The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1877-07-13
A WOMAN'S REVENGE.

| The broad stretch of barren, sandy
shore, covered here and there with rag
! ged tufts of scanty evergreens; boats
| lying upon the strand like sleeping ses
monsters, on one side and on the Other
| the eternal roar of great white-crested
| pillows, fiinging white showers Of spray
into the salt-scented air-this was what
| Mrs. st. Leger saw, as she stood in the
piazza of the solitary hotel, with hel
| husband at her side.
"It it not grand, Beatrice ?"
She shuddered, and drew involuntarily
nearer to him.
eyes; but oh, how drearyl how soli-
tary!"
"PeopIe don't expect much society in
place like this, Beatrice health is the
main object for which we seek, and
believe the roses are brighter already in
your cheeks, dearest wife. See how little
Nell is frolicking down on the shore with
the old boatman and his wife. Shall we
walk down and bring Nelly back ?"
" You go, Alfred, and l will wait for
you in the parlor. Don't be long, for the
sun has already set and the air grows
chilly"
Little Nelly and her female companion
were alone on the shore when Mr.. St.
Leger joined the greup-the boatman had
strayed off in another direction to look
for a missing oar-and the child ran
gleefully to meet him.
"Papa, papa! see this pretty pink
she'll"
But Alfred St. Leger saw neither shell
nor child. He had grown suddenly pale,
then crimson.
Kathleen Morrison
The tall, pretty young woman threw
the scarlet shawl back from her head, as
she bowed. so you haven't forgotten
our Irritation, Mr. st. Leger? And you
are married, and this is your little girl.
How time passes"
st. Leger drew deep sigh of relief as
Kathleen broke into light laughter. If
he could but have seen the cruel smile
upon her mocking lips he would scarcely
bosom.
Mamma, Kathleen says it's the pref
tiest place-a cave. where the sand is like
silver and the little pink and purple
shells lie in heaps. Kathleen can row me
out in half an hour. She often goes"
Nelly's cheeks were in a flame, AID
her blue ewes sparkling with excitement
Mrs. st. Leger looked languidly up from
her book.
1" Is it quite safe, KathleenW
"Quite so, ma'am; we'll be back by
tea-time."
Then l may GO, mamma ?"
If Kathleen will take great care of
you, pet"
The purple light faded into gray, and
the gray into starry darkness, and the
moon rose up solemnly over the tides,
nd
"Oh, Kathleen, am 50 tired. Take
me back to mamma"
" Hush, child We're going where the
sun shines all the year round, and you
shall gather ripe oranges from the trees,
and the parrots are redder than peOnies.
Just wait minute"
And can / have a monkey ?"
Twenty, if you like"
Z" But will mamma be there?"
"No; but we'll send her a monkey in
a letter"
Nelly laughed at the idea; but the
next minute her cheeks grew pale again.
want my mamma, Kathleen. |
don't care for the monkeys and the
parrots any more, | want my mamma"
Kathleen did not answer. She was
intently watching the movements of a
large vessel lying at little distance out
at sea. Suddenly a tiny white pennOn
futteTed out, and was instantly with
drawn.
The saints be blessed :" muttered
Kathleen. al began to think it would
never come. Nelly, darling, here's the
boat; jump in.
"A Are we going to mamma ?"
Yes, yes-jump in, quick"
And Kathleen's strong arm was pull
ing them out to sea in another instant.
As they ran up alongside the large
black hull of the vessel voice hailed
them.
"Is it you, Kathleen? Where's the
child?"@
Here"
"The ladder will be lowered in min
ute. l tell you what, my girl, you've
shown coursge to day"
The athletic young tar greeted her
with a hearty kiss as she stood beside
him; but her cheek was cold as ice
as little Nelly cluDg, terrified, to her
skirts.
al am revenged !" was the first, the
last, the only thought that whirled
through her brain.
And when, the next morning. long af-
ter the outward bound SARDINIA was
spreading her white sails to the breeze,
the little boat drifted ashore, people
whispered to one another that old MOri-
son, daughter and the golden-haired lit
tie girl were lost at sea.
Ten wears afterwards, Kathleen Mori.
son-a childless widow, listIess exile
now upon a foreign shore-was standing
at her door where the glowing Italian
sunshine streamed down through bios
soming vines.
THE saints protect us from such
grim face as yours, Kathlina !" cried
balancing a basket of fish on
her head, as she tripped by. Don't you
want to hear a bit of newsT'
Lar not so wrapped up in the fine
folk at the castle as you are. Ninetta,"
said Kathleen.
'It's a lovely lady," returned Ninetta,
land she's dying by inches-La Signora
San Legero."
est. Leger ~
"Ah! That's the way the English have
it."
go away! 1 want no more of your
idle gossip"
Ninetta retreated, fairly appalled, by
the sharpness of her neighbor's tongue
and voice; and Kathleen stood gazing
fxedly into the sunset, with eyes that /
saw not shade of the carmine glow. 1
81 thought once that should never
pity her." unused Kathleen, but that was