Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-02-16
Two Lovers of Lila

III
Both charming in such opposite, such
contrasting ways. IL was Max Ciaren-
don, her fathers private secretary,
who had Oeen 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 I
Rngular-and just 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 70 oe
compared 10 your fathers partner
Burton Dildine." decided Lila's bosom
friend. "He is so big and broad-he
has such look of bravery. And it's
plain to be seen he adores you. Lila
But Lila only laughed. and said that
ell this talk was nonsense. She de-
clared she was a girl who was wise
only in the knowledge OF how iRnor-
ant she really was. And that she was
going home 10 keep house for her ia
ther, and that IL would be many
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 II repressed suitors- toI
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 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. He was occupied
with her fathers interests. He was
consumed by the unwavering passion
OF his own entrancing literary labors
And he did not pay her the pro
nounced and open homage OF Dhoine
who besieged her with invitations and
bombardeo her with flowers
But when they met by enance there
was a sudden lightning fash In hi
dreamy eyes, a swift compression @
the sensitive. bear dless lips. a quicl
irradiation OF countenance which be
trayed the ecstatic thrill the mer'
sight of her had given him. ''Tha
secretary Of your fathers is a quee
chap remarked Dildine one day
Some late verses OF Clarendon's ha'
been hugely praised by the critics an
ne was sbsurdiy irritated thereat. .
don't believe he has the nerve OF
cat We happened 10 meet the othe
day iust as an accident occurred o
Washington street. a ragged httl
devil of newsboy slipped. fell unde
the wheels of cable car, and wa
horribly injured. Pom my wore
Clarendon went white as a ghost.
thought he would have tainted. He
good bit of a coward. take it."
cowardl The term rankled in th
girls mind. 1t pnconsciously inh'
enced her, as had the remark of he
nearest friend. She had all won
ans admiration of bravery. The gres
man was TO her the man of heroism-
OF daring.
When that evening Max Clarendo
brought her a little gift she was pc
haps less pleased by the Offering ths
she would have been before her 4
thsr's partner had reflected upon IA
courage. The gift was a slim volnu
of verse, written by a brilliant and u
happy poet of the Pacific coast
man whose self-infiicted death vi
only less sad than his life. She h,
expressed desire to read the poem
Max was quite exhilarated at haviI
secured such an exquisite edition
.You will ind many lines as deligh
full as those i quoted" he assured hs
az know YOU will appreciate &
pathos-the beauty of his work."
Thank you" she said. a trifie coldl
you are good. Pray do not exert you
self again TO humOr my fancies-"
The glow and light went out OF h
face He staid but a short time, mu
mur@d few p~rfunctory words
leave-taking, and went away with
manner which seemed sullen. but "
merely the cloak of despair.
And Lila-sitting with slim, il
hands clasped behind her head-remel
berinz the remorse she strove TO stiff
the panied look upon his eountenan'
saw before her an plainly as though
the flesh those two lovers of hers o
20 slender, grave. reticent, unasserti
the other so strong, massive, flor
powerful. What a man TO have fol-
life defender-for a pillar of gran
upon which to iean-lsurton Dildil
No wonder he had spoken OF this tin
stripping with 6isdain. Her though
recurred 10 her the next day. ass
ting beside DilAine. in his high rig.