Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-12-11
REVENGE IN SWEET.
BY L. J.


Tina Salter.
ale has assured me fifty times, il
once, that If / could not love him
he would never survivor
This from Daisy Howard.
"He loves me passionately, de-
votedly, madly, but he has never
reached the momentOus question
wilt thou be mine?' declared mis-.
chievOus Bel.
"And never will" answered Dali
sy:
other and burst into a chorus o.
laughter.
They were ensconsed in Bel:
snug little sitting-rOom, whittier
they had repaired for regular good
little chat. They were firm friends
and all three the pets of the village
Pretty, and sweet, and full Of
spirit, they were adored by the
young fellows and envied by the
girls, and TO think that they should
all apparently be the victims of one
man was a little too ridiculous.
The subject of their discussion
was a young gentleman who was
rusticating for 4 few weeks in their
neighborhOOd. Handsome, we'll
educated and rich, was it wonder
that everyone went wild over him,
and that he was cOurted and feted
until it was enough to turn any
mans head. "
But 1t did not turn Horace Fern
leigh's. Oh, no! ne was used to it,
and he rather enjoyed it. 1t was
his boast in his private club that he
had made more love to more girls
and broken more hearts than any
other young man of his set, and
here he was in his element.
Mr.. Horace was sauntering slowly
toward the RathbOurne mansion
on the very day and hour when
three of his ''victims" were raking
him over the Goals i'm a manner that
would have been decided startling
TO his complacency could he have
heard them.
"He ought to be punished in d
way that would be u lifelong lesson
to him." declared Tiny. "Why ne
has almost broken my heart"
And looking the very persOnifica
tiOn of grief, she shed an imaginary
tear.
"He actually believed that I have
succumbed to his charms" laughed
Bel. "You ought to have seen me
girls, when he told me that he loved
me. / blushed and stammered in 9
truly conventional style, while al
the time was dying to laugh. Il
he only would fall in love with one
of us, then we might find some way
to serve him as he deserves, but Pm
afraid he'simpermeable. His hearts
encrusted in such an awfully thick
coating of self-esteem that it would
be impossible to penetrate it.
He'll disappear suddenly some
day, after he thinks he has done his
work well, and we'll never see him
more. All, / wish l could make
him love me-wouldn't | scorch
him ~
HThat sounds like BEL" came in
an amused boys voice from behind
the windOw-curtain, and out stepped
her siXteen-year-old college brother,
home on fOrtnight's vacation.
With a rush the girls were on
him, pounding him with their little
fists, and hugging him in the same
breath, for he was favorite with
them, if he was "only a boy" and
glad enough were they to see him
so Unexpectedly, if he had intruded
into their secret session.
81 had no idea you were so vim
dictive, BEL" he renewed, when
the greetings were over. "And
who is the object of this bitter out
break?''
'Oh, Mr.. Horace Fernleigh-a
city gentleman who is spending a
few weeks in our suburban retreat.
He's regular lady-killer, and is
trying his charms on us as well as
the rest Of the girls"
Rather Il new role for you three
the heart-hrOken instead of the
heart-breakers, and | suppose you
don't relish il much, eh, girls ."
''If we could but be avenged"
groaned Tiny. "But to think of his
imagining that he is leaving us all
crushed makes me fairly wild"
"NOu are right there. Revenge
is sweet. Let me help you. What
do you say to having him make
love to me?'
"To you ~ came from all three
simultaneously. "Why, Willie,
what do you mean?"
Don't you think / would make
a first-rate girl? \ regular heart
breaker? You needn't look so
aStonished. | have taken girls
part more than once in our theatre
Gals at college on account of my
smooth face ahd slender figure, and
| tell you l make up stunning, if |
do say it. I've got it down to n fine
point voice and all. Bel, where's
the wig | LEFT here at the last term ?''
willie. you're an angel :" cried
Daisy.
ado you really believe you can
carry it Out?"
"Rather! Let's begin operations
at once. BY st. Patrick, isn't that
him coming in at the gate?
Tiny flew to the window.
at is indeed! Willie, why arn't
you dressed now, so that you could
begin your siege at once"
"Bel, go down at once and enter
tain the gentleman until your cOus-
in from Devonshire comes down."
commanded Will; "and mind YOU
encourage him To make all the love
he can; and you stay here and dress
me-"
"You don't want him to know
you are in the house, do yOu?" said
Bel.
Twenty minutes later there glided
into the parlor the sweetest witch
of about eighteen summers that
ever was, and Bel introduced her as
"My cousin, Jennie Vaughan, from
Devonshire, Mr.. Fernleigh."
What lovely dark eyes she had,
and shimmering golden hairl Why,
even pretty Bel couldn't hold can
die to her! Who could resist max
ing himself fascinating to her?
And before he had left Mr.. Fern
leigh had engaged her for a drive,
telling Bel, as he slyly pressed her
hand In parting, as a friend Of hers
he would do all i'm his power 10
make her cousins visit agreeable.
How the girls rushed down into
the parlor after he had left, and