Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-06-05
The Girl He Left
Behind
By FRANK WALL

THE OLE home town basking drows-
L lily in the warm sunshine, looked
good to John MacNeil after his three
corner of the block when he came out
of the depot This was where he had
proposed to her. he remembered, his
eyes twinkling. 1t was in the middle
Of winter and there had been q heavy
snowstorm; and just as he stopped
for her answer an avalanche of snow
slumped Off the roof and stretched
them fiat on the sidewalk.
"And | held her there until she
said, Yes" he muttered. Gave man
stuff, she called it, but she liked 1t.
Gosh They all do"
And away he swung again down the
little street where her firm was To-
Gated.
He asked the girl at the information
desk for Edna Burke. She smiled at
his question.
Miss Burkel" he said again, and
there was a snap in his voice this
time.
you mean Mrs. Marshall" she said
at last.
81 mean Miss Burke"
"She's Mrs Marshall now. It's the
same one. She used to be Edna
Burke"
MacN&l passed his hand slowly
across his cheek He felt as II his
face were frozen. Dye mean she's
marrledT he said quietly.
81 guess so. Next, please"
Thank you" he said mechanically,
and he walked out.
Some men would have insisted on
seeing her, but what was the use? He
called up her firm and asked for Mrs.
Marshall, and when he heard her voice
he put the receiver back on the hook
and went to take up his new job with
out even speaking to her.
He had planned to surprise her with
his return. Well, she had surprised
him, that was ALL
When he was recently offered the
editorshlp of the paper where he had
started his newspaper career as a cub
reporter he thought 1t was the most
wonderful thing that had ever hap
pened In his life. His three years In
New York had not weakened his long
ing for the old home town. In all of
his letters to Edna Burke he had
dwelt on his ambition to make good
In metropolitan newspaper work; but
all the time-thOugh he was too
proud to own 1t after the way he had
reproached her for not wanting him
to go-he had just longed to get back.
No, 1t wasn't that at all, he told
himself savageiy. II was Edna he
wanted to get back to- Manlike, he
was twisting the knife In his wound,
merely hurting himself to prove he
didn't care. he went up the old stone
steps of the Eagle with a heart like
lead, and walked through the big edi-
torial room, where he had planned to
make such a triumphal entry, with his
face all white and set.
He entered the editorial sanctum
unannounced and nodded grimly to
old Lennon, whom he was to replace.
The old man greeted him affection
ately.
But you don't look WELL" he quay
cred 81 guess New York didn't agree
with you"
I'm all right" said MacNeil vague
ly and he began to ask questions
about the paper.
Lennon showed him what was nee
essary End said he was staying on for
u few weeks to get him started He
insisted on MacNeil taking the edi-
torial chair by the window and went
to desk at the other side of the
room
Boys we're rushing in all the time
with proofs. Hooper, the editorial
writer, came to suggest a change In
one Of the editorials in the noon edi-
ton. Lennon referred them all to
MacNel and he answered them in his
quick incisive fashion, but his face
was like mask over the despair that
was gnawing at his heart.
Then you think this editorial
should be changed?" said Hooper.
MacNeil was staring out of the win
dow. He saw Edna coming slowly
across the square, her arm linked with
that of a good-looking young fellow, at
whom she was glancing continually.
MacNeil turned slowly. He hadn't
heard word the other man had said
but he nodded vaguely. He couldn't
speak just then.
Hooper went out and Lennon went
| 1T l.
slumped back in his chair his face
haggard. When the boy presently
opened the door, he didn't even look
up. He didn't hear the footsteps that
came swiftly into the room. 1t was
the sight of small hand resting on
his desk that reused him. He looked
up at her, his heart beating wildly.
"You shouldn't he here" he said
You're married, you know"
And then her arms were round his
neck. She was crying and laughing
and speaking all at once IL called
myself Mrs. Marshall because in my
other place the men were always ask.
ing me to go out" she said.
But that man You were with in the
square?"
Its my brother back from South
America. Don't Won rememberY !
told you about hi'a"
MacNeil sat up and pushed his hand
through his hair Mr., Marshall" he
said thoughtfully, i've q new job Tor
YOU, and this time ,1H uuny call yous.
self Mrs. MacNell.'