Show THE GIRL MILDRED WHITE copyright 1918 ty by Weir Weli tera tern newspaper union billy rode gloomily through the flow er scented dusk his head bead usually held bold in soldier erectness now drooped as his eyes followed tho the line of road it was av over er at last his one dream of love billys life before the girl had come into it had been a routine of home and duty enjoyable enough but affer be had bad seen her there was no more ordinary routine no enjoyment in anything but the rapture of her presence yes tes that is the way that billy felt she had bad entered the entertainment ball of his home town toun one evening and had by chance included him in her cursory gaze then something do dormant had leaped to life in billys heart ile he had heretofore scoffed at love at first sight imaginary nonsense the matter of fact billy had called it but on this occasion lie he turned to a companion who he demanded confusingly but the companion understood guest of tho the hunters lie be re replied piled suddenly as though the girl herself was obsessed with the same strange magic she eho looked wonderingly back at billy across her lovely face flitted flirted a seeming glance of recognition then her eyes had been lowered demurely as she passed on into a seat billy fretted through the entertainment in his eagerness to meet her and fought his bis way through detaining friends at its conclusion to find tho the girl missing as he reached the end of the aisle billy sat until a late hour that night making various possible plans to gala gain the coveted acquaintance his chief difficulty being the removed social position of the hun hunters long had the wealthy copper mans family lorded corded it over their townspeople and billy was decidedly out of class the girl too lis his friend confided came front from a wealthy family and though billy was poor a pauper no doubt she would consider him here was the love of one night laughing at obstacles and scheming for victory but billys best laid plans failed utterly until the night of his bis enlistment A reception was given to the boys preparing to answer their count rys call and she was there more beautt beautiful than billy in his wistful dreams had fancied her was the little guest of the hunters then again as though answering his silent yearning call she looked back into billys eyes and miraculously crossed the room to his side the pretty color came and went in her cheeks as she had advanced toward him and he was ready with a reassuring greeting 1 I want to shake hands with our soldiers the girl said 1 I want to wish you well it was the companion again who introduced trod them and billy had been privileged to see her few times since these chance meetings were his rosary happily he counted them 0 o oer er land and oer while nearer came the time of his departure for camp striding savagely about the room billy acknowledged that so few meetings could not justify a confession of love and he further bitterly realized that his position could never warrant that confession so billy had bad bidden the girl good goodbye bye holding her hand in the clasp of a friend and murmuring that it had bad been a pleasure to know her she had bad smiled brightly over tile the farewell and assured him of her admiration for his courage so it was all over and its as billy now gloomily rode along he be came to the sign ot of the red lied cross benefit lawn F fete ete and in III hope hop that he might see th the e gr girl once more he left his car and p passed assed I 1 in n beneath the bunting but his se searching archino eyes were before him a gypsy tent floun flounced ted an invitation come in and have your fortune told and billy went inside then for a moment he stood Ms his heart pounding maddeningly for it was the idealized girl herself who in charming gypsy costume knelt in the center of the tent your fortune sir asked the girl and there was no recognition in her professional gaze billy collected himself with an effort and held forth his hand the girl bent low reading his palm while he longed wildly to kiss the flowers in her hair tomorrow she eho began you start upon a long journey much of sorrow and strife will you see but your return will be triumphant all joyful not joyful whispered billy questioning tio ning her eyes met his it if the woman I 1 love would be waiting g to rejoice with me that only could be true the dark eyes were sympathetic sympathetic the woman you love has refu refused sea you 1 I have not dared to speak my love billy said gently suddenly tent arid and gypsy were dor forgotten gotten but I 1 must tell you now and it matter soon I 1 will bo be away from the moment you first turned your face to mine girl how ive loved you I 1 poor and far removed from all that to which you are accustomed I 1 even dared to dream dreams which war has wisely ended lie ho arose goodbye good bye but tile the girl was again on her knees bending over his hand 1 I had not finished your fortune she said breathlessly your tour return will be triumphant all joyful because every stop step of your way the heart of the woman who loves you goes and 1 will wait for you here dear said th tb girl |