The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-05-27
MAUD'S REVENGE.

People just meet as they do in a stage
coach, like each other, part, and go by
different paths to different places.
Probably we shall never meet again.
She made no answer. Something
that did not seem TO be her hesrt, It
was so cold and heavy, beat against her
breast and choked her. This man had
been making love to her for three
months-an age in the life of a girl of
sixteen. She had every reason to be-
lieve that he desired her for his wife.
He had taught her to love him and now
he was cody making his adieu; but what
could she do? Nothing but stifie every
appearance of emotion, and bear the
blow in silence as best she might. In
love woman has no rights that can be
asserted. We all know that we'll
enough. She may have her own purse,
perhaps some day her right to vote, but
in those matters that touch her most
deeply, she is by the law of custom
by the command of her own pride also
the veriest slave.
"And so" said be, 81 thought we
might see our pretty river bank once
again"
And she got back her voice.
I hope it is not so damp as it was
yesterday" she said. ''Thanks I'll
not take your arm must lift my dress
and hold my parasOl, you know"
"She don't mind it as much as I
thought she would" he said to himself
eff were only dead" she moaned
inwardly. "If 1 were only dead"
And then they took their walk, and
chatted, and he escorted her to her
cottage door, bowed to the old aunt at
the window, shook hands and hastened
away.
Paul Redlaw had gone out of Maud
Herman's life. Well for her it would
have been had he gone from her heart
also; but she had loved him so much,
trusted him SO we'll the blow was more
than she could bear. Next day she was
very i'll, andfor long time shelingered
at deaths door. The blinds of the little
house were closed. The old woman
went about on tip-tOe, with tears in her
eyes. The doctors carriage stopped at
the gate twice every day, and in all the
village it was breathed that she was
dying. But youth is very powerful.
The girl grew well again, and with her
very recovery a great good fortune fell
upon her.
Some far-off relative, dying, made
her his heiress, and the poor young
creature, who had had much ado to find
herself in simple muslins and neat de-
LANES, WAS now able to wear royal vel
vet and diamonds if she chose.
Her health was still delicate, and
travel was recommended. Why should
she not travel if she chose2-money
need not be thought of now. The old
aunt was sufficient protection, and the
two together crossed the channel, lin
h.
turned after a five years absence, to
establish themselves in London, where
a circle Of fashionable friends soon
spraug up about them.
Money makes a mighty difference in
peoples lives. Probably Maud would
never have known she was beautiful if
she had remained poor but she knew
it now. The lips of flatters told her of
her charms. Lovers were at her feet.
She could marry when she would, but
she had no heart to give any one. Love
died within her heart in that long i'll
ness haunted by visions of Paul Red
law. Her face had only changed for
the better; her manner wss more charm
ing than it had ever been, but within
her soul she felt a strange and terrible
change. She who had loved so fondlY
and tenderly had no tenderness left. All
those soft feelings had persisted, and
the man she had loved she positively
hated. Thinking of him her soul was
lashed into a fury, and she longed
passionately for revenge.
els it possible Miss Herman?'
It was a crowded parlor music filed
the air a soprano of society was sing
ing. Miss Herman turned her head
and saw Paul Redlaw. They had met
once more. A strange thrill swept
through her frame for a moment
remembered her old feeling for him ;
and then followed an emotion of tri-
umDh. He was here. Somehow she
knew he was a bachelor still, and she
was now rich and an acknowledged
belle. She understood her power, and
meant to exert it. This man should he
at her feet, and she would humble him
as he had humbled her so she gave him
her hand, and looked sweetly up into
his face.
cit is an age since we met !" she
said.
"Do you remember the garden, and
the river bank, aud all the pretty
places and how did you know me after
all this time ?"
Zone expects a beautiful bud to be-
COLlC "a D0atAb4AA14 AO6Ep lAC aus ~ OLCAs
He took her do N to supper that
night, and saw her to her carriage, and
he called, as she had asked him to do,
in day or two.
He had been a good deal in love
with her in those old times, though it
had not been prudent to marry a poor
country girl, and he had always thought
her beautiful. Now the passion of his
life fell upon him. Ambition was sat
isfied and did not restrain his heart.
He sdored her. And the fact that she
was rich and belle infamed his pride
and helped his love along. He Eung
himself into pursuit of her heart with
ardor, and at last gathered hope enough
from her giances to speak to her. He
offered her his heart and hand ard
she whom a glance or a word once
thrilled so accepted them as she might
a bOqUCt of flowers.
Il troabled him a little that the
bushes and sweetness of the old time
did not return; but perhaps the society
manner he admired so much forbade
that. At last she was his; and when
she WAS his wife she would no longer
refuse those which he found 1t so diff
cult to beg from her now.
Inc mau WHO 80 COoAlg Stt aS4tlo TIE
tenderness of that fresh young heart
that loved him so pined for 1t now as a
weary traveller pines for the cool spring
and shadowed resting place. Yet had
she not given him that ''yes" that meant
she loved him?
He put by his doubts and looked for
ward, longingly, for the wedding day.
And Maud. what was in her heart? ?
Why did she laugh to herself as she sat
alone? Why did she recall over and
over again the cruel parting at the cot
tRge door Remembering that then she
was EOOr, end that now she wss go rich ?
We're these memories TO carry 10 the
altar?
The day was set. Every one knew it.