The Northern Pacific farmer., 1883-10-11
A SISTERS VENGEANCE.

lo Dlnk.1ODed nguf6 DeIOI0 0lM HAeA1 oAJ.J
lrooping eyes, and white dimpled nanos
hat we're now engaged in wrapping a Dit o.
liver leaf around the stems OF q buncn OF
Bouquet, sir?" she repeats. "Here is
me am:sure you will like, myrtle and tea
oses. Shall arr ange it for you?" :,
He ben is..forward that she may pin the
blossoms on his coat lapel.
He, notices how small and white her hands
re and wishes she would raise her
:ringed lids.
"There; don't you like it," she says.
The price is a shilling"
Elmer draws coin from his wel-6led
Wallet, and lays it on the counter.
Keep the remainder for the cause" ne
ays.
The young girl smiles, and raises her eyes
o his.
Can it be that he, man of the world,
gho has been admired and sought by doz-
ems of beautiful women, has fallen In love
With pretty fower-seller at charity fair2
He moves away, and accosts an acquaint.
lnce moving around the brilliant apart
ment.
"who is this young girl with the hand
some black eyes-the fower-seller?'
George Ellis looks up at his companion
with an amused smile.
What, Richards, a1e you smitten?" he
says. We'll, you are by no means the first
one with whom those eyes have made sad
havoc. Her name is Beatrice Irving"
Irving! Elmer gave an involuntary
start
All, yes, that name is familiar to him.
A sad pale face rises before him with
wistful blue eyes and trembling lips.
It appeared to him once before this even
ing, when he first heard Beatrice Irivng's
voice; it haunts him all the evening, and
when the fair is over, and he returns to his
handsome apartm ments, he sees it still, and
beside it glows the fower-seller's brilliant
face.
Elmer Richards starts like guilty thing
as this thought comes to him; he knows
why the sweet lire ended so early; why the
little grave was made so soon for her whose
last words were Of him-pretty Milly
Irving.
why indulge in these morbid fancies?"
he thinks. ut is thing of the past now,
and as such should be forgotten"
So he dismisses the sad, unpleasant
memories, and leaning back in his chair,
lights cigarette, and, watching the curling
sees in their midst dim vision of the rose:
seller.
"What, Richards, are you going to snub
your friends in this manner?"
Jerry, old boy, is it you?" he ex-
claims. "'Pon my honor, did not know
you! Step up into my room and tell me the
news"
Mice place you've got here" says
Jerry, as they enter the luxurious apart
ment.
when did you return?" Elmer asks.
"Only two days ago, is the reply. "Been
there-a whole household. Oh, by-the-
bye, Richards, Esther sent you an invita-
ton to come down and enjoy yourself!
Nothing else on hand have you? No?
Then Of course you'll accept It will be a
Esther says, and everyone either beauty
or an heiress."
"What. are you married?" Elmer in
quires.
"No, but engaged, and that amounts to
''Bessie Townsand-don't you remember
haven't told me whether you are coming OF
not"
eyes, I will come"
@Soon as possible, mind, says Jerry. "Es-
ther will be looking for you. Au revoir!'
mel, looking out Of the window, sees his tai
form striding up the street with the same
careless, swinging gait he remembers o1
old.
A few days later. Elmer Richards enter
train enroute for the Trows' country resi-
dence. That evening he makes a faultless
toilet, and descends to the lighted rooms.
Esther presents him to the other guests,
and soon he Is engaged in lively conversa
tion with Jerry's betrothed; Bessie Towns
end. Then Esther comes and carries hin
off to the conservatory. AS they enter,
recumbent figure rises, and in the dim ligh
Elmer sees the yellow fash of jewels.
"Are you here?" cries Esther, Miss Irv-
ing, MIR. Richards"
of light streaming through the haif-ope1
door, falls upon Ter face, the brilliant fac
and lustrous black robes of Beatrice Irving
Beatrice is charming converstionalist
and Elmer thinks it is infinitely NOR
agreeable to pass the time with her in tn
dimly-lit observatory than to chatter wit
this one and that in the Illuminated room
beyond.
At last they arise, and join the company
Ashley emerge into light, Elmer glanc
1t his cOmpanlOn; she looks wonderfully
fascinating tonight.
The summer days pass quickly by, and
some of Esther's guests take their depart
nh 40
are among the last that lirger; it has been
blissfull summer for Lii:::,, one he will
never forget.
One morning Beatrice announces her in
tention of returning to her old home on the
know his fate.
During the evening, he requests her to
walk with him in the garden, and she COM
plies; perhaps she has an intuition of what
is coming.
A few commonplace remarks pass be-
tween them; then Elmer Richards begins
his passionate declaration of love, and Bea-
trice listens with clasped hands and down
cast eyes.
AS he ceases speaking, he ventures to
glance into her half-averted face. 1t wears
fierce, triumphant expression. strange
look that one would not expect girl
to wear when listening to lovers plead
ings.
She turned and faces him. and in the
moonlight he can see the yellow lights IN
her eyes flame like those irradiating from
her Jewels.
"Mr. Richards" she says, calmly, Il can
never be your wife!"
He draws back, and his face grows white.
IT,; 49, 60 Ha 1,06
pected doubtful, wavering answer, few
months probation, perhaps,' but this cold,
fat, refusal, never!
"Then why have you led me on all these
weeks?" he asks, hoarsely. Are you heart
less, that you can so trample on mans
heart? Are you coquette, q jilt? Oh,
Beatrice, cannot believeit Tell me you
love me"
"No, do not. she replies, firmly. aLis-
ten, MIR. Richards. Five years ago there
lived a young girl a bright, happy girl
whom all that knew her loved.
Zone day stranger came to the village,
and we'll, Elmer Richards, you know the
story; it is needless for me to repeat 1t; you
know of whom I am speaking-little Millie
Irving.
Where is she now? Who ruined her life
and broke her heart? You, Elmer Rich
ards! All, you start and turn pale, ana well
you may, for you know you are guilty. Al
her death-bed made vow that if you ev-
er crossed my path I would have my re-
venge She was my sister,"
"Your sister," Elmer echoes.
eyes. Did she never speak Of me to
you?" Beatrice says.
ayes, yes," Elmer replies; "but she
called yoH-"
"Tress, interrupts the girl. Eyes, that
was her pet name for me. :"
There was long silence; then Elmer
aReatrice. :" he saws, Il meant no harm to