THE OTHER GIRL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3802, 25 January 1927, Page 80

THE OTHER GIRL.

By

Emily Baizeen.

(Copyright.—Fob the Witness.)

Alvina really should have been happy. She was encased in a model gown that was ■'•-. making its first appearance, and her millinery would have caused the native spark •a of envy to burst into flame in the heart of every other feminine creature who happened to be within staring distance of her. But Alvina carried beneath . her wondrous adornments such an aching, nervously fluttering heart; such a troubled, tortured mind, concerning one, Matt A. Munroe, her dearly-loved six-months-old bridegroom, that she was completely ...robbed of any of that natural joy stimulus she must otherwise have felt. One week ago, and the thought of these vague “troubles,” which are supposed invariably to overtake the married, had seemed but a distant, intangible chimera to her. And now she was on her way to consult a detective about her Matt and another woman. Alvina lacked nothing in attractiveness as she got off the tram and stepped out towards Detective Vernon’s office in the ’ city. More than one man who passed her smoothed down the collar of his coat or straightened his necktie. But Alvina heeded them not. If she did think just then of men in the abstract, she felt she must have hated them all because of her own deceiver. “Ye gods! But she’s young and beautiful !” exclaimed old Colby Vernon to himself in tones of astonishment. He had been watching for nearly an hour to catch a glimpse of this new client through his office window. They’re usually past forty, scraggy, or unlovely, when they come here on such an errand as her’s,” he said to the office walls as she came up the stairs. “Mr Vernon?” 'said Alvina rather timidly. ‘ Colby bowed his very best, and she gave him her card. Her eyes were opened widely, and a look of trouble burned in theii- blue depths. The detective showed her where to sit, and placed himself in a chair opposite. Then he quietly proceeded to find out how much or how little she really knew about the Dobbs-Munroe affair?’ . . “I got your letter yesterday morning,. Mrs Munroe,” he said, “and I understand that you suspect ’your husband of not being quite true to yourself—that you want me to find out for you if he takes a lady out to the theatre or to dinner, or whether he really does stay at the bank, working late, as he tells vou. Is that correct, Mrs Munroe?” Alvina looked round the office and shuddered. Then she grew nervous, and seemed a little bit embarrassed as she answered, . “Oh, Mr Vernon. I don’t know anything for certain! But I’m awfully worried all the same. You won’t let my husband •. know that I came to you?” abruptly and anxiously. Vernon reassured her, and she went on with more confidence. “I should die of shame of he were to find out that I came here. It seems such a perfectly dreadful thing to 710— employ a detective to watch one’s husband. But seeing that he has left me for-her, of course I am simply dying to find out all I can about her—and him,” she added bitterly. She turned her ring round her fingers in an agitated way, and Vernon saw that the ‘ tears were not far behind her eyes., “Has your husband left you, Mrs Munroe?” he asked in surprised tones. “Why, no!” gasped Alvina, and she gazed at Colby in amazement. How could he think such a stupid thing? ‘But you just said ”he began to remind her, and Alvina said impatiently, ‘Oh, I didn’t mean in that vulgar way— I mean that he has left me—-er —in his affections, his love vou know.” Alvina placed the tips of her dainty fingers over her tinv mouth and coughed. Colby eyed her keenly. What makes you think that your husband has transferred his affections? Did he say so?” “Good gracious me, no! He doesn’t even-know that I know, anything about th 6 affair. He is just the same towards me in his manner as he has always been. 1 have to. go away from him sometimes for fear that b shall scream out and tell, him he.'is a perfect hypocrite.” ‘ I think,” said the old man slowly, ‘that it would be far better for you, Mrs Munroe, if you were to first tell your husband of—your suspicions, and so' give him a fair chance to explain Ins conduct—that is, if there is anything really needing explanatxion.” ; Mrs Munroe shook her head. “I believe you ar e going to take sides against- me, Mr- Vernon,” she said, and, she added pettishly, “if you are, I don’t - know whatever I shall'do. I coulan’t ; possibly consult a young detective about anything, like this, and I do so want to find out.” She gazed pathetically at Colby’s white locks and sighed. He shrugged his shoulders and said: .“You are quite wrong, Mrs Monroe. 1 Simply wish to suggest vour best line of action in the case; but if you have -decided to act otherwise—well, then it is your own affair, not mine. But it is my duty to remind you that som<& of the most exemplary of wives ’ sometimes allow unjust .suspicions to spoil both their own and their husband’s lives.” - To this Alvina agreed quite readily.

