Smyrna times., 1881-03-16
Colonel Lakes Revenge.

had been foolish and weak, hut NOT
wicked in my innocent cnquetry with
Leigh Luke. say innocent because
nad imagined il sport to him well a< to
myself lie had the reputation ef being
not only the handsompst man in his regi
ment, hut the greatest hirt. and laughed
when he had been presented to me, and
said. to nav>-lr. 1t should in this case he
diamond cut diamond"
Somehow my eyes had fallen under hi
first admiring glance, but fortified myself
with the thought:
so he always looks. 1t is the first
move in his attSck.'
met glance with glance, smile with
smile, and pretty speech with saucy retorI,
ar sentimental repartes, accordingly as one
or the other could be delivered with more
telling effect.
Are you sincere p he questioned. one
evening "Answpr me frankly. If you
are not, tell me SO now"
"In other words" / answered, throw
lnwn nay weapons, ack nOwledged my uu.
armed condition, and smilngIy invite you
to victory"
mo-" he said. "At your hands prefer
'lefeat. Yor acknowledge, however, that
YOU hold weapons-in other words that
you wear mask"
"No." replied. al wear no mask.
I carry no weapons. Be very merciful
Col. Lake"
He grew very pale, and opened hi.
lips as if to speak, then hastily rising
and making brief adieu, he took his de
parture.
For the FIRST time was little frightened
u little in doubt as tS its being wholly
m liter of amusement to him-a little
dubious as to how Roger would regard IN!
conduct in the matter. for Boyer played
very important part in my life even then
4ince-although five hundred miles away
he had my promise that on his return
would become his wife, and | determined
on the colonel's next visit would turn th
C 'nversatian into other channels.
But had no opportunity to carry m,
intentions into effect. His first act, whsr
he entered the room the next evening
where sat alone. was to cross directly il
front of me, then to stOop and take botl
hands in his.
"Y0u asked me last night to be mere
fh," he began. God help you if you d
net mean those wor Is. They have bee
ringing in my ears every since. Child. q
YOU know-,iO you dream-hOw love you
You have raised in me the first passio
Of my life, though to-day, am thirty
Eve years Of age. What little. frail thin
you are, and yet you hold in these littl
hands a strong mans destiny. Speak I
me-, love- Tell me that my wife is her
J before mel'
Ia that moment my coquetry took wing
and flew away, and in its steal came du
/, realization of what had done.
strove to draw my hands from his.
we'll might have tried to dislo'lge stou
nbe'lde,l for centuries in the mountain
J side. My s-lr.possession forsook me.
nay fright blum nIered out the worst IossiL
thing could have said:
4 81 cannot be the wife Of two men?
thought you knew was engaged"
A look of steely, icy contempt Aasht
into his eyes. lie wrung my fingers O
instant until cried out with pain, the
threw them from him AMI folded his arn
across his breast.
70 "You dare tell me this" he said, in Ia
= concentrated tones. "Aaswer me one que
tion. What mean, pitiful motive has na,
you do this thing2"
81 did not know you were in earnest
y | replied. remembering as spoke, he
hart had tried to make him so--thou,
never, in my innermost thoughts, to Il
. ~xtent-never, as the great father is n
as judge, to blast his future, or to bring abo
I42 his mouth the white lines Of agony n,
-se drawn there.
IN =" thought moment ago. he answer
!, then, very slowly, " that in life had
. : ether prayer To MAX a To h@aven / ma