The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-05-20
MAUD'S REVENGE.

"You see," he said, "tbis may /
our last afternoon together"
Hearing this she looked up into h
face with her beautiful blue eyes.
"What do you mean ?" she said.
"Tm going away" he answered
"and you know how it is in the world
People Just meet as shey do in stag
coach, like each other, part, and 90 b.
different paths to different places
Probably we shall never meet again.
She made no answer. Something
that did not seem to be her heart, i
was 20 cold and heavy, beat against he
breast and choked her. This man haC
been making love to her for three
months-an age in the life Of girl oI
sixteen. She had every reason to be
lieve that he desired her for his wife
He had taught a" 10 love him and now
he was cody m. O. ara Hdieu; but what
could she do? Y wiout fbut stihe every
appearance of enp bon, and bear the
blow in silence as best she might. In
love woman has no rights that can be
asserted We all know that well
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 SEQ our pretty river bank once
again"
Aud she got back her voice.
81 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 |
thought she would" he said to himself.
"If I were only dead" she moancd
inwardly. "If | 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 ont Of Maud
lIerman'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 well 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 faroff 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 chose7-money
need not be thought of now. The old
aunt was sufficient protection, and the
two together crossed the channel, lin
gering long on the continent, and re-
turned after a five years absence, to
themselves in London, where
a circle of fashionable friends soon
sprang up about them.
Money makes n 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 i'll that long i'll.
ness haunted by visions of Paul Red.
law. Her face had only changed for
the better; her manner w8s more charm
ing than it had ever been, but within |
her soul she felt a strange and terrible |
She who had loved 20 fondly |
and tenderly had no tenderness left. All
those soft feelings had perished, and
the man she had loved she positively
hated. Thinking of him her soul was
lashed into fury, and she longed
passionately for revenge.
"Is it possible Miss Hermann
1t was crowded parlor !; music filled
the mir n 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 moment she
her old feeling for him
and then followed an emotion Of tri
umph. He was here. Somehow she
knew he was bachelor still, and she
was now rich and an acknowledged
belle. She understood her power, and
meant to exert it. This man should be
at her feet, and she would humble him
AS he had humbled her so she gave him
her hand, and looked sweetly mp into
his face.
at is an age since we met! !" she
said. i
"Do you remember the garden, and
the river bank, and all tho pretty
places and how did you know me after
all this time ?"
"One expects beautiful bud to be-
come beautiful rose," he answered.
He took her do n to supper thai
night, anu saw her 10 ner carriage, ana
he called, as she had asked him to do,
in a 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 poor
country girl. and he had always thought
her beautiful. Now the passion Of his
life fell upon him. Ambition was sal.
isfed and did not restrain his heart.
He adored her. And the fact that she
was rich aud belle inhamed his pride