“Oh, yes, I know they do, Kfr Vernon. But I saw my husband with the girl, and I suppose I can believe what I see?” Vernon shook his head at her very gravely. _____ “When we love, we are apt to be jealous, and when we are iealous, we are apt to imagine that' we see more cause for our jealousness than we -actually do see,” he said. “Goodness,” said Alvina, “that sounds like a lecture. Is it?” Vernon smiled. “It means,” he answered, “that very likely you are judging your husband unfairly.” “Oh,” sighed Alvina wistfully, “I really hope that I am.” Colby cleared his throat and remarked drily: . “Airs Munroe, how would you like it if your husband were to suddenly become suspicious of you and employ .a detective to shadow your every action?” “I shouldn’t mind it in the very least, because I don’t walk out with nice-looking men on the..sly, and I never go to the theatre or any other place unless he knows.” Colby was impressed. He beamed admiration at her; there is nothing under the sun nicer than a clean, straight, womanly woman. Colby thought it would never “do to let even a well-founded cause for jealousy spoil her golden simplicity. He felt just then that he could have enjoyed a good free kick at Matt A. Munroe; but he went on pleading his shady cause instead—for Alvina’s sake. “You say that you saw vour. husband with this other lady. Where was that, Mrs Munroe?’* “In the street one afternoon when 1 went to meet him as he came from the bank. It was to have been a little pleasant surprise for him, but it was I who got the surprise instead,” she added bitterly. “What did you see?” “Why Matt—my husband—walking along the street with a girl, and they were looking at each other, and talking to each other, just like a pair of lovers. I never saw Matt look at me like he was looking at her—no, not once,” she ended dismally. ONow, Mrs Munroe,” protested Colby, with great earnestness, “that’s pure jealously and imagination—absolutely nonsense, in fact.” Alviria shook her head slowly. “I wish I could think so,” she said. “What did you do when you saw them?” Colby asked. “I went into the arcade and hid myself.” “Poor little woman,” said Colby, “you shouldn’t have been so silly. If, instead, you had gone on to meet vour* husband that day, I feel sure you would have been spared an endless lot of this misery, which you seem so bent upon dealing out to yourself.” Alvina promptly retorted : . “You seem bent on making me out a jealous, suspicious sort of person who has had no cause whatever to justify my action in “I don’t want you to be unhappy,” defended Colby with entire truth. Alvina was touched, and her lips began to tremble. Colby looked away out through the window. Alvina went on a little brokenly : “We were so happy— at least, I was—before I began to hear about that girl ; we’ve got suph a lovely little home, and Matt is—was—no, he is still a dear to me, and -now this horrid affair has spoilt everything. But Matt is so handsome, Mr Vernon, so I suppose the girl really couldn’t help liking him. He is my husband, though, and—and —” “Calm yourself,” advised Colby at this juncture. Alvina dabbed her eyes and gazed pathetically at Vernon. “You’ve told me what you saw, Mrs Munroe, but not anything about what you’ve heard,” he suggested. “Ah, I’ve heard quite'a lot that I was not meant to hear,” said; Alvina, “but 1 have also heard plenty of little stories about the affair, which some of my friends made it their special delight to tell me.” Colby detected the bitterness towards the kind friends, and he understood how happy this girl-wife would be if it were made possible for her to prove those stories to be unfounded, malicious, untrue. “Why believe them?” said Colby gently. “Well,” said Alvina, “I. saw him myself, you know. Besides, the '■ stories really do fit in perfectly with his ‘late hours’ at the bank, and hjs other absences from home. One of my lady friends saw him at the 'Grand last week, and she told me that a friend of hers heard my husband and the girl make up to dine there again to-morrow evening, and wheq Matt mentioned that''he would be working late to-morrow (he told me that on Sunday), I askefl my mother what I should do, and she advised me to consult you, because , you are old and wise, and would be the very person I could go to.” Colby coughed. “I’m. sure it. was very nice of your mother to say so,” he said modestly, and he added: “I will certainly do my very best for you, Mrs Munroe. Now, let me see what it is you want me to .do?” ’. Alvina looked straight in his eyes. "I want you to find put who that girl is, and whether my husband really does take her cut or not—more especially tomorrow evening.” “Very well. I shall be able to everything, say, next Thursday afternoon, if .you call.” • — ? J, “Thank you,” said Alvina; and she rose to go. . "

