The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-08-26
Revenge is Sweet.

"He told me last night that l was
the sweetest girl he ever met, said Tiny
Salter.
"He has assured me fifty times, if
once, that if could not love him he
would never survive"
This from Daisy Howard.
"He loves me madly, passionately, de-
votedly, but never has reached the mo.
mentous question, wilt thou be minel"
declared mischievous Bel.
"And never will, answered Daisy.
The three girls looked at one another
and burst into chorus of laughter
They were ensconced in Bells snug lit
tie sitting room, whittier they had re-
paired for regular good 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
they should apparently be the victims of
one man was little too ridiculous.
The subject of their discussion was
young gentleman who was rusticating
few weeks in their neighborhood.
Handsome, we'll educated, and rich, was
it wonder that every one "went wild"
over him, and that he was courted and
feted until it was enough to turn any
mans head.
But it did not turn Horace Fern
leigh's. Oh, no He was used to it,
and rather enjoyed it. 1t was his
boast in his private club that he had
made more love to mole girls and brok-
en- more hearts than any other young
man of his set, and here he was in his
element.
Mr.. Horace was sauntering slowly to-
ward tht Rathbourne mansion on the
very day and hour when three of his
''victims" were "raking him over the
Goals" in manner that would have been
decidedly startling to his complacency,
could he have heard them.
"He ought to be punished in way
that would be a lifelong lesson to him..
declared Tiny. "Why he has almost
broken my heart. "
And looking the very personitication
of grief, she shed an imaginary tear.
"He actually belives that | have sue
cumbed to his charms" laughed Bel.
"You ought to have seen me, girls,
when he told me that he loved me. l
blushed and stammered in truly con-
ventional style, while all the time | was
diving to laugh. If he would only fall
in love with one of us, then we might
find some way to serve him as he de-
serves, but I'm afraid he's impermable.
His hearts encrusted in such an awfully
thick coating of self esteem that 1t
would be impossl5 Ole 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, l
wish | could make him love me
wouldn't [ scorch him :"
"That sounds like you, Bel, came in
an amused boys voice from behind the
window curtain, and out stepped her
sixteen ear-old college brother, home on
fortnights vacation.
With rush the girls were on him,
pounding him with their little fists,
and hugging him in the same breath,
Tor ne was laNOflJe WIFI tHtin, IL lie
was "only boy" and glad enough they
were to see him SO Unexpectedly, if he
had Just intruded into their secret SEES
sion.
81 had no idea you were 50 vindic-
tive, Bell, he renewed, when the greet
ings were over and who is the OBJ
iect of this bitter outbreak
"Oh, a Mr. Horace Fernleigh-a city
gentleman, who is spending few weeks
in our suburban retreat. He is regu-
lar lady killer, and is trying his charms
on us IS well as on all the rest of the
girls.
"Rather new role for you three
the heartbroken instead of the heart
breakers, and | suppose you don't relish
it much, ell, girlsl'
eff we could but be avenged" groaned
Tiny. "But to think of his imagining
that he is leaving us all crushed makes
me fairly wild"
"You are right there. Revenge is
sweet. Let me help you. What do
you say to having him make love to
meP
'To you ;" came from all three, sim
uitaneously. "Why, Willie, what do
you mean p
"Don't you think / would make a
6rst-rate girl-a regular heart breaker :