Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1902-10-01

turned the stem Of his wine glass
and looked &C her with smiling
eyes. Except in the nOvelists'
hands the stories end badly"
"You are thinking Of one" said
the debutante; ''tell It."
/. 81 was thinking Of a fellow, Of q
youngster I met one winter at
Mardi Gras," the lieutenant said.
''It's a sad little stOry-it could
only be lightened by q story tell
er's art"
The guests had settled them.
selves In listening attitudes and
we're waiting for him to begin.
Seeing the story was forced
upon him, the lieutenant spoke
reluctantly:
"He was a handsome, generous
fellow. l helped him out of trou-
BILE that winter, he was always in
trouble and he was grateful.
81 met him in the Philippines
and knew that something bad
gone wrong with his life-all the
boyish impulsiveness was gone.
He was reckless, as if life wasn't
worth the fight.
cit was after a sharp skirmish
that he sent for me. His face
lighted when he saw me, he
stretched out his hand hungrily-
poor boy-in a foreign land, and
with death in his face. | sat
down beside him, and he told me
his story between long pauses OF
weakness. He had been attracted
by a girls youth and beauty.
There was opposition by both
families-oppOsitiOn with a not
unusual result-a flight and
marriage.
cat first they were happy, but
both were spoiled and too young
for much forbearance-they sepa-
rated within the year."
The lieutenant lifted his eyes to
meet Mrs. Trezevant's troubled
ones.
"The girl had ideals. He could
not reach them. Poor fellow, he
did not spare hlmself-he said
that he was intemperate-brutal-
he took all the blame. He driited
from Cuba to Manila. He told
me, with a pitiiul attempt at a
smile, that he was always a vaga-
bond at heart.
"The girl was impressionable,
and he entered her life unexpect'
eddy.
che loved her at the last
think he loved her always.
know that he was glad that he
could give her freedom"
"POOr GIRL" the debutante said
softly. Her eyes we're full o
unshed tears. "Didn't he sen(
her a message or some little tOk.
emf"
ono" said the lieutenant.
"I wish he had" There was g
note of pain in her soft voice.
"I am sure he wanted to send
her a lOcket that held their pic.
lures, sure that he wanted me tC
tell her of his death, but he dieC
Just as I took the lOcket. There
wasn't time for an address"
"And you carry the lOcket with
you, and hope to find her some
dayf" The debutante's voice
was very gentle.
eyes," the lieutenant smiled
into her eyes. 'I carry the lock.
ct with me. The wife is hardly
more than a child-the lovelies.
child"
"Will you let me see itf" asked
the debutante.
The lieutenant hesitated-tht
debutante's smile was hard tt
resist-he took the lOcket from hi
pocket and leaned across the table
to give it to the girl.
There was a little stir at tbs
table. The women bent forward
The lieutenant's eyes fell OF
Mrs. Irrelevant. Her face wal
white and tense, and her eyes
fixed on him, we're full of passion
ate ~entreaty.
His hand fell, he drew it bacl
suddenly.
"I can't" he said. 81 fee
that I have broken faith with
dead man."
How young and strange Mrs
Trezevant'e eyes were, a trem
bling smile just touched her lip
as she gave back the lieutenant.
wondering look.
In the drawing room Mrs
Trezevant dropped her fan, ant
the lieutenant returned the prett,
trife.
ooh, I am grateful, grateful,
che whfeparad tIf woa U0nd n