The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-11-08
Playing the Love
Game
By MYRA, CURTIS LANE


Martha McEwan busted herself
about the boarding house. She was
her sisters only aid, for maids
were nowhere to be had, and the
place was packed that July. Al
Martha busted in the parl0r she
sang. but presently two tears
dropped from her eyes. She turned
around to see her sister Minnie, ten
years her senior. looking at her.
Don't cry. Marty" she said.
THAT fellows not worth It."
She was crying on account Of
Harry. A week before they had
known that their love was eternal.
but that was before Lucy Ensleigh
came out from the city for her
holiday. Martha had known Harry
a long time, and Lucy had known
him two days when 1t became plain
what was happening.
Martha grew very silent. Harry
assumed a hang-dog look whenever
ne passed her. He was ashamed
OF himself, but Inc was infatuated
with the pretty. city girl.
She was only playing with him.
She would go back. and then Mar.
tina would tell Harry what she
thought Of him II ever he came
hanging around her again. She
despised him more than would have
seemed possible week before.
She went to the door, and shad.
Ing her eyes from thessun, looked
up the road. Yes, there they came
together, back from the river.
where they had been in the canoe.
They were walking close together.
A spasm Of fierce jealousy shook
the girls heart.
II wonder he's got the nerve"
said Minnie, II wonder he hadn't
the good taste to leave anyway.
He's treated you like q dog. Mar.
tina. Don't you worry about him"
The two were coming up to the
house. Minnie, with sniff of con.
tempt, went in. but Martha stood
there, torturing herself as she saw
how close together they were; how
Harry's hand fingered near Lucy's
sleeve.
They looked up and saw her. On
the girls face was that look Of trl.
umph which only one woman can
show toward another. But on Har.
rvs face there was an expression
almost of appeal.
Martha stood aside and the cou.
pie went inside. She went back
to her busting. It was q common.
place little tragedy-every woman's
tragedy. She would have to bear
1t.
Three days later Lucy went
away. Harry did not accompany
her to the station. He took his
departure that afternoon, shame.
faced as he said good-by. He lived
ten miles away. He often used to
run out on Sundays. Now Martha
hoped she would never see him
again.
Days passed. She was beginning
to get over the shock, moreover the
humiliation. She had never had
another lover; she was a quiet girl:
faithful. loyal. .. She would
never love again. And she knew
that her love for Harry was aDso'
lutely dead. =.
! She knew, It most surely of all
when he stood Unexpectedly before
her one afternoon q month later.
swell, 'Harry?"
"NIay come IMP he asked
humbly.
She led the way inside. She
looked at him in gentle inquiry.
Martha" he burst out. Il know
4 what you must think Of me, Duh
can you believe me when I tell you
that I-never cared for her1" :.
1T doesn't matter, Harry; oil
that is over" she answered.
II must tell you. I-couldn.t re
sist her. 1t wasn't love, just fascl'
nation. She told me the day she
left, when I asked II / could "a
and see her, that she had never
cared for me. She had been lead
ing me on, to amuse herself She
is engaged to a rich man In tn
city. She has no heart at all"
"And so you thought you would
come back to me7' asked Martha
"Only because I always did care
Just the same. Martha, won't you
couldn't you forgive me and
take me back again?"
"Do you really want me. Harry
she asked.
"With all my heart-even then
And, looking at him, she knew
that something had just come t.
birth in her: some understanding
the sense of the maternal love. %
much deeper than that other, tn
part that a woman must play
toward a man eternally-the moth
er's.
every well, Harry" she an
swered. "But don't kiss me-no'
vet, Harry, dear. Next time yor
come. 60 home now; I want Il
he alone"
%. 1923. Western Newspaper unioAl
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