Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-05-29

The door opened. Through the curl
ing blue smoke of his cigar he saw
Claude Merrill's face, pale, strangely
excited.
Congratulate mel" he cried, In q
strange voice.
with all my heart" and they shook
hands.
Tell me all about it," cried the
major.
well, I saw the Senator. He was
very kind. l am successful beyond
my hopes. get a good berth in the
Pension Department with a big sal
ary!"
mo wonder you look excited! Why,
man alive, your face is pale, your
eyes wild, as If you had seen a ghost.
Perhaps have, major"
He drew a deep breath as he light
ed cigar and threw back his hand
some head. His gray eyes glittered
strangely.
The ghost I care most to hear
about is Lila Lake." said the soldier.
you promised this afternoon, you
know"
yes, l will tell you ALL" said Mer.
riH. "Hark to the wind, how It raves!
A stormy night, my friend"
Yes. yes; but It cannot penetrate
here, and supper will be served pres
emily. Let us have the story first.
Why did you not marry Lila? A Low.
er's quarrel?"
mo"
Then why the deuce"
Softly, major. Your excitement
makes me suspicious"
"A fig for your suspicious! / loved
Lila Lake myself! There! I thought
you meant to marry her, or l would
have offered her my hand"
Il wish you had, Major Graves. I
was a better match perhaps then. as
money goes, but your heart was the
truer. Listen. then. and despise me-"
outside the winter wind raved Wild
ly, moaning along the broad avenues
like a dirge. The two men gazed at
each other eagerly.
You know my family, Major Graves.
The best blood ran In our veins. and
we were rich, too. I was a catch in
those days."
"Yes."
And when I fell in love with Lila
Lake, who was summerine IN the
White Mountains, / never dreamed
but that she was of my own rank in
life. Young, lovely, gifted, she was
my ideal, and you know | spared no
pains to win her heart"
And you succeeded" said the ma.
jor, with a groan.
Yes. her beautiful dark eyes and
every tone Of her sweet voice when
she spoke to me told me that. was
so sure of her answer / was in no
hurry to speak, and the day that she
left to return to the city / told her 7
should follow her the next week ana
asked permission to call on her AZ
her home"
Eyes,"
She looked at me with such a
sweet and trusting smile and gave
me card with her address. II was
On such an obscure street that look.
ed at her in uncomfortable sunrise
she hushed, and murmured half.
1 don't live on Beacon HILL you
see. | am only a working-giri. Mr..
Merrill
she working girl!-that incarna-
Ion OF beauty, grace and talent, tn.
ground seemed to reel beneath my
'eet. stared at her. almost offensive.
y, | know, in my great surprise for
he drew herself up proudly. and said
n a stiff little voice:
I ought to have told you all about |
myself before. but did not think II
'as anyone's business unless-unless
they were particularly interested in
le-and you-you have been yery-
blushed warmly here
70 | will be frank with you, and then
-then-you can call or not, as Won
lease, when you return to the civ,
She told me then that she was an
rphan. Poor little girl, only seven.
zen and an orphan! She lived with a
idowed aunt at the address she had
wen mn. But they were poor, and
liza, dainty. beautiful Lila, with her
'nned manners and elegant bearing,
orked In store-sold gloves and ev-
tried them on mincing fine ladies
the glove counter.
AND on Sundays I sing at the ca
eoral, and l get as much for my con-
alto in the choir, for one single day.
do for my whole week in the great
oston store she added, with a LIT.
air OF pride. Indeed, only for the
nging never could have saved mon.
10 come to the mountains and rest.
is very tiresome at a glove counter
u know. Ones side gets to aching
badly from leaning over and trying
peoples Gloves"
Sne SAID 1t with proud. sweet
: like princess. and II I had not }
en- fool and a coward, I should q
We taken her in my arms and told 4
that her weary, toilsome DAYS q
re over and that she must soon be a
bride. But I was horrified: INV b
de rose in arms" v
Vas ka 4
'ough his cigar smoke. In