Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1899-11-29

as she MADE ner way " ITO Si"P"
Dor little after nine o'clock. She
made fine picture in her mind OF the
Lieutenant standing grimly sxpectant,
his face white, his hands clenched, and
hopelessness or savage love hunger
choking his voice in his throat. She
paused and looked into the arber. No
one there but messenger boy in uni
FORM. To her surprise ho addressed
her.
"Be you the lady looking for Lieu
tenant Kimball? Then he said give
this to you. Sign, Missus, please"
Gwendolyn took the letter and the
boy ambled of whistling. There was
an electric light in the corner OF the
grape arbor aud she drew close to 1t,
and broke the seal Of the envelope
nervously. Poor boy she said, she
could not face the farewell" Then she
read:
"When I met you first last year,
was much attracted by your beauty
end vitality. am at an age when
man begins to think seriously OF wom'
en- and of the future"
"A cold beginning" she thought
She glanced on, her brow Knitting
Before I had known you two weeks
1 began to fear your love Of conquest
was greater than your ideal woman
hood. / left you with that impression
I confess I have given you many
thoughts since I went. to Cuba. When 1
returned and met you again, was
curious to know if I had zaisjudged
yov," .
She was breathing little harder.
81 know you had marrieda fne,noble
fellow, who was a man for any woman
to be proud of, He lsved you and be-
Iieved in you. Just how far you are
worthy Of that love and faith, you
illustrated to NE in consenting to meet
me alone and unknown to him on the
one:evening of the week which ne
claims from yos. I do not for an In
slant imagine you prefer my society to
his, however 1t is merely your love OF
conquest which prompts You to yield
to my request. You expected an inter
esting scene with man hopelessly in
| love with you. But while you were
testing my powers Of resistance to your
charms, 1 have been testing your idea
of wlfely honor and womanly dignity
It has been fair battle and ! am sorry
| to be again a victor. It 10 not my frs
battle OF the klnd-God knows. L hop'
it ma, be my last victory. 1t l, womel
| like you who swell. the ranks OF bachs-
tlors. How can We trust any womal
| with our honor, when We find wivee 81
ready to humiliate their husbands 10
Oh cap triumphs' When any man asks
married woman for an interview alone
Idoes she not realize it is an insult? l
YOU could know hsw mon talk an
think of wives like you-ne matter hoy
they pursue you and hatteryou to you
lfscs, no matter how they seek to pos
sess you. it is only the fool who woul
make you his wife afterward, were 20
lfrte. The wise man thanks God he
| a bachelor after he obtains his last II
terview with you. This letter is bruta
Destroy it, and go back toyour hui
band, whom respect too much to Wis
t, see Inundated. You are not yet ba
Iyou are only vain and selfish. Inel
lis time yet for you to become wortl
while woman and WIFE"
Few creatures on the footstool won
envy Gwendolyn her next half hou
But out Of the bitterness, the rage,csu
a saving vision Of noble trust that
the man upstairs who waited for he
Harold Dunbar looked up with
pleased surprise as Gwendolys "rept
his side on the balcony.
"Why, Qussnie, I didn't look I
you these three hours" "My pleasu
,. is to be with you, Harold" she whis
, cred,
Harold took her in his arms. "Wh
a lucky dog am, and how I pity tho
] forlorn bachelors like your Lieutena
there. I'm lucky dog"
They were still sitting there as t
midnight ira in rolled away In the d
o lance and ehrieked back somethi
like mo cking farewell.-Ths Crit