The Afro-American advance., 1900-11-17
Two Lovers of Lila

-atleast Liza thought so. She found
both charming in such opposite, such
contrasting ways. 1t was Max Claren-
don. her fathers private secretary,
who had Deen sent to bring her home
the day she graduated. Like true
woman the opinion of other women
Influenced her.
He isn't really handsome" her
COMPANION had declared. He is too
angular-and just a little awkward"
Then there's his hair. He ought to
wear that long-or at least as long as
Irving wears his-if he is really a
poet"
For Max Clarendon had published
some really remarkable verse in the
leading magazines. 20, he isn't to be
compared to your fathers partner
Burton Dildinel" decided Lila's bosom
friend. "He is so big and broad-he
has such a look of bravery. And it'F
plain to be seen ne adores you, Lilal"
But Lila only laughed, and said that
all this talk was nonsense. She de-
clared she was girl who was =
only in the knowledge of how ignor-
ant she really was. AND that she was
going home to keep house for =. IT ia
ther, and that II would be many a
year before she left him for-anyone.
Nevertheless, in the year that fol-
lowed, and the next, she found her.
self forced to consider the assiduites
of her ardent il repressed suitors. For
she could not conceal from herself
II II.
the fact that both men loved her.
Though, indeed, they showed it in
vastly different ways. One might
have fancied that IL was only her
feminine intuition which made plain
to her the fact that Max Clarendon
loved her at all. Ee was occupied
with her fathers interests. He was
consumed by the unwavering passion
of his own enhancing literary labors.
And he did not pay her the pro-
nonneed and open homage of Dildine,
who besiegeu her with invitations ana
bombardea her with flowers.
But when they met by cnance there
was sudden lightning fash in his
dreamy eyes, a swift compression of
the sensitive, beaIdiess lips, a quick
irradiation of countenance which be-
trayed the eestatic thrill the mere
sight of her had given him. "'That
secretary Of your Iather's is a queer
chap" remarked Dildine one day.
Some late verses of Clarendon's had
been hugely praised by the critics and
he was absurdly irritated thereat. II
don't believe he has the nerve of q
cat. We happened 10 meet the other
day Just as an accident occurred on
Washington street. A ragged little
devil of a newsboy slipped. fell under
the wheels of a cable car, and was
horribly injured. Pom my word.
Clarendon went white as a ghost. /
thought he would have tainted. He's
q good bit of a coward, take it."
A coward! The term ranked in the
girls mind. It unconsciously infu-
eneed her, as had the remark of her
nearest friend. She had all n wom-
ans adms-ation Of bravery. The great
man was to her the man of heroism-
Of daring.
When that evening Max Clarendon
brought her q little gift she was per-
haps less pleased by the offering than
she would have been before her ia
ther's Partner had reflected upon his
courage. Tue gift was a slim volume
OF verse. written by brilliant and un-
happy poet OF the Pacific coast--a
man whose self-infiieted death was
only less sad than HIS life. She had
expressed desire to read the poems.
Max was quite exhilarated at having
secured such an exquisite edition.
''You will find many lines as delight
ful as those quoted he assured her.
II know you viii appreciate the
pathos--the beauty of his work."
Thank YOU" she said, a trifie coldly.
''you are good. Pray do not exert your
self again to humcr my fancies."
The glow and light went out of his
face. He staid but a short time, mur-
INJURED few perfunctory words of
devastating. and went away with a
manner which seemed sullen, but was
merely the cloak of despair.
And Lila-~itting with slim. idle
hands elasped behind her head-remem-
oering the remorse she stroVe to sfifie.
the panied look upon his eountenanee.
saw before her as plainly as though in
the flesh those two lovers OF hers. One
10 slender, grave, reticent, unassertive
the other so strong, massive, fiorid.
powerful What man to have for a
NE defender-for a pillar OF granite
upon which TO iean-Burton DiIdine.
40 wonder he had spoken of this tinid
stripiing with disdain. Her thoughts
occurred TO her the next day. asst
ting beside DiIdine. in his hiqf, rig. be-
hind spirited horses-they whirled
southward on Michigan avenue.
asked. ~4e
he looked down upon her with eyes Of
tender reproach.
YOU" significantly. @are not afraid
with me?" az Aiu
am ncrer afraid she returr.a
GUY ! doa't Ike the Thought Of ,al:cx
s.xsnhsesssary ffsks. Suppasin1 .,,,v,s'.
An9 snsuld breakts
s.i Estn so--yon eould trast ms 4.
s'Ased. eonadsntly.