Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-01-09
THE EVENING STAR.
MRS. BEAuCHAMP,s VENGEANCE.
CHAPTER III-TnE GRAPES WITHIN REAcH
A troubled vet deHcio,s night did the naiuter

said this, but somehow believed IT ana MS
conviction Communicated itself to the creditor,
In spite Of that mans long acquaintance with
the promises of his debtor. Faith moves
mountains, and sometimes even creditors.
have often marvelled at tie facility with which
men, enormously without means, contrive to
get trusted by men W HON they have constantly
lett unpaid while others, really possessing
SEINE outlying means, and known to nave paid
1leir ray honorably for years, cannot get even
lhe smallest extension Of time. The man who
never pays is more certain TO be trusted than
the man who pays Irregularly. l suppose
there is a sublime, confidence in the former
which imposes ON his creditors whereas in
the latter there is a secret misgiving, painful
sense that the hope may no. be realized, an un-
comfortable feeling at being asked for money
which he hasnt got and this perplexed, CON
fused, sneaking frame OF mind, communicates
itself to the creditor.
The bootmaker departed, and the wido y ar.
rived. Great was the JOY of Rackit to see her
arrive alone. He helped her to take Off her
shawl, and observed with pleasure that she
ives asifated, and did not reply to his little
questions and remarks Her agitation gre
greater, and communicated itself to him. A
certain cali over shness" which was at once
pie asant and painful, made him fidget annie
iy about the ateGer, pretending to be arranging
lhe easel and the seat for her, but really dis
Iurbirg one moment the arrangement of the
last.
At last Mrs. Beauchamp broke thu silence.
Al have had very unpleasant time since
yesterday"
IndetdT' inquired the sympathetic painter.
"fery. On quitting yott, Mr.. Bri ggs and
came TO serious misunderstanding"
May, why should mince phrases lit WAS
a serious quarrel" 4 .
Dear me, And what about !''
&" I was annoyed-I may say irritated-atthe
criticisms he permitted himself to pass on the
work OF q faan OF genius"
Pray do not mind them. 1 care little for
WI at he says, so that you are not dissatisfied"
I" could not help feeling for you"
- II was very kind"
land then his replies to me had a tone-oh
tone that no man who respects woman
would permit himself, es pecially to the woman
of his choice. / am not particularly sensitive,
but indeed he was rude-rude, almost insult
ing
"lknew you would feel as 1 do.''
,That man must be a brute who would insul:
a detenceless woman, W ho has no weapon but
her tears no aTmor but hysterics.''
Especially when she knows she must SUBJ
10 il 20 his i'll usage-snust hear the coarsest ac-
cent and ruGest language. because she is not TO
be his WIFE,
az have no patience with the fellow
On had l known the man 10 whom | was
about 10 link myself for iife-and We. ought to
Eave know what tyrantsyou can be. 1 was
widow"
Then the lamented Beauchamp wasp
"a brute! Most men are"
E" Nay, that viii ne Yer allow
- thought Mr.. Briggs, whom had known
from childhood. was different. -BIt woman
never knows the real character Of a man till
shes married. He couldn't have loved me-,
Here The widow was on the point of weep
ing and this ronsed ali the chiyalry of Rackits
nature, as he eonfidentiaily informed me-
he never loved me-" rel Gated the widow
Never eneIgetically exclaimed the painter
Eth ?; :
.lrepeat it Never! / should not have ven.
tured on he indelicacy OF such a remark I'M
der other circumstances but from the first that
has been my conclusion. He is an egotist. l
know him. l saw at once that however he
might admire you ias who does n he could
not under stand, he was incapable OF apprecia-
She held out her hand to him with a frank
eordiality and On irnpuIsiveness which was IT.
resstble
You undo rstand me- she said.
HAGd to understand is o adore you.o he re.
piled, kissing tie hanc; he held in his.
" Don't plague me at such Il moment with
idle gallantry. Do be serious-pray do"
"serious ! seser was more So
..Hear me calmly. 1 swear it is genuine
passion which now speaks i'll tone, look, and
GESTURE
= NJ, no Don't say it,
.'But have said it.''
You cannot love me-
I" But do,
lyon must rot
81 must and viii. From, the very first mo-
nent of our meeting
"You fancy 500
"Fancy
You Rave an artists imagination
"And the heart of a man"
L
: You bid me be silent, and / obey. ! will
not tell you how in secret have hung upon
your looks. and treasured up your slightes
words. / will notallude to the blisstul visions
/ have had of blissful existence passed tor
ever at your side. l will be silent. know
the barrier hich circumstances have cruelty
erected between u.s. But must be allowed to
dream OF the paradise from which am shut
out
Fortunately for you
"Don,t say SO. HIS fate willed it otherwise,
ar,lh oA Inny
Then you would in all probability have
never given me a thought"
"1his is unjust"
alt is the simple truth, and yen know it,"
You have no belief in me-
MEN are deceitfui.'
mot all
"AI."
You ara resolved against me. Bus oh
won Id that l could prove the truth-if you
were but free.''
But l am not"
~ know it. But IL you tcerc-''
What would you do then -
Throw myself at your feet
And he suited the action to the word, adding,
she arose hastily, 81 would say, here is nv
heart-acee pit It here Is my life-share it,"
Rackit had been hurried on to this passion
ate max, in his eager desire to make an i'm.
preston: bnt it was like a dash OF cold water
Ia his heated face when the widow suddenly
held out her hand to him, and with a tone OF
trembling tenderness said
And dare trust you If it is my engage
/ am FREE
He was speeches. for a few seconds, and
then staInmered-
What That is-you I'm bewildered.'
"As you spoke. the sincerity Of your con-
victiCn stirred my heart. i felt you Were in
earnest. You are so, are you not -
"Quite ~ he answered, though with abatad
fervour.
~ felt that you were worthy of all conf.
Gence, and the resolution was formed which
at once set me at liberty"
Popyi fol n, h,,ta
raptured by this announcement l do not
know: but this know, that lie felt very much
as we feel on awakening from dream, and yet
cannot quits help believing as reality. Here
was d woman whom he greatly admired
whom he had been loving, as he vowed for
sever al days, with an insnrgent rage against
the superior luck of Briggs. who could call her
fjs own; and yet no sooner did he learn that
Briggs u as no longer in that enviable position
no longer barring him from the chance of being
her has bapd-then he began ~ feel utterly
NJ seraole. Perhaps 1t was his general dislike
70 marriage; and he was not merely Ia king 1T
random when he vowed that true happiness
1oas ist d n loyiIga woman whom you couldn't
call your Own,
On her askins him if be was happy, he We.