North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1867-07-17

The FllFt's Penalty.
"What q beautiful creature Caroline
Derwent is u said young man to his
friend, Horace Jones, at party in one Of
our northern cities.
T eyes! but she is heartless Airt! She
broke the heart Of poor Harry Wylie."
g How was that r. ~ asse45 ~ ,@1ai
Harry, was my schoolmate, and noble
hearted man he was frank, enthusiastic,
and full of confidence. Years ago when
Miss Derwent was but fifteen, he fell in
love with her. She did not reject his at
tentions, neither did she decidedly encour-
age them, but she designedly acted 30 as
to keep hope alive in his bosom, resolving,
have no doubt, if no better match occur
red, to marry him, for she is ~ proud as
Juno, and rs ambitious as Semiramis.
About year ago she became acquainted
with Lieut.. Mcintyre, . southerner of
large estate, and Harry was numerically
dismissed. just at q time when by her de-
cided encouragement on several occasions,
he began to be certain of her hand. He
never recovered from it. You know he
threw himself away! Ipitty the Lieuten-
ant, for he may be trifed with in turn
that il he by the door. He has just re-
turned from cruise in the West Indies,
and knows nothing Of this. In word,
Miss Derwent is as false as she is beauti-
ful 70 ays.s. "a -s9z-ae rla
{" Hush T. said the speakers friend "for
here comes Miss Derwent. She has heard
you. al's #5 s'
u Horace looked up and met Miss Der
vents eye. Ungovernable rage sparkled
in those dark orbs. As she swept by like
another Cleopatra, she darted on Horace
a look of revengeful meaning. The friends
exchanged glances. e 1l 51a
/" She is an unforgiving fury" said Hor-
ace, "and heard what said. Well-if she
was man should look out for chal-
hnge," he added, jestingly.
Caroline Derwent was indeed all that
Horace had declared her to be. Beautiful
from her earliest childhood, and accustom-
ed to continual f1attery, her bad qualities
had become worse and she had grown up
vain, naughty, self.willed and revengeful
in disposition. Indeed, there was scarcely
redeeming quality about her. But in
society her beauty and her wit concealed
her defects. II was the former that had
fascinated the rich Lieutenant Mcintyre !;
and in his afianced bride, who knew we'll
bow 70 play her part, he worshipped be-
ing Of almost ideal perfection. They were
70 be married now in fortnight.
Miss Derwent had, as Horace supposed,
heard his words. He was one that had ear
" penetrated her character and this the
imperious beauty well knew for he was
possessed Of an ample fortune, and she
bad at one time, determined to make him
hers, and, in consequence, had lavished al
her arts in the vain hope of ensnaring him.
Finding she could not succeed, her love
(o1 she had loved Horace a. much az she
fas capable Of loving any one-turned to
hatred and what il more terrible than
lhe hatred Of an unprincipled woman p
She now resolved to have her revenge
She knew her ai6anced lover to be high
@pirited and she counted on his blind de-
Notion to her to make him her tool. That
evening as he escorted her home, she told
HIM that Horace called her a. false as she
vas beautiful, and made use Of her name
otherwise in an insulting manner. She
Aid, however, nothing about that part Of
the conversation which alluded to her VIC
I'm, poor Harry Wylie. IS
This will not endure" she said, max
ing no attempt to conceal her passion,
That rejected suitor should revenge
himself in insulting me is uncomfortable.
Oh! if were man, or had brother"
/" But my dear Miss Derwent,' said her
lover, would y0u have me 6x o quarrel
on man whom scarcely know p ,.ss
"And why not p she said passionately,
"has he not insulted me s' And is your
future wife to bear such things tamely,
and you an officer in the navy? Others
heard the words, and l know heard them;
and you have to choose between beinl call
ed 9 coward or avenging me-"
Her companion, though infatuated by
love, was shocked by her vehemence. He
had not thought her capable Of such a
thirst for revenge, and. for the first time,
he began to ask himself if the being he
was about to marry was qualified to make
him happy. He was still plunged in thO't
when tie carriage arrived at the door,
His bride elect had remained in passionate
silence, waiting his decision. He did not
give, however, but merely saying he would
see her in the morning, bowed and took
his leave. ai ~ .l'f
No words can describe the passion of the
proud beauty as she flung herself on her
sofa. She had never loved her expected
husband indeed, At his rigid notions on
some subjects she would often curl her
lip hut his vast fortune was the prize she
eagerly grasped at. But now her rage pass
ed all bounds on finding his hesitation to
become the tool of her revenge. The
mean pitifal wretch, }" she said. +" he shall
not have me If he win not avense me.
will be master-he shall know that p
and, sitting down, she wrote him q note,
deferring her interview on the morrow
with him, on the plea Of headache, un-
til the succeeding day, when, as the words
ran, "sbe hoped to welcome him from the
field on which he had avenged her." This
note she ordered her servant to deliver