Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1899-11-29
A LASTINTERVIEW,
BY ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.

| She saw him aIight from the stage,and
GwendoIyn held her red pa asol back oil
her head soits becoming shadow s. ould
fall upon her face, as she walkel up the
gravel path to the hotel door.
1t seemed quite accidental that they
should be ascending The steps at the
same moment, but with women like
Gwendolyn, in matters of this kind
there are no accidents.
Delightful coincidence" the Lieu
tenant said, as sic greeted him. "Yours
was the last face I saw year ago when
| I left this place, and it is the first [ see
on my return, yet I am quite sure you
have not been here oil the time between.
You have been abroad. You have
changed your name, 1 know, but see
no other change. You are looking re-
markedly well, Mrs. Dunbar, and l
trust my congratulations are not over
lardy. When your cards reached me L
vas in the wilds of Cuba, aud much
occupied with trying to keep myself
alive. l fear I forgot to acknowledge
them, Are you here for the season ?"
THAT depends" Gwondolyn answered,
absently. ri came a week ago, and
the place has been inexpressbly dull.
Not at all what it was last year. But
then we had the excitement OF the regi-
ment near by, and you men made a
picturesque background for everything
1 am sure you were much nicer in uui-
FORM" This with a disappearing glance
at his civilian attire.
II might hang my old uniform on
the ,eranda il it would euliyen things
at all" The Lieutenant laughed. III
assure you l am very glad to be out OF
it myself. I hope 1 shall not be wholly
| debarred from your charming society,
however, Mrs. Dunbar, owing to my
| change of dress or your change oil
name"
He passed in with bow and smile,
and left Gwendolyn On the veranda.
1t was year and Two months since
she had seen him. Then she was tie
belle of the place, he the most popular
man. He was back from Cuba On fur
Tough, and be had passed three or -four
days Of each week at this hotel, where
| she was domiciled with her parents.
Every girl in the place was ready tC
fall at his feet. 1t was by main force
that he kept button on his uniform
lie was thirty three, handsome, of gooC
family, comfortably off, and he was
Lieutenant.
We all remember how the women o
America weIt oficer,mad that summe
of 1898.
Lieutenant Kimball had the reputa
ton of possessing bulIet-proof heart
where Cupid was the marksman.
| Gwendclyn had heard this maO,
times before she met him, and wa
curious to know X it could be true.
| Just before Lieutenant Kimball ha'
appeared upon the scene, she was o.
| the point of accepting her most arden
| and desirable suitcr, Harold Dunbar
who was in ever respect splendid fel
How, and greatly favored by her pal
ents. She believed herself in love wit
him, too. in her way. But for mont
she kept him upon the tortu,e rack b
her filtration with Lieutenant Kimpal
Nobody had ever known that mllltai
gentleman 10 show so much interest
a woman as he eyinced after meetin
; Gwendolyn.
i Yet he went back to Cuba withol
having committing himself, anu dwel
do!yn married Harald Dunbar fol-
months later,
And now they were under The san
roof again; he with new laurels game
on bloody battlefelds, she with II
scent of fading orange blossoms hani
ing about her. She rose and wake
quickly to the long mirror between tv
windows in the reception room, The
was a sparkle in her eye as she locke
at her own reflection.
With The first few months Ct ma
riaee, a woman invariably grows pre-
tier or palmer. Gwendelyn had au
mented in beauty. Her form W
rounder, her color more radiant. s
I-o.o H. o.e,,rad OF ~ tba mari