Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-01
JILTED n By x' 4;::::.'
Copyright by Alliance

of, plodding trolleyward with a suit
case weighing down each sturdy black
sleeved arm. Suddenly she turned
and called back, 1.-THE forwardin' card
for the mailman is on the porch. Mrs
Higginson must have forgotten 1t.
"1'll give it to him" Helen , called IN
return, as she heard his whistle, or
mail it back to him"
She sped down the street to meet
Mr.. Lapham, the poStman. before the
bus came by. He was moving up the
walk two houses away, spare ana
grizzled and mild. She thrust it in his
hand.
Nights well have this mall" said
Mr.. Lapham, Sedate and unhurried.
He fished down in his bag and went
leisurely through a packet of letters,
needing any more" he said, smiling
waggishly at her through his steel
spectacles. Coin where they come
FROM"
She laughed and nodded and sped
back to her porch with a quick word
of farewell, opening her letter as she
ran. Tommy, taking chance as
usual. His last letter had been week
ago. and vaguer even than Tommys
letters were given to being. This had
q special on 1t, and the special had
done no more good than they ever did
In Kingsway, where the postmaster
seemed to regard them as an insult to
his system, and contrived to deliver
them later than regular mail or so the
townsfolk said. Helen opened it with
a little special rapture. Bless his
heart
1t began uueerly. Not Darling" or
"You Little idiot" or Angel" or even
impudently, "Snookums, you moron"
Dear Helen :"
Oh, we'll, perhaps he was feeling
soberer than usual, with marriage SO
close. She read on.
q. Dear Helen-If you weren't
the most understanding girl In the
world, this letter would be rougner 10
write than 1t is even. But you've always
been such a wonderful little pal, such a
stunning little sport, you'll understand.
Well, it's this way, Helen
She lifted her eyes and caught her
breath. What was it he was smoothing
her over and flattering her for, as shed
scolded him for doing to other people!
". This way, Helen, I'm queer
fellow Different. You know how am,
when I feel a thing have to say 1t. /
have to be honest with you. know
you'd want me to be. Well, Helen.
Oh, If he'd only stop Helentng her! :!
have realized since went that 1t wasn't
the real thing I felt, dear. shouldn't
wonder If you had, too"
She clutched the letter in ball. Not
the real thing! His love. Her love.
There was the bus, honking. But
it wasn't the real thing. He had wait
ed till the very last moment. Put II
off because 1t was disagreeable and
the door was locked and Tacy had the
key. -. ,-
her head and watched him go by,
numbed and chilly. And then she was
shaken by sudden panic terror. Per-
hans. after all, she'd read wrong. There
was a mistake; there must be. Silly
to doubt him that way! She could
change her ticket for q later train"
She smoothed the letter out again,
the stiff, well known gray paper that
had always meant Joy to get, Tommy's
well known rail-fence hand with its
dots and dashes. She made herself
read on steadily to the end.
"You will thank me, know, dear.
You wouldn't want me, knowing was
crazy over another girl. You're too
fine and true for that. You'd love her
If YOU knew her; she's q wonder. Her
name is Kay Heinemann. Her mother
was one of the people mother gave me
letters to, and her father is the head
of the bank; the one was sent out to,
you remember. Kay is the most splen-
did girl, more fun, and as strong! She
fences and rows and drives her car 200
miles at a lick; she has a Cadillac run
about that goes like a streak. She has
what I call wonderful bravery. She
caught her hand in the car door and
Just grinned and said, Silly of me, old
darl1ng!' only hope you get boy as
fine as my Kay. Helen. With love al
ways and no malice. But know you're
too big to bear malice.
"Afectionately. ever, Tommy"
The letter dropped to the porch floor.
Wonderful bravery" said Helen aim
lessly. Wonderful bravery.
No, guess I haven't any bravery. l
haven't anything" She began to laugh
Historically. II haven't even a tour
maline ring. And Tacy didn't need
it after all. Nobody can break Tacy's
heart. Or shame her. :"
She made blind step forward, her
teeth chattering, shaking from head to
foot. She must walk to the station and
redeem her ticket. She had to do and
undo a great many things and face a
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