Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-07-16
MORE ABOUT LECLA.
CHAPTER XXI.

- Nun lll1b LAlIiC Oll VIZ AldIIGlEu
constantly Everett went on in
the same depressed tones. "Yet often
after our iercest quarrels we would
give voice to our love for each other
just as ferceIy. Leola was the most
beautiful woman | have ever known.
Also, the quickest to take offense.
She could not brook restraint. In
stead of trying to prevent my jeal-
ousy, she laughed at it, and DELHI
erately did things to arouse it.
Things / no man in love can en-
dure with calmness. But Leola was
just as proud as she was reckless.
threatened to divorce her. We had
been at the seashore for several
weeks. That night she ran away and
drowned herself. Her body was
not found for hours. But that we
kept secret, no one knows she was
suicide-no one but me.
81 beg you will not speak to any
one here of her-Leola. We were not
living here when it happened | had
taken her away some time before in
the hope that she would be kinder to
me. I have intended to tell you OF
her, but l cannot talk of her calmly
even yet-so | waited.
That "yet" hurt me. l had felt
certain relief when he said she was
dead But-he still loved her, or
did he? l must find out.
'Leola was twenty-eight when she
left me-nine years ago." he added
after few moments-''is seems like
yesterday" again he seemed to be
unaware of my presence as he said
the last few words.
could keep still no longer. This
Leola had been dead nine years yet
he still grieved over her l gathered
my courage to ask:
eff you were so unhappy with her,
why did you want to get married
again, Why
Unhappy " he interrupted, again
seemingly forgetting to whom he
was talking. 81 never shall know
what it means to be happy
This time it was | who interrupted.
why did you marry me?" l asked
excitedly. He was hurting me too
dreadfully.
"Yes-you have a wight to ask that
too. I was attracted to YOU from the
first. You are very like Leola in
coloring. She had just that wonder
full hair-that you have. But | had
no thought then of marrying again.
But you seemed to like me, to enjoy
| being with me. | saw the simple
way you had been brought up. The
kind of parents you had. You would
| be a wholesome woman. You had
none of the diabolical destinations
some women possess. But you would
make a good wife and mother. |
want such wife and l want chill
dren. If you are what you promise
to be, we will be happy together.
Now please leave me alone am
very tired tonight have had a
hard day. And THIS mas been hard
for me as we'll as for you. Before
you go there is just one thing
want to say. Never as long as we
live together mention-her to me
again. | have been perfectly honest
with you; have told you all there is
to tell. Never speak of what l have
confided to you if you value my
love-" he had hesitated just second
before the last word, ''Now, good
/ night"
l was dismissed Yet az the mo-
ment my principal feeling was one
of compassion for the man who sat
before the CRATE fire, who had COW
cred his eyes with his hands when
he stopped speaking, and who had
seemingly forgotten that l existed.
The revulsion came when l reach
ed my room. 1t was still early and
bed seemed a far poss bliitg. My
brain was seething, boiling with
what / had just heard. l must think,
think.
One thought seemed to stalk more
boldly than the rest through my mind
.E,,oro+t still loved that beautit ul