Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-06-22
The COuniess's Revenge.

She turned her glowing face to him in
glad and eager surprise but before she could
find words TO thank him, her overstrained
nerves gave way, and she burst into a flood
of tears.
The gentleman, who had been looking into
her eyes as If he would fairly absorb their
sweetness, felt extremely awkward at this.
and walked on in silence beside her until
she could control herself sufficiently to speak
The girl, as an apology for her tears, gave
him an account OF her succession of disap-
pointments, and, by dint, OF sympathy and
kind questioning, he won from her. her
whole sad history, with confession of the
resolution she had almost formed to destroy
herself, and how his coming dispelled it.
81 hone, then, the life have saved may
at some time belong to me, ," he sad, taking
her hand, and gazing so ardently into her
face that she blushed crimson. Il think ]
should know how to value it,"
The next day saw Kate Wesley installed
as one of the hands in Olding's factory,
through the agency of William Gliding, the
Junior member of the firm, and the youngest
son of its head. Kate regarded with the
warmest friendship and gratitude this man
who had lifted her out Of the fearful slough
of despond in which she was sinking and
ere long she returned the love which he
avowed for her. Every evening found lin
a guest at the humble lodging where Kate
boarded with Ms. Finn, poor but re-
spectacle widow.
lie was so devoted in his love for her, so
lavish in his gifts to her. and so desirous OF
doing everything to contribute to her hap
piness, that she grew to look upon him with
almost worship. lie had come into her dark
life like prince in fairy tale turning
everything 10 brightness, and taking her
heart willing captive at once. To ma
tuIe like hers. love was life, and the object
of il became almost her deity. She Obeyed
and believed in him almost implicitly, and
gave herself up to him body and soul; lis
tcning in blisslul trust to his promises OF
marriage as soon as he could, with safety to
his pecunIary interests, incur his father
displeasure by so doing
lie took her from the factory and from
Mrs. Films, and placed her in luxurious
rooms of her Own-madc heaven to her by
mis- prescnce-where she lived his wife all
but in name.
During his absence she devoted her time
to study, and made astonishing progress.
''IIe shall not have cause to blush at my
ignorance, when | am his wife" she
thought.
This was the state of things when Kate
one day went to take her customary lesson
in music. She arrived at her destination
rather early, and the musicmaster being
engaged with other pupils, sho was shown
into the waitingroom.
The building in which the music-master'
rooms were was divided into chambers OF
various kinds, and only thin board partition
separated the room in which Kate was shown
from another set OF chambers. She was no
sooner seated than she recognized the voice
OF her lover in conversation with another
gentleman in the adjoining apartment as
she was seated close to the partition, every
word of their conversation reached her.
"You see, WILL" said the strange voice,
THAT comes of a fellow running wild over
every pretty face he sees. You seem to have
a faculty for getting into serapea OF this
kind"
but, said her loycr, "this is deuce Of
a scrape. She expects me to marry her.
"Why, have you promised her =
"Well, yes, ought to; ; but of course
never meant it. I'm brought up rather
sharp Just now My resources are ali ex-
hausted, and the time is drawing near when
| ought to fulfil my promise. I've put it
of so often that can't see my way out OF 1t
this time. Come, old fellow, use your in
genuity and help me"
els She pretty asked the stranger.
II rather think she is. Id like to see
you find one prettier.
Gould she pass for lady in manner and
education ~
"Yes, she has been studying hard to i'm
prove herself, in expectation of our marriage,
and has succeeded as well as one could
wish"
why the deuce don't you marry her,
then ?"
The answer to this was long, low whistle
OF astonishment.
You must be mailman Marry fac
tory giII? Ambition is a family failing Of
| ours, and possess the failing to an unusual
degree. Your suggestion is madness, my
dear fellOw-think Of something else.
"Well, then, hang it man, leave the place
! for awhile, and write a farewell letter.
Agreed" "
Kate waited to hear no more, but rushed
wildly into the street. Having reached
| home, she hardly knew how she crushed the
| wild paroxysm that she was lahoring under,
and wrote letter to the de, troyer of her
happiness, telling him how she had discover
ed his perfdy,
TINS shall not degrade me, she snid.
by Gods help will live down my disgrace
and win for myself a position at least re
spectacle. And by Gods help, also will
be avenged
Seven years had elapsed since William
Olding had seen Kate Wesley. lie had re-
ccived her letter and felt relieved that the
affair ended with 80 little trouble to him.
of Kate 5 Hufierngs he would not allow him
self to think, and her memory was soon
buried with many others loves Of the past.
During these seven years he had inherited
great wealth from an aunt, had settled IN
London, and become a thoroughly diSsipated
man of the world. Iii. friends doubted hls
capacity for real, pure, honorable love,
and he agreed with them. That sort oi
thing was too humdrum and Irosy for him,
he said. And so opposed was he to matri
mony, that he wagcred hall his fortune that
he would never enter into it.
Just about this time Mis- klngiord, q
heiress, made her appearance IN society
turning all the male heads, old and young
ller beauty Of form and face and her ia~cI
mating powers Of conversation, were peerless
William threw himself at her feet at once
and to the astonishment Of all, became thi
most ardent suitor for her hand and Il,
people said, thoroughly in earnest for ths
first time in his life. Among Mis- King
for1's suitors also was the gentleman I,
whom William had staked the half of hr
fortune in the event of his marriage y
enraged was this man at her preference iol
William, that he swore to hold him to In
wager Undauntcd by this, William eager
lv pressed his suit, and was accepted.
1t was new kind of haprino-s to VII
liam, al d one that he once thought ncyc
existed, to feel that being bound to this wO
man for life would be heaven.
1t was arranged that Miss k,ngiord shoul,
proceed to France, where she had relatives
and that William should follow almo-
Immediately on his arrival, they should b
married
William followed his bctrothed to a love
ly little town in the North Of France, where
, she informed him, the friends resided a
whose house the wedding was to take place
On arriving at his hotel he found letter