The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-05-22

He came down from the Capitol ana
bearded the electric car on Pennsyi-
yania avenue, a handsome man OF
thsrty.fiye. stately, but with the paliof
Of dissipation on his aristocrauc iea-
lures. and with clothing OF the shap'
by genteel type. -.
The only other occupant, miadie'
aged man, with a soldierly air, started
looked twice. then smiled.
-Claude Merrill, is it not?" and they
shook hands cordially.
major Graves, am indebteded 70
your kind remembrance. IL must pc
quite ten years since we met, and /
thought / had altered beyond recog-
milton. am down on my luck, you
aee.p fishing with the consciousness
Of the warm overcoat that kept on
the cold Of the winter day.
.Ten years. Why, 1t must DC
twelve." cried the soldier, ignoring
the latter part OF the speech. Wash
It in the White Mountains | saw you
lastg That summer you were SO
sweet on the little dark-eyed girl with
the prisoned song bird in her white
throat. forgot her name, but 1t is
Mrs. Merrill, now. Of courses"
s'No."
Possible? So, then it was only a
firtationl Pom honor, thought it
genuine case of spoons" laughed Maj
or Graves
"Don't, Major! cannot bear to re-
member those old days," and Claude
Merrill sighed from the bottom of his
heart.
aYou don't mean to say she died?'
in tone Of awe Yet 1t must be so.
She would never have Tilted you; she
loved you too wen.
~And l worshipped Lila Lake, Maj
or Graves, but / never asked her to
marry me.
did she marry some one else?"
81 don't know. never heard what
became Of Lila, but I'm bachelor
stIll, and il | knew where to find her
now, I'd beg her to forgive me and to
share my altered fortunes, if she
would"
~she is dead, perhaps" said the
soldier.
Il have often feared so-dead per
haps OF broken heart-poor little
Lila" sighed Claude Merrill, dropping
into pathos, and thinking of Tenny-
sons hero weeping over the grave Of
his hroken-hearted little love;
There / put my face in the grass,
Whispered; Listen to my despair;
1 repent me Of all did
Speak little. Ellen Adairl'"
Major Graves began to look greatly
interested, but the car stopped just
then to admit several more passen-
gers. and Merrill continued, in a low
cred voice
81 see you're curious, and l wouldn't
mind telling you the whole story, only
~ must leave you in few minutes.
I get off near the White House, to
call on Senator Lorton, who lives up
that way was at the Capitol to see
him. but the doorkeeper told me he'd
gone home to help his wife receive
her guests in the entertainment she
gives for the foreign legation this az
afternoon"
-Oh, yes, Lorton's from your State.
Splendid speaker and young, too. they
say-little over thirty. Friend OF
yours, Of courseg7
do lock like a Senator's friend?r
with a sarcastic glance downward at
his shabby clothing. no. I've never
met Lorton, hut I'm trying to secure
his influence to get me something IN
der the Observation-Disclosures posi-.
ton If possible-if not. anythingl I'm
ruined-have run through my fortune,
and must work now, for I've an aged
mother anu an invalid brother to sup
port, you see, and / can't afford to be
particular
mo" assented the soldier.
~But I'm not sangRine Of success, 2
continued Merrill, gloomily. 'Tve nc
real claim on Lorton. only that / voted
for him. and am from his state. Then
100. he must know Of my family the
highest in the county, and once tho
richest But I may fail. How is 4
with YOU, major? Have yon any infu
ence you could use for me?"
None at al, I'm sorry to say. Yol
see. Merrill my politics and the Pres
sdent's are Ct different complexion
entirely. anl that cuts me out Of am