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

BIZ MRS. ALEX. MovEIaH MILLER.

thirty-fve, stately, but with the pallor
Of dissipation on his aristocratic Tea
lures, and with clothing OF the shah
by genteel type.
The only other occupant, a middle
aged man. with soldierly air, started
looked twice, then smiled.
Claude Merrill, is 1t not?" and they
shook hands cordially.
Major Graves, am indebteded TO
your kind remembrance. 1t must be
quite ten years since we met, and |
thought / had altered beyond recog-
milton. am down on my luck, you
see," fishing with the consciousness
OF the warm overcoat that kept on
the cold of the winter day.
Ten years! Why, 1t must be
twelve!" cried the soldier, ignoring
the latter part of the speech. Wasn't
II in the White Mountains I saw you
last? That summer you were so
sweet on the little dark-eyed girl with
the prisoned song-bird in her white
throat I forgot her name, but 1t Is
Mrs. Merrill, now. of course?"
NO"
Possible? So, then 1t was only a
fiirtation! Pom honor, thought 1t a
genuine case of spoons" laughed Maj
or Graves.
Don't, Major! I cannot bear to, re-
member those old dsys!" and Claude
Merrill sighed from the bottom Of his
heart.
"You don't mean to say she died?"
In a tone of awe. "Yet It must be SO.
She would never have Tilted you; she
loved you too well"
"And / worshipped Lila Lake, Maj
or Graves, but I never asked her to
marry me-"
did she marry some one else?"
Il don't know. never heard what
became Of Lila, but I'm a bachelor
still, and II 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 broken-hearted little love:
There put my face in the grass,
Whispered; Listen to my despair;
i repent me of all did.
Speak little, Ellen Adair!'"
Major Graves began to look greatly
interested, but the car stopped lust
then to admit several more passen.
gers. and Merrill continued, in a low
cred voice:
Il see you're curious, and I wouldn't
mind telling you the whole story. only
II must leave you In a few minutes.
l get on near the White House. tn
call on Senator Lorton, who lives up
that way. was at the Capitol to see
MIN, 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 af-
afternoon"
oh, yes, LOTIONS from your State.
Splendid speaker, and young, too. they
say-little over thirty. Friend of
yours, of course?"
DO look like Senator's friendq~
with sarcastic glance downward at
his shabby clothing. mo, I've never
met Lorton, but I'm trying to secure
mis- influence to get me something Nm.
der the Government-high-toned posi.
ton II possible-if not, anything, I'm
ruined-have run through INV fortune
and must work now, for I've an aged
mother and an invalid brother TO sup.
port, you see. and can't AFFORD to be
particular"
NO. assented the soldier.
But I'm not sanguine OF success /.
continued Merrill, gloomily. I've no
real claim on Lorton, only that voted
Tor MIN, and am from his State. Then
100, ne must know of my family the
highest In the county, and once the
richest. But I may fail. How 10 81
with you, major? Have you any influ-
ence you could use for me?"
None at all, I'm sorry to saw. you
see, Merrill, my politics and the Pros.
dents are Of different complexion
entirely, and that cuts me out of anv
influence. But come and Join me In ,
little supper tonight, and tell mo +.
what luck you had with Lorton-vou
must!" handing Merrill his address.
We'll. then, ! will, thank YOU. ma.
or. But this is my corner. Au re-
Toir."
Who Is he, major?" asked an ac- :
as Merrill left the car.
old northumberland Merrill :
rom down South. Quite a grandee =
'nce-down on his luck now, and seek. :
ne government work." =
"Oh, ah?-I wish him luck," and +,
ne subject dropped, but the major .
ooked forward impatiently to the III. 9
le supper that night. q
The old days had their pain and
heir charm for him. too; for, unknown a
all. the major-it had been plain h
aptain then-had secretly cherished h,
affection for the beautiful girl who h,
al, as he said. "a song-bird in her W
hite throat" But Claude Merrill had m
onopolized her so completely that D,
Very one else seemed quite out of
Ie running. N
And he let her On after all IN.