LOLA VAIL.

Lola Vail,— Her father, a rich planter, owned a vast Estate upon the banks of that great stream Which gathers up the waters of the land And sweeps them onward to the gulf. Half way To that strange southern land whence Cedric came Was Lola born—a schoolmate, friend and guest Of Dora Lee, and much like her; or as she Would appear with three more years of summers’ Sun to paint with ruddier glow the bloom of Health upon her cheek, and tint with deeper Gold her ample braids; in purity of Thought and loyalty, they also were alike. Lola’s mother died when she was young, and Her father, bringing home a Creole wife, Unwittingly neglected her; and thought His duty done when he provided for The child a nurse—an aged Octoroon— A pious soul, who gave to Lola all The love she knew in her sweet childhood life; And filled the tender mind with holy thoughts And pure. And Lola daily gathered flowers And, weeping, laid them on her mother’s grave. When she was older grown, her father took Her to the north, she and her faithful nurse, To bide until she grew to womanhood. Her education finished, her father Called her home, but she begged to tarry, yet A few more days and visit with her friend. Thus it chanced to come about that Cedric Vaughn and Homer Lee met sweet Lola Vail And loved her, each in his own way—Cedric, With all the fervor of his sincere soul— And Homer worship’d her, forgetting for The time his own betrothed. Cedric told her All, she sitting by his side in shady Bower, upon a wooded isle, their boat drawn Up below upon the pebbly beach. He Told the story of his life, as one a Painful duty would perform. “She must know The truth.” And keeping nothing back, he told Her of his birth and lineage—which was Equal to her own—his loss of home and Wealth; his lofty aspirations; high hopes Now partly realized, though penniless; But he was going back to that same land Where he had delved; and there would he employ The knowledge gained of placer, drift and ledge, And engineering, to locate and bring Forth rich treasure from the earth, and in a Few short years would he return with wealth and Build a costly home for her in some great City,—she might name the place. “Could she love Him? Would she wait for him?” She answered not By spoken word, but when she lifted her Fond eyes to his, he read the sweet response. By his strong arms encircled tenderly, Her head upon his breast, she wept for joy; And speaking through her tears: “Oh, leave me not, But let me share your lot whate’er it be— A palace or a cot—I would leave all The world, my Cedric, dear, and go with thee.” But Cedric kindly told her of the place, Its roughness, the peons there; and frankly, But perhaps unwise, he spoke of dangers From the wild bandits. It was no place for One so sweet and gentle as his own dear Lola; it were better she obey her Father’s call. That day, a week, the ship that He expected her to take, would leave that Port. It would not be long; he would stop there On his way and see her father, speak to Him, as man to man should speak, all fair and honorable. The wisdom of his speech She saw and cheerful yielded to his will. With fervid kiss their pledges sealed, they sat In sweet converse till lengthening shadows called; Then spread their sail and shoreward set the prow Of their light craft. With rosy finger tips She swept the strings of her guitar and sang: “What fairy-like music steals over the sea, Entrancing the senses with calm melody? ’Tis the voice of the mermaid as she floats o’er the main, And mingles her notes with the gondolier’s strain.”

Homer and his sister, waiting at the Mooring, by their merry laughter and love Glances, half concealed, each read their secret; And reading, saw the fading shadows of Their hope. Each concealed the pang; and laughing, Teased the truants for their tardiness. Then Timidly the lovers made confession. “And we will pray,” said Homer, “that to you Be given the fullness of all earthly Joy, and then the sweetest bliss of heaven.” Lola left them; and the three in silence Watched her waving from the deck; and saw the Good ship fading in the offing vanish, Where bending skies come down to meet the sea; Then sadly turned away—each heart, wounded By a shaft from Cupid’s bow; arrows from His quiver, unaimed, ofttimes fly amiss. Too high born and proud were Dora Lee And Homer to harbor in their minds dark Jealousies, or thoughts unkind; but Homer Was disconsolate; and Dora, cheering, Said: “You surely will forget your grief; and Going back to your first love will marry Her and love her evermore; for no true Heart can ever love but one.” So it was Her prophecy came true. Dora loved with Woman’s constancy; and womanlike found Comfort in the secret hope (while wishing Naught but good for Lola Vail), the idle hope That she one day would marry Cedric Vaughn. If in the spirit world departed ones Can see with joy a loved one plodding on, And faithful to the end, achieve at last The worthy object sought, then there was joy Above when Cedric led the class and gained The highest meed of praise for work well done. Cedric saw, or tho’t he saw, a shorter Way to competence than any of the Kindly offers of a place which, without His asking, came to him; a great law firm Wanted him; a professorship in that Same college he could have; in the counting House and busy marts of commerce there were Many op’nings for one as he so well Endowed and popular. He declined them All; and yet so gracefully, with thanks, that They were urged upon him all the more; but He had fixed his mind on going back, see Lola on his way, then hasten on to Carry out his plans; for each hour improved Would bring them nearer to their wedding day. On the morn of his departure, a throng Of gay young friends came, bearing tokens of Their friendship, souvenirs of college days, And bidding him God-speed upon his way. He keenly felt the sting of parting with His friends; but when he came to say good-bye To Homer, that was hardest of it all. When Dora gave the parting hand, and in Her large blue eyes he saw the gathering Tears, that tell-tale look of love she fain would Hide; that yearning look of hopeless love Like arrow pierced his soul with deep regret, And haunted him thro’ all the coming years.