Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1925-10-31
He Found the
Other One
By ANNA S. WARNER

! had no mother ana my father VAS
desperately poor. He could have made
more money but he was always work.
Ing at his inventions.
went To school In clothes that ma de
me a laughing stock among my better
cared-for playmates. Their jeers
whipped any confidence | might have
developed out of me. AS was passing
through door, my dress, forlOrn
and ripped widely apart. l shrank
back against the wall, my eyes cast
down, seeking to avoid the hooking
faces.
Then suddenly l felt a warm arm
thrown about my puny shoulders.
Margaret" said sweet voice. Lets
leave this silly crowd and 60 over and
get an ice cream cone"
In abashed wonder l looked up at
my rescuer. She was Ainsley Struth-
ers, the wealthiest girl in town.
School from that on became q diff
ferent matter. My status as Outcast
remained unchanged but now I had
princess to adore. Later she left town
to go away to famous school but the
glory Of her fingered to brighten my
days.
When was eighteen great change
came into my life. One of my fathers
inventions became an enormous sue
cess. From the towns outcast be-
came its heiress. l travelled abroad
for year.
Then Ned came into my life. /
know nOw-I even sensed 1t at one
time but blinded my eyes to the fact
that he wanted help from my father
and found me the best approach. In
evitably grew to love him.
hardly know why he married me
even with my wealth.
However, our first years passed not
unhappily. He was very good to me.
And we had money to go everywhere
and crafty all our whims. Of course
this took us places where there were
many women around us, soft in allur-
ing charms. Sometimes a fear would
stab me that he might be drawing COM
PARSONS. But l would Danish It;
change my dressmaker, and buy new
furbelows.
The fourth winter began in the same
groove. Then one afternoon Ned
came home greatly upset. needed no
one to tell that something vital had
happened. At first he evaded my ques-
tons then abruptly he broke OUT
'Maida," calling me by the name
that was his alone, II believe you're
big enough to let me tell you the
truth. I want my freedom. l wouldn't
ask it for myself alone but for her"
1 stared stupidity at him. "HerY I
stammered.
Eyes, Mazda. I had thought never
to see her again. We met by chance
today. She is poor-poverty poor. She
needs me. She loves me. 1 never
knew that before. But it seems our
love is too great for anything to come
between, even you"
Blind fury was rising In my soul at
this other one who dared try to snatch
Ned from me- The hussy! Poor was
she? And wanting some Of my money
probably-and going after Ned now
she thought he had It,"
"Malda, If you could see her at that
wretched lodging house on Elm and
Tenth, she, the dainty one, your heart
would bleed, too. She came into town
only yesterday. She said she thought
that perhaps, here, she might find
someone who would give her work to
earn a decent living. But I want to
believe she hoped 1 was still living
here. She didn't know was married"
Oh. didn't she? I clenched my
hands. How she deluded him! But he
had played into my hands now. 1
knew where to find her. Once let me
get her out Of tOwn-no. matter what
bride she demanded-then I could find
some new distraction for Ned. If I
lacked money for all that, could sell
some shares. I'd help hi'---Ame way.
contrived to evade answering him
pleaded for time. And as soon as I
could, without arousing his suspicious,
I was on my way to find her. OF
course, did not know her name but I
could track down all young ladies ar
irving yesterday ut lodgings on that
corner. There proved to be only one
lodging and only one arrival. They
said she was up in her room and gave
me the number.
The door was not latched and swung
inward at my rap. saw, the other
woman in Ned's life, beautiful for all
her shabby dress, young for all her
blue pinched face. But 1t was not
until she looked up at me with her
clear gray eyes, fringed with those
great dark lashes, that I recognized
Ainsley Struthers, the princess of my
girlhood With choking cry I sank
down beside her and flung my arms
about her.
But even as l clasped her, realiza-
ton came to me. Ainsley was the
girl taking Ned from me. My arms
loosened. 1 started to push her away.
But I seemed to feel again a warm
girlish arm encircling me and a sweet