“What would you do, may I ask, Mrs Munroe, if all your suspicions turn out to be correct?” ‘ “I—l’d leave him, of course.” c Colby raised his eyebrows. She had called that kind of thing “vulgar” at the beginning of the interview. “And if they were quite unfounded?” he said. A soft light shone for a second in Alvina's eyes. “I’d live again,” she said simply. “Well, I predict you will live,” he replied, and “Good Lord! how she loves the scamp!-” he told himself after she had gone. Colby Vernon sat thinking deeply for a long time after Alvina had left him. Then he decided that an interview with the “other girl” would be the very best thing to bring about in the interests of all parties concerned. He had found out who the other girl was on the previous day; just two hours after he had received Alvina’is letter. She was a Miss Dobbs, leading saleswoman in Gibson’s large drapery establishment at the smartest end of the city. Colby boldly rang her up, and after a little explanation and talking over the telephone. Miss Dobbs said she would call at his office in the course of an hour or two and talk things over with him. *~ * * Miss Dobbs was, no doubt, as . Mr Vernon thought, uncomfortably beautiful —attractive with a beauty which other women might admire, but would rather not see in a rival. There were' faults in her face. The chin, in spite of its dimple, might have been rounder; her mouth, with all its redness, was a little too wavering; her eyebrows were a shade too straight. She had wonderful hair, neither .auburn nor gold nor brown, but a suggestion of all three; brown eyes, with an unclouded frankness shining through them. She sighed, and smiled with ineffable graciousness on the office and fittings, glanced at the mortal on the other side of the desk, and sank into one of the chairs. “You wished to see me, Mr Vernon,” she said, in tones sweetly feminine, even aristocratic. Vernon felt that he for himself a not very pleasant task. But he decided to see it through bravely, and told himself, in order to tonic up his flagging spirits, that Alvina was “an angel”; besides, she was the wife. He frankly did not know how to begin, so he pinned his faith for safety on to his -white years, and said: “Miss Dobbs, I am an old man, and for that reason alone I hope you will pardon me, and listen to what I must say to you, or ask : you, concerning a certain little affair between yourself and -—er —er —” “Matt Munroe,” finished the girl, calmly. “Yes,” said Vernon. “I suppose you know that he is a married man?” Her cheeks went red, and her eyes seemed lit by a hundred fires, and all of them blazing. “I do,” she said. “Did she ask you to speak to me?” “Certainly not,”'said Colby. „ “Why did you want to see me?” “Miss Dobbs, I am an old man, and—” began Colby again, but the girl interrupted him with an impatient wave of her slim white hands. “Of course vou are,” she said. “Anybody can see that, Mr Vernon. But what has that to do with me?” “Everything,” answered Colby quickly. “I have had a wide experience with life and its temptations. I want to advise you to open your eyes to the harm you are doing by your .encouragement of a, shall we say, an infatuated young man.” Miss. Dobbs frowned. , “Suppose I also am infatuated?” she asked boldly. Vernon shook his head at her just as gravely as he had done to Alvina, although he understood that the two women were as. far apart in their ideas, socially speaking,,as the east is from the west. Miss Dobbs, was essentially a woman of the world, and Colby could Rave staked his life that she was in no sense a wicked one. “Infatuation is the most dangerous disease in the world,” he answered. “Disease!” said Miss Dobbs. “Infatuation may be disease—love is life.” Colby thought of the other girl’s words, “I’d live again,” and he grew sterner with this one, who could dare to sit there and defend her impossible position. “I never heard anything like it,” said Colby, although he had. “In love with a married man! And- to see you no one would guess you had .it in you. Such a refined, lady-like girl as you are! Surely you cannot realise the trouble vou are causing, Miss Dobbs?” he added more gently. - “Do you ?” “What trouble?” said Miss Dobbs. “Why. with his wife! It means nothing in future but the divorce court.” Miss Dobbs laughed. “How little you know about it,” she said. “Do you suppose that love like ours takes people to the divorce court ? ” “ Well, what else? ” he asked. “ Human nature is human nature, you know.” “But human nature isn’t love,” said Miss Dobbs. » Vernon shifted his ground.

“ Miss Dobbs, I sent for you because I ’wished to give you a chance to free yourself from an ugly position. People will talk; they are talking now, in fact, and that is how I came to be consulted about the affair. His wife will hear of it. The outlook is c'ertainly an unpleasant one.” - Miss Dobbs .

