Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-08-26
JUST IN TIME.

Carroll Trainor was to go to Mexico TO
make his fortune and Lila Ravens had
promised to remain true to him till his re-
turn. When they parted, he decided to re-
turn to Baltimore at once and make ar
rangements to 90 60 Mexico. Lila Havens
went on alone TO friends she was to visit
at Sharpsburg.
"We expected you this morning" said
her hostess.
Eyes, dear, but, you see, I was uEavoid-
ably delayed. What a lovely day it has
beenr'
"And there is a telegram for you, Lila. "
REALLY? Something aunt forgot 10
mention, dare say. Excuse me-" She
broke it open carelessly. "Dear mer'
She puckered her brow. "Only fancy
The admiral is coming down here tomor-
row."
The admiral appeared on the scene at
noon the day following.
MY dear Lila, s. he said, II must have
little talk with you.
ayes, uncle.
LILA, my dear they wsre quite alone
81 have had pro- osul for your band in
marriage. II / had chosen tie man, i
could not be better pleased than to see you
the wife OF Judge Mason"
"UncIel lie is more than twice my
age. l never dreamed Of it. ~
"He is young I.an, ny dosr-a viQor
Gus yourc man. lie viii iGolize you.
You knew be admired you"
"He is a vidower. -
"But his Only daurhtcris married. "
"Oh, uncle, lit is out OF tho ques-
ton"
MY dear, you give me Rrent cause for
II will SiGa ma far-
ribly If you do not accept him.
but, uncle, am hut ls. Why should
1 marry for five or six years yet? I'll never
be young but oBce-neyer!' she said pa
thetically, land l am not a penniless
creature that requires home. l might
be allowed TO pick and choose"
My desr'-the old man looked sudden
" grave and Iale-''t there is bad news. You
must make up your mind TO meet it brave
ly."
Lila's face reflected some of the paleness
of his own.
"Unole-my-my money-have 1 lost
it?'
''There has been terrible financial fail
ure. 1 hardly know how TO tell you. We
only heard yesterday, and we don't know
for sure as yet. l am afraid-Lila, you
must bear up-I am afraid you have lost
nearly all you had.
The girl leaned back in the chair There
was stunned look in her face. She did
not speak The admiral went on, speaking
more rapidly:
81 can hardly blame myself. 1t was an
undreamed of thing. OF course there is a
little real estate left you. Heaven knows
l wish it had been all In houses Judge
Mason
"Oh," the girl broke in suddenly, "be
won't want me now-when he knows l
am penniless'
"My child he came as soon as he knew
it"
She went to her room and locked herself
in. Then she wrote to Carroll Trainor:
81 am no longer rich. There is no use
of an engagement. l have lost everything
Perhaps you will be rich some day, Car
roll. If so, you must come and find me. "
But she said nothing of Hon. Thomas
Mason.
Trainor felt grieved at the tone Of the
letter. He wrote back reproachfully. She
had made promise. Perhaps she sought
to be released from it. If so, he would re-
lease her. In her place he would hardly
have so written.
But, then, he was only a man.
The girls soul sickened within her. A
brief note from Trainor told her that he
was just leaving for the gulf coast, where
he would find IL steamship for Vera Cruz.
He thought be would never return to the
United States
A great despair came over her. In her
sensitive state she felt that he no longer
cared for her.
She capitulated and consented to receive
LOO nasaf,iF addrasses.
Three months had passed. Iuu vvuurB,
was to take place the last week of June.
Miss Havens was to become Mrs. Thomas
Mason.
The wedding invitations were about to
be sent out. The wedding day was fixed a
fortnight hence. Miss Havens, out on a
shopping errand, turned o street corner
sharply and ran against some one. She
looked up and grew pale. 1t was Carroll
Trainor.
"Youp she said family.
"You didn't expect to see me? Lila, for
heaven s sake, is 1t true that you are going
to marry Judge Masonf'
She nodded with an effort. The idea of
the marriage to which she had become
reconciled, but never enthusiastically dis
posed suddenly seemed sickening. Her
whole soul revolted.
CARROLL" she gasped. "Oh, Carroll
II there were any escaped"
"Escapes What do you mean? Isn't 1t
your own choosing? Are you being forced
into marrying the old widower?'
"I-I-oh, you seemed not to want me,
and uncle and aunt seemed not to want
mel Nobody seemed to want me-except
Judge Mason. He was very kind, but |
never have loved him. Carroll, If you had
not deserted mer'
'I-deserted you'll I've just returned
from Mexico" said Trainor, land I'm
going back there at once. I've got splen-
did chance. It's lonesome for u man to be
by himself The climate is like paradise +"
The admiral and his good lady were at
the breakfast table.
His morning mail lay before him. He
took up the top letter Of all and gazed Sc
vereiy at it. The handwriting was Lua's
The letter bad been posted the night be-
fore. He opened 1t, read 1t in silence and
passed 1t to his wife.
"Do not send the invitations, 4" 1t said,
"for shall not marry Judge Mason. He
is q good man and will understand 1t was
q mistake. l love some one else and have
gone away to marry him. We shall spend
our honeymoon in palm thatched hut in
Mexico"
Mrs. Blair could not speak After a
moments silence the admiral observed
"On the whole, I'm glad the marriage is
off. The judges daughter was greatly o.
posed. She might have made things un-
pleasant after a bit"
And still again, "She's q plucky little
creature, Lila Isl God bless herr'-Ex-
change.