Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1921-10-29
How Lila Met
Harry
BY JESSIE DOUGLAS.

craig said. leaning back on the chaiSe
tongue and passing her hand wrarily
across her forehead. He's thirty five.
has enough money good habits and a
really remarkable taste in old china"
Lila Gilbert answered. Yes" doubt
fully.
She had heard nothing except Harry
and IIarry'S eligibility during her week
end III Mrs Crais>. She had come to
hate lis very name
81 suppose lie iosrn't even smoker"
She asked bit SrurnfulIy
Look here my dear" Mrs era
81, MP straight FOR q moment and spoke
furccfully and To the point. IL like you
and | want you 10 be- happy knn"
what kind Of life YOU lead In that one
wrrichcd room. going out for ynlr
meals every day of Your life. know
you launder your waists aud paste
your hankerchlefs to the mirror and
col your last years straw instead Of
buying a new one.
II know because did IL once myself.
You've never said anything. but ! can
Imagine just what kind of man old
Mr. Hemingway is to work f0r-and
here you have perfectly good
chance 20 say good-by 10 all that. and
you're going To let ii slip
Lila Redeemed perceptIbly and opened
her mouth Ia speak. but Mrs. Craig
Wrut On quickly.
"You may be- younger. but you look
twenty seven. and yet You have all the
Illusions Of youth. :"
4 faint smiled curved l.ila'S lips.
I'm twenty nine and not an illusion
left
There I've been "A beast and I'm
sorry. Mrs craig Went on sitting up
and pattnG I.ila'S arm. That's III"
danger OF red hair you will SAY
things YOU think in spite of years "f
social training. | want to tell You
something else too. | think your"
sweet You ARE too sweet 10 20 On
working your III" out and pretendin.
that you're happy"
She stopped for Lila's eyes looked
perilou>ly bright and her lower lip
was caught between her teeth.
THE very first time | came int"
Hrmingway'> office and saw You ana
Won We're 50 dear. 10 mo. thought you
were rare. I'm going Ia tell you a
little secret When married Robert
| promised nl self the satisfaction ~
ION. eccentric things il | chose, and
one Of these "a> Ia make friends
where and hoN wished"
She leaned her head back against
her cushions and lifted ringrd white
hand to her temple And nov ~ I
'old Won lin going - ask to be- tx
cuS"d I.oS' sleep must he made up.
and I've had two late nights"
Lila went across 10 her own charin-
IN: room that overlooked the gardens.
Nothing Vas quite real tn her yet II
was as though she had unexpectedly
stepped on ~ The stage and this was
one Of those IuXurionS scenes in the
first act
She leaned her hot cheeks against
The window pane and looked down
across the sweep nf lawns to the Ital-
ian pcrsnla and the terraced garden
beyond
She ought to begin to dress now for
dinner
Il know he'll hate me" Lila thought
luokin: pcn>ively In the mirror al her
self. I'm not pr"ity-only AT times
She studied her face with the dark
sweet eyes and level line ~ brow. the
white forehead. the dusky hair. She
could So. nothing to allure In II. for
She SIM II in rrpn>c without the
>parl,l. of animation. the sweetness
OF the smile nor did she hear the
sweet. deep tones Of her own voice
~ others heard them.
Excuse me, madrnoiScll,.. Law
rudcr clad maid said hut madame
has retired and asks that you will
'aS" her place -, dinner"
Lila. alone. felt i moment uf panic
TO be responsible for Harrys enter
iainment 80 she >hivered al the
thought. She WAS shy anyway and
rhe idea 81 sitting with him al that
round table. while The butler moved
noisee>>ly behind them. was terribly
painful.
And | know Mrs. craig has talked
to him as much about me as She has
talked To- me about him - she groancd.
"Ah Miss Gilbert Anne told me
vas Ia have this pleasure. ="
Lila bowed seeing in one glance
that Harry" was u fat dumping ~
4 man with q shining bald head ana
small blue eyes behind thick glasses
He spoke In q hurried tone aud
rhuckled occasionally at remarks that
meant nothing 10 Lila Bur she found
herself seated opposite him under The
light Of shaded candles with great yrl-
low roses separating them. while a
silent stepping hutlrr served them per
fectly.
This was Harry She didnr like
anything about him His ridiculous
way of talking his way 0f tasting his
food b.fnra Ia. ut.. IL his phueEta "A