Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1900-11-10
Two Lovers of Lila
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who had Veen 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
poet"
For Max Clarendon had published
some really remarkable verse in the
leading magazines. 20. he isn't TO be
compared 20 your fathers partner
Burton Dildine," decided Liia's bosom
friend He is SO big and broad-he
has such a look of bravery. And it's
plain TO be seen he adores you, Lila!'
But Lila only laughed. and said that
all this talk was nonsense. She de-
clared she was a girl who was wise
only in the knowledge Of how ignor-
ant she really was. Ana that she was
going home 70 keep house for her IA
ther. and that it 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
and perhaps would not IL she could
the fact that both men loved her.
Though. indeed. they showed IL h
vastly different ways. One might
have fanciod that il was only her
feminine in4uftion which made plain
TO her the fart that Max Clarendon
loved her at all. He 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-
nounced and open homage o. Dildine,
who besieged her with invitations and
bombardeo 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 ecstatic thrill the mere
sight OF her had given him. ''That
secretary Of your fathers is "A queer
chap" remarked Dildine one day.
Some late verses OF Clarendon's had
been hugely praised by the critics and
.fe was absurdly irritated thereat. 81
don't believe he has the nerve OF a
cat. We happened 10 meet the other
day Just as an accident occurred or
/ Washington street. 4 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
a good bit OF coward. I take it."
a cowardl The term rankled in III,
girls mind. II unconsciously infu
enced her. as had the remark of hel
nearest friend. She had all a WON
ans admiration OF bravery. The grea'
man was 10 her the man OF herOism-
q of daring.
When that evening Max Clarendon
brought her little gift she was per
i haps less pleased by the offering thar
Il she would have been before her ia
TIERS partner had reflected upon hi
courage. The gift was slim volum
OF verse. written by a brilliant and un
happy poet OF the Pacific coast
man whose seif-infiicted death wa
only less sad than his life. She ha'
expressed n desire 10 read the poems
4 Max was quite exhilarated at havinl
secured such an exquisite edition.
'You will find many lines as delight
full as those l quoted" he assured hel
"I know you win appreciate III
pathos-the beauty of his work."
- Thank you," she said. trifie coldly
you are good. Pray do not exert your
self again to humor my fancies."
The glow and light went out OF hi
face. He staid but a short time, mur
murad few perfunctory words o
Ieave-taking. and went away with
manner which seemed sullen, but wa
merely the cloak of despair.
And Lila-sitting with slim. id
hands clasped behind her head-remen
bering the remorse she strove 10 Stife
the panied look upon his countenancs
saw before her as plainly as though i
the flesh those two lovers of hers. On
40 slender, grave. reticent, unassertiv
the other so strong. massive, fioriC
powerful. What a man to have for
life defender--for a pillar of grant
upon which 10 lean-Burfon Dildin,
No wonder he had spoken OF this timi
stripping with d6sdain. Her thought
recurred TO her the next day. ASST
ting beside Dildfne. in his high rig. b,
hind spirited horses-they whirle
southwark on Michigan avenue.
Aren't we going rather fast?" SD