Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-02-01
MISS RIVERS REVENGE.
4 REAL PRETTY LOVE STORY
concluded from last aceek.]

concluded from last geek.
I could not have selected fairer field
on which to mete out the vengeance had
stored up. AS read that letter, / posi-
lively blushed with pleasure, so wildly
that feared people might jump at an en-
tlrely wrong conclusion. thought of moth
ing all day but the way which my enemy
was delivered into my hands. The de-
light at having at last the chance of pay
ing out the critic for his criticism pro-
duced frame of mind which seemed
to urge me to go into quiet corners and
laugh at my own thoughts. had plenty
of time to mature my plans and draw
soothing pictures of the effects of my re-
venge, l resolved to risk no chance meet
ing with the foe; and feeling that a good
beginning would be half the battle, be-
fore six O'Clock went to my room to arm
for the fray.
Remember, I am confessing. not testing.
[ sent for my maid, and babe her take
down my hair and brush it. If, as her
deft fingers braided my locks to my salts
faction. l had thought the girl would
have comprehended me, I might have
quoted certain lines of Mrs. Browniug's
which kept singing through my head:
Comb it smooth, and crown it fair;
would look in purple pail, from the lattice
down the WALL
And throw ScOrn on one that's fharA
Anyway, she combed it fair enough, and
by my express desire, clad me in my most
becoming gear. Then. a few minutes be-
fore the bell rang, l sent her away, and
sood before the cheval glass, surveying
myself With contented smile. For my
plan of revenge had at least the merit of
simplicity it