The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1867-03-02
WON AND LOST.

sparkling through the darkness of a beauti-
ful Venetian night the antique clock had
Just struck nine, and Major Wentworth.
unattached, late of the st Foot, dreamily
smoking his cigar on the balcony, mechani-
lcally counted the strokes without realizing
the onward creep Of time.
IL think she loves me- he unused, watch
ing the FAR offlights" that seemed to float
upon the crystal distance of the Adriatic
sea. "Surely 1 cannot be mistaken"
The Major was dark and handsome, with
features possessing regularity and beauty
and brown, misty eyes, where the light
slept In dreamy quiesence-a man In full
prime of life. And rs he sat there watch
Ing the stars and sky, there was q son
rustic on the balcony beside him, and an
arch triumphant little laugh.
80 l have found o at last Major
Wentworth ~ was the exclamation that
met his ear.
"Werc you looking for me, Mrs. Vail p
said the Major.
Lillian Vail was a woman, every inch OF
her. and in her woman nature she felt the
strong, subdued tenderness of the heart
that spoke out through his words.
Looking for yOu-no," said Lillian, with
a charming stimulation Of total iudiier-
enee "but | wondered where you had
gone.i'
Major Wentworth tossed his cigar over
the rail of the balcony with q strange hut-
ter at his heart he felt, somehow, that the
hour Of his destiny was nigh.
why do you do that ?" she questioned.
II shall not stay more than u minute"
''Stay, Lilian,' he pleaded. 81 must
speak to YOU
Lillian came out a step or two farther on
the balcony, and took the first seat that
Major Wentworth moved forward.
'And now what Is this wonderful Sc
crot ?" she laughed, looking up TO the face
of the man who stood close to her, leaning
against the rail of the balcony with folded
arms-an erect graceful figure.
at is no secret, Lillian he said com
posedly 'only that | love you you must
have known it long ago"
"Heavens! And | could almost have died
TO save you this ~ she cried, shrinking
backwards. mo, Gervase-not another
word. | must not llsten.'
lie looked at her with u wonder that al
most amounted to terror. Was this the
way women received n declaration Of
love?
II have a right to expect IN answer Lii
IAN" said the Major. ~ have n right TO
know, from your own lips, whether or no
you will marry me"
II cannot marry you, Gervase," she re-
piled.
"You cannot marry men he repeated
slowly; Lillian, Lillian, have you never
loved me 2"
"Oh, Gervase. do not ask me. Do not
compel me to disclose my own weakness"
she sobbed.
MY darling!' he said, taking both her
hands in his, and looking into her eyes with
a searching gaze.
IL do love you, Gervasc," she said | haze
loved you
yet you will not marry me, Lillian ?" he
asked.
Il tell you it is impossible" she replied.
"Oh, if | had gone away weeks ago-if I
had only died, Gervaser ~
He checked her hysteric sobs with gentle
gravity.
II am to understand, then. that there is
some deep mystery here" he said. what
is it., Lillian? Why can you not marry
me?"
IL KNOW know" he said. with a puz-
Yled look "but you are a widow"
~ am not a widow, Gervasc," she re-
piled. MY husband is still living"
Lillian. ~ he said, r~elinquishing his hold
of her hand.
ut is not my fault, Gervase," she sobbed.
TO me he has long been dead; but he is
still living, rs the world calls it." And then
she told him all her griefs.
My poor Lillian ~ he murmured 'and |
would have cherished you so tenderly."
"Do you blame me now, Gervase? ?" she
whispered.
mo, Lillian, we must bear our burdens rs
best we may replied, sadly. mine will
always be grevious for the knowledge that
you have loved me. And now, dearest, we
part forever
But you will love me still ~ she said,
with wild, startled eyes.
'FOrevcr, Lillian ~ he replied.
When the guests met next morning ut
the breakfast table one accustomed face was
missing. Major Wentworth had returned
to England.
Gone echoed a gay young girl-"how
shall miss him shall we not, Mrs. Vail ~
"Certainly we shall miss him." replied
Lillian calmly.
From England, Major Gervase Went
sailed for America, where the war
had just broken out, about AS Indifferent as
to What could betall him rs a man can well
be. Accepting n commission in the South
ern army, he passed through the four
years war SCathlesS.
"Fate is Il strange problem! ~ thought
Major Wentworth. "Death-an honorable
have been Il boon to me yet
how many times have | stood unframed and
seen fall around me those who had every
tie to make life sweet to them! My poor
little Lillian; | wonder If she is half as
heart sick as | am ?"
1t is often harder to live patiently than
to die herolcally. And so Major Gervase
Wentworth found il, while with every day
and week the love for Lillian Vale grew
n deeper in his heart, But he
never wrote to her. Once he had received
Il few lines from her-a note that he wore
next to his heart but he dared not
risk an answer. Brave soldier, courageous
man though he was, he dared not, lest the
love that was so hard to subdue should
up, rebellious and oonquering with
In him, to urge him to do and dare every
thing for her sake.
IL was a dark, snowy night in December
when Gervase Wentworth entered an ex-
press train for New York, from whence he
intended starting for England. The car
riages were full; he gaZed %doubtfully
around. One seat alone was empty; and as
he stood there, the occupant of the half to-
wards the window took his railway rug off
the vacant cushion.
This seat is not engaged, sir"
Gervase cOurteously bowed his thanks,
and as he sat down, glanced mt his new
companion. 1t was not a face that he liked,
lie was no believer in physiognomy, and
he was sorry even to travel the few
miles that lay before him side by side with
smooth-faced villain, whose silky
blonde moustache shaded course, sinister
lips, and whose blue eyes had a wandering,
cruel look.
Not a pleasant night" said the stranger,