The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1858-12-17
A RIVALS REVENGE.
~ rnEwsoS seSSErr.


\ number Of years ago, IA man by the
name Of Wallace, Of Scotch descent, emf.
grated to Texas, and settled at q small
inland villsgc. His family consisted If
himself, wii,. daughter, and servant
This daughter, an only child, was then
about eighteen years of age, and very
e.,,rcs dark hair. aud bright merry
m.,sWsrkI;np black ewes. She had received
u yood education, was wall accomplish.
ci. and soon became the belle Of the
place. She had one fault, however,
fault common to NEST pretty women
sir, WIS a coqucttc.
Among her numerous admirers was "a
isan some thirty years Of agc--tal'. dark,
and IL sinister asrect--of whom report
did not speak altogether favorably. lie
haa come to the place a short time sub
sc,ucntiy to the settlement Of Mr.. Wal
lace, and located himself at the village
inn. where he gave out that he was a
man Of wealth. Nothing was known Of
his history, and there were none who
could saw he was not what he represent
ed himself but there were many who
believed, for various reasons, that he was
u professional gambler. lie seemed to
have plenty Of money. and. so far AS
could bc seen, conducted himself in an
upright and honorable manner but still
he was not liked there was something
too stern and forhidiing in the man TO
make him popular with the people Of the
villag. ard hence hc WAS regarded
with suspicion and distrmst, and many
stories were set atloat dcrogatory to his
moral character. James Vaughan, for
81 Inc gave his name, seemed not in the
least disturbed by these evil reports, but
continued 10 conduct himself a. if l1 lc-
licvcd that all were satisfied with the re-
port which he gave Of himself.
How it was that he first became ac.
ouainted with Helen Wallace. was not
known TO the gossiping portion Of the
village; but they were suddenly sur
pri.s.sl ~ find him received at the dwell
ing ii her father ~ welcome guest ;
mud il was ~oon rumorcd that he was
treated by Helen herself with marked
favor.
Time passed on six months glidctl
nwsy--alHl still Vaughan remained at
his old quarters, and still his visits 10
the house Of Mr.. Wallace were continued,
gradually increasing in frequency, until
4 was known that scarcely day passed
without = meeting between him and
Helen.
Meantime there were many other gen
ticmcm who called to scc her, and whom
she received with polite courtesy but
Vaughan, il vt length became whispered
about, was her favored sutton. She did
not deny herself to any but he, an u
general thing, was her escort wherever
She went. llc frequently rode ont with
her alone, aud almost invariably accom-
panied her 70 all the balls. pic-nics, and
parties in tho vicinity.
This finally settled the question in tlsc
minds of many and il WAS not strange
that report should 20 abro.d, whether
true ~ false, that the parties wcrc en-
gagged 10 each other for the journey o'
life This Vaughan himself did not con-
tradict, except IN laughing way, which
only tended tho more strongly to con
vince tho others Of the truth Of their con
jcctmrcs. q,
But persons who had made such
wonderful predictions concerning thc IN
turc III Helen Wallace, wcre mon dcn,
tined 10 meet another surprise, which d,d
much to shake their own faith in THEFT
fosrknowlcdge II events for orc morn
lug Il was suddenly discovered, and r.
p;diy spread abroad to all CONCERNED
that James Vaughan. tn sti'i unknown
and unpopular stranger. had dSsaPpesret
AZ mysteriously ~ he came.
Eager and earnest were INC na"'T'e'