“ His wife knows, then,” she said. “Anyhow, it?s all the same to me if all the world, knows that I love Matt Munroe. I do, and I have loved him ever since I first met him, years ago,” she added. This somewhat- surprised Colby. He had thought that the affair was a flirtation of a few months’ duration. Perhaps it was not an all, but something in the nature of an old love tragedy; If so, poor Alvina! ~ ' Colby kept on: “I have daughters of my own, Miss Dobbs, who are about your own age, and I am trying to advise you just as I would wish anybody to advise them if ever they were unfortunate enough to be placed in the same position as you are. What I am trying to urge upon you is this: that whenever there is a wife or husband to be ignored there is mischief.” “ I don’t know that I particularly wish to ignore her. I would not care if she knew that I loved him.” Colby stared at the girl. “ But have you no thought for her feelings upon the subject. She may love her husband as dearly as you seem to do.” “ She may,” Miss Dobbs allowed, Ci but he does not love her. You see, Mr Vernon, I jilted him once, long before he met his wife. He married under the insane idea that his love for me was dead. He really liked the pretty little thing, and I do believe they would have been fairly happy—only chance threw him and me together again, and now we both know our own minds as well as our hearts—when, as far as marriage goes, it is too late.” “Why did you jilt him if you cared so much for him ? ” “ Oh, dear, I can’t go into all that now. At all events he was mine first—he is still mine. He does not love the other woman.” “My dear young lady, you forget. You are the other' woman —she is his wife.” “ I’m not saying she is not, but I’m afraid you do not understand me. I flo not think that I am doing wrong. There is no law either of God or man to forbid my loving him. You may saw off your head, pluck out your eye, but love is the very soul of you—you can’t touch it.” Colby said nothing, so she -went on. Surely if we see each other sometimes, talk to each other, there can be no harm in that. Anyhow, let people say what they like about me. I care not a straw what they say.” Vernon saw that he had but one last chance to win Alvina’s case, and that was to make an appeal on behalf of the man they both, loved, for whose sake he vaguely understood that the girt seated here would do almost anything —perhaps she would even give him up. He would see. “And may they say what they like about him ? Do you want to see him pointed at? I daresay you are right, and they won’t be able to say much —- but it will be enough. You must remember that he is a young man with his way to make in the world. He is rather well known in the city. Any little bit of gossip about him is almost certain to be pounced upon and exaggerated. You may tell me that love is stronger than death—than destruction —than the world. You will soon see, however, that it is not stronger than scandal. Your love will bring him nothing but evil.” The girl looked away from Colby, up at the blue patch of sky through the w’ .dow. “ If I thought that I would kill myself,” she said. Vernon fazed at her. “ I believe she loves him even more than the other one does,” ho thought, but aloud he said: “ Don’t say that, but rather meet your folly and conquer it. You will tell me that this man of his own free will loved you and will always love you; that he will never love anyone else. I grant all that. But all men are very much what women make them; their wills may be iron, but women don’t’ attack them through their wills. They throw their spell over their judgment. Sometimes the spell works for good—more often for evil, for women, as a rule, are meaner than men, though men are mean enough, heaven knows.” “ Do you think that my influence over Mr Munroe is mean?” asked the girl. Vernon spoke gently. “If you were his wife it would only be for good.. I am sure of that. But as you are not his wife your influence is only^—-can only he —dangerous. You must prove your love for him, Miss Dobbs.” , “ How ? ” she asked, though his meaning -was beginning to dawn in on her brain at last. “ Sometimes,” said Colby, “ a -woman can best show her love for a man by leaving him. In some cases it is., the only thing i she can do. Be a nrave girl, Miss Dobbs.” . Miss Dobbs coloured painfully, and began to tremble. . ' “i; will do what is best for him,” she said. “As for me, without him there can be no best.” After a long silence she said: “I am asking so little—only to see him sometimes. It isn’t much.” “ Each time you see him it will be harder to say good-bye. Remember that.” -—“-I am used to hard things. I suffered two long years without him, and I think of him always.” “I am not asking you to forget him. But it is your duty to help him to forget you, Any woman can give up the world for a man—that is easy enough. When’ it comes to giving, him up “for his own sake it is another matter. I think you are a woman who can do that.”

There was another loflg silence. At last the girl said: “In two days’ time I shall be starting for the West. I got an offer of a good place from one of the' big firms out there, and which \ for some reason or other I have not yet answered. I will wire them to-day. An aunt of mine who lives there writes me glowing accounts of the place, more especially about the spendid air. She says it is so much healthier than it is here—maybe it is. I shall write to Mr Munroe tonight. He will hate me afterwards.” When she-roae from her chair it seemed a,s though she had lost her beauty; she was like one changed to stone. Colby felt he could say nothing. Miss Dobbs held out her hand. “ You should have taken holy orders, Mr Vernon,” she said bravely. They both laughed and Colby said: “No, thank you, Miss Dobbs! I fancy the part of peacemaker is too hard a one to play always. They shook hands. “ Good-bye, and —thank you,” said Miss Dobbs. On the stairs she drew a long breath which sounded rather like a sob; then sh went slowly down tl;e staircase into the street.