Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1879-03-06
THORNTON'S REVENGE.
BY JENNY WREN.

s'Your wife, Thornton? Why, it
seems only yesterday you were carry
ing my books to school. What do
boys know of love?''
And Nellie Rivers glanced inno-
Gently up into the face of him she adj
dressed-as innocently as though she
had not known for many month the
question just put her had been tremb-
ling on his eager lips.
A hot flush dyed Thornton Mays
cheek at her words. The last sentence
cut like knife; flash of anger leap
ed into the dark eyes, moment be-
fore so tenderly passionate, as he an
swered, quickly:
81 am here to talk of mans love,
not boys. 1 am twenty-six, full
eight years your senior, Nellie; but
this is subterfuge on your part, and
ELL unworthy Of you. Answer me,
darling; tell me you will be my wife,
will place your happiness into my
keeping, to guard forevermoren
''How prettily you talk, Thornton!
1t reads just like a storybook.
Really, I'd scarce expect one of your
years Now, don't be angry, but
you have taken me so by surprise
hardly know how to reply, except,
Thornton, believe won't think of
it just now, if you don't mind. 1 am
afraid your age would weigh too
heavily on your shoulders to burden
them with any added weight"
And the laughing voice had in it
ring of mockery, which gave TO every
word an added sting.
''Flirt! heartless!" burst, in NUT
tered whisper, from the young mans
white lips.
Then he rose, with a dignity which
seemed suddenly to have sprung into
life.
81 will not, then, detain you Ion
ger, Miss Rivers; but when another
man offers you an honest love, sealed
by his name, will you not remember
that true women wound, ifwound is
necessary, if not with regret, at least
with care that the spear-thrust go no
deeper than the case demands? l
shall go abroad to study my art, to
remain indefinitely, and, since l shall
not again see you, l will how bid you
good-by."
And, without even extending his
hand, with simply low bow of cour-
tesy, he left Der, she sitting notion
less, the echo OF the closing of the
outside door ringing in her ears
strangely like knell.
eff you would wreak revenge upon
woman, first gain her heart; then
she is at your mercy"
Four years had wrought but little
change in the young man who, four
years ago, hadleft his native land to
find elsewhere iorgetfulness, and who
now stood once more upon its shores,
with this senteIce-a piece of advice
picked up in some book, on his for
eign travel -ling;ng in his ears.
An added shade of bronze was on
his cheek; the broad shoulders were
trife broader the dark eyes wore
a more earnest look; the long, silken
moustache drcoped more heavily.
This was all. In all else Thornton
May was unchanged, outwardly.
Within, no eye can penetrate.
But, as once more the sentence
rises before him, his eye klndIes, and
he says, aloud:
"Revenge is sweet"
Four years have not failed, he adds
to himself, to teach him the folly of
tha: past-to show him the sand
structure on which he had built his
house-to wipe out all the old love.
''It you would wreak revenge upon
a woman, first make her love YOU"
All, this was the work left him, this
the sweet revenge-to gain the heart
which once had mockingly trampled
on his own, then show her how worth
less was the prize.
Once more he stood in the library
which had witnessed, so long ago,
the scene branded upon his memory.
Was it possible it still had power to
burn, as he strobe, with impatient
steps, up and down, waiting the mo-
ment OF Miss Rivers entrance?
She had sent for him. Purposely
he had waited until she should do SO
until the message she uld come ask
ing if his old friends had been forgot
ten.
But the door opens. His revere is
interrupted as, glancing up, the slight,
graceful figure, which spite of himself
has entered so often into his dreams,
stands before him.
The years have but added to her
loveliness, but deepened the aose up
on her cheek but lent softened bril-
liancy to the dark eyes, which rest SO
reproachfully upon him,
"Why did you make me send for
you!" she says.
Once more the low, sweet voice
thrills him with its old magic power
but, remembering the part he has to
play, he puts his weakness behind |
him as he answers:
''Four years make many changes,
Miss Nellie. did not know should |
still find place in your memory"
''You have grown olderi" she ex-
claims, unthinkingly.
"Ah, have put away boyisli things
since I last saw you, Miss Rivers!'
The hidden meaning in the words
rings through his tone, and the scar
let creeps up to the white temples
but no other sign betrays her, and so
for an hour they chat on concerning
that past, one portion of which both
so carefully avoid.
GAS heartless a fiirt as everl" he
soliloquizes, us be descends the steps,
remembering her glance of welcome.
which had seemed to say SO much, as
in the olden time it told the self-same
story. "The man who wrote his wise
advice should have gwen us some
other weapon for women who possess j.,
no hearts," he added, all unconscious
of the gray eyes watching his figure
till IL is blurred bv A mist of tears.