Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-08-17
Colonel Lakes Revenge.

had been foolish and weak, but not
wicked, in my innocent coquetry with Leigh
Lake. say innocent because had mag
ined IL sport 20 him as well as TO myself.
He had the reputation Of being not only the
handsomest man in his regiment, but the
greatest firt, and laughed when he had
been presented to me, and said, to myself,
at should in this cass be diamond cut dia-
mond."
Somehow my eyes had fallen under his
FIRST admiring glance, but fortified myself
with the thought:
$50 he always looks. 1t is the frst move
in his attack"
met glance with glance, smile with
smile, and pretty speech with saucy retort,
or sentimental rcpartee accordingly as one
or the other could be delivered with moro
telling effect
"Are you sincere ?" he questioned, one
evening. Answer me frankly. Ifyou are
not, tell me so now"
I'm other words" answered, throw
down my weapons, acknowledge my un-
armed condition, and smilingly invite You to
advance 10 victory"
NO" be said AT your hands pre-
fer defeat You acknowledge, however,
that you hold weapons-in other words,
that you wear a mask"
No" replied, II wear no mask.
carry no weapons. Be very merciful, Col
onel Lake"
He grew very pale, and opened his lips as
If to speak, then, hastily rising, and making
brief adieu, he left me.
For the first time was little frightened,
little in doubt as TO its being wholly a mat
ter Of amusement to him-a little dubious as
TO how Roger would regard my conduct in
the matter, for Roger played very import
ant part in my life even then, since-d-
though FIVE hundred miles away-he had
my promise that on his return l would be-
come his wife, and determined on the col
oners next visit would turn the converse
ton into other channels
But l had no opportunity to carry my
good intentions into effect His FIRST act
when he entered the room, the next even-
ing, where sat alone, was 10 cross directly
in front Of me, then to stoop and take both
my hands in his.
You asked me last night TO be merci-
ful," he began. God help you il you did
not mean those words They have been
ringing in my ears ever since. Child, do
you know-do you dream-how love your
You have raised in me the first passion Of
my life, though am to-day thirty-fve years
of age. What little, frail thing you are,
and yet you hold in these little hands
strong mans destiny. Speak to me, love
Tell me that my wife is here before me!"
In that moment my coquetry took wings
and fled away, and in its stead came q dull
realization of what had done.
strove to draw my hands from his. As
well might have tried to dislodge stone
imbedded for centuries in the mountain
side. My self-possession forsook me. In
my fright blundered out the worst possi-
bic thing / could have said:
q cannot be the wife of'two men!
thought You knew was engaged"
A look of steely, icy contempt flashed into
his eyes, He wrung my fingers an instant
until l cried out with the pain, then threw
them from him and folded his arms across
his breast.
You dare tell me this" he said in low
concentrated tones Answer me one ques-
ton. What mean, pitiful motive has made
you do this thing?"
81 did not know you were in earnest, I
replied, remembering, as spoke, how hard
had tried to make him so-though never,
in my innermost thoughts, to this extent
never, as the Great Father is my judge, to
blast his future, or to bring about his
mouth the white lines Of agony now drawn
there.
81 thought, a moment ago." ne answered
then, very slowly, that in life l bad no
other prayer to make to heaven 1 make
one now, and that is that may live to see
you suffer through your love, as you have
dealt suffering to me through mine"
His words sounded like o curse. They
filed the room, and oppressed my very soul
with a nameless dread and haunting pres
cience of the future.
shivering, buried my face in my hands.
When I lifted It was alone. Colonel Lake
had left me.
when Roger comes home I vinteI him
ali about it," whispered to myself.
But somehow, when, three months later.
Roger came, had so much else to think OF,
in the busy preparations for my marriage
and my sky was SO blue, that could moi
bear to risk upon 1t q single cloud. a
The colonsls words seemed very idle now
As though any misery could grow out OF thu
K-lA H<>w nme