The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-10-26
How Lila Met
Harry
By JESSIE DOUGLAS.

0,ssI BY Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
~ know you'll like Harry" Mrs.
cr.,p said, leaning back On the chaise
,"ooue and passing her hand YEARLY
oss her forehead. Hes thirty-tve,
sos enough money, good habits and
"aa,,v remarkable taste in old china
Lila Gilbert answered. yes doubt
cho had heard nothing except Harry
I'D Harry's eligibility during her week
nd at Mrs. Craig's. She had come to
hate his very name.
" suppose he dosen't even smoke:
IN. asked bit scornfully.
~ ook here. my dear!" Mrs. Craig
,ot nm straight for moment and spoke
carefully and to the point, Il Ike you
and want you to be happy l know
what kind OF life you lead In that one
wretched room, going out for your
meal. every day of your life. | know
,ou launder your waists and paste
,or- hankerchiefs to the mirror and
.olor your last years straw instead OF
buying new one.
81 rnow because did 1t once myself.
you've never said anything. but can
imagine lust what kind OF man old
Mr. Hemingway is to work for-and
here you have perfectly gooa
chance to say good.by to all that, and
,ou're going to let 1t slip.
lila redeemed perceptibly and opened
nor mouth to speak. but Mrs. Craig
went on quickly.
"You may be younger. but you look
tventy.seyen. and yet you have all the
illusions Of YOUTH!
A faint smiled curved Lila's lips.
.rm twenty nine and not an illusion
left"
sThere-l've been a beast and I'm
sorry." Mrs. Craig went on. sitting up
md patting Lila's arm. That's the
danger Of red hair-you will say
things you think in spite Of years Of
social training. want to tell you
something else. too. think you're
sveet. You are too sweet to go on
working your life out and pretending
that you're nappy-
She stopped. for Lila's eyes looked
perilously bright and her lower lip
vas caught between her teeth.
The very first time I came into
you were so dear. to me, thought you
we're rare I'm going to tell you a
little secret. When l married Robert
promised myself the satisfaction OF
doing eccentric things II I chose, and
one Of these was to make friends
where and how I wished"
She leaned her head back agains,
her cushions and lifted a ringed white
hand to her temple. "And now as
told you, Tn going to ask to be ex
cused Lost sleep must be made up
and I've had two late nights"
Lila went across to her own charm
Ing room that overlooked the gardens
Nothing was quite real to her yet il
was as though she had Unexpectedly
stepped on to the stage and this wa:
one of those luxurious scenes in the
. first act.
She leaned her hot cheeks agains
the window pane and looked dow
across the sweep of lawns to the Ital
Ian pergola and the terraced garden
beyond
She ought to begin to dress now fo
dinner.
Il know he'll hate me-" Lila thought
looking penavely in the mirror at her
eef. I'm not pretty-only at times.
she studied her face with the darl
sweet eyes and level line of brow, tn,
white forehead. the dusky hair. Sh,
could see nothing to allure in it. 70
me saw 1t In repOse, without TIL
sparkle of animation, the sweetness
the smile, nor did she hear TIL,
s"eet. deep tones of her own voic
u others heard them.
Excuse me, mademoiselle," a Law
enaer clad maid said, but madam
uas retired and asks that you will
JAKE her place at dinner"
.'ia' alone, felt moment of panic
10 De responsible for Harry's enter
nmment" she shivered at tn
wouent' She was shy anyway. an,
we ioea of sitting with him at tina
soand table, while the butler move
.o,selessly behind them, was terribl
painful.
And know Mrs. Craig has talke
"m as much about me as she ha
".seo to me about hint" she groanet
an Miss Gilbert. Anne told me
"s 10 nave this pleasure!'
Lila bowed, seeing in one clanc
"'at Harry was fat dumping q
.. 'uan with shining bald head an
ai' Que eyes behind thick glasse:
ne spoke in a hurried tone an
" "u.Aied occasionally at remarks tina
l" ivan. nothing to Lila. But she foun
ls1s seated opposite him under tn
,a su' VI shaded candles with great We
,i, s foses separating them, while
tecuy. '1e' served them pei
'i's was Harry! She didn't Xix