The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-01-15
Select STORY.
COLONEL LAKES REVENGE.

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wicked, in my innocent coquetry with Leigh
Lake. [ say innocent because | had imag-
incd it sport to him as we'll 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 case be diamond
cut diamond"
Somehow my eyes had fallen under his
first admiring glance, but fortified my
self, with the thought:
$50 he always looks. 1t is the first
move in his attack
l met glance with glance, smile with
smile, and pretty speech with saucy retort,
or sentimental repartee, accordingly as one
or the other could be delivered with more
telling effect.
care you sincere ?" he questioned, one
evening "Answer me frankly. If you
are not, tell me so now.
an other words" [ answered, "throw
down my weapons, acknowledge my un-
armed condition, and smilngly invite you
to advance to victory"
"No," he said" At your hands [ prefer
defeat You acknowledge, however, that
your hold weapons-in other words, that
you wear a mask"
"No," l replied, II wear no mask. I
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 frighten-
ed, a little in doubt as to its being wholly
a matter of amusement to him-a little
dubious as to how Roger would regard my
conduct in the matter, for Roger played a
very important part in my life even then,
since-although five hundred miles away
he had my promise that on his return |
would become his wife, and l determined
on the colonel's next visit I would turn the
conversation into other channels.
But had no opportunity to carry my
good intentions into effect. His first act,
when he entered the room, the next even
ing, where l sat alone, was to cross direct
ly in front of me, then to stoop and take
both my hands in his.
"You asked me last night to be merci-
full" he began. "God help you if you
did not mean those words. They have
been ringing in my ears ever since. Child,
do you know-do you dream-how 1 love
you? You have raised in me the first
passion of my life, though am to-day
thirty-five 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 dull
realization of what had DONE @ o.
strove to draw my hands from his.
As we'll might l have tried to dislodge
stone imbedded for centuries in the noun
tain-side. My self-possession forsook me-
In my fright 1 blundercd out the worst
possible thing could have said
II cannot be the wife of two men I
thought you knew was engaged.
A look Of steely, icy contempt flashed
into his eyes. He wrung my fingers an
instant until cried out with the pain,
then threw them from him and folded his
arms across his breast. ..r -
{" You dare tell me this" he said in low
concentrated tones. s"Answer me one
question. What mean, pitiful motive has
made you do this thing2" 3 gauE !
IL did not know you were in earnest"
replied, remembering, as l spoke, how
hard had tried to make him so-though
never, in my innermost thoughts, to this
extent-uever, 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.
Il thought, a moment ago." he answered
then' very slowly, that in life I had no
other prayer to make to heaven. - / make
one now, and that is that l may live tosee
you suifer through your love, as yOu have
dealt suffering to me through mine"
Lis words sounded like curse. They
hlied the room, and oppressed my very soul
with a nameless dread and haunting
prescience of the future.