
the only child he had, and vet he's let
me be so lonely! Can't you under
stand?"
eyes, dear. You're the one it's hard
on. Your father and Marie seem han.
py."
"They are-selfshly."
marie, perhaps, but not your faith.
er. He wants your forgiveness ter
ribly."
They sat together side by side.
"Harrict," Dick said, will you mar
| ry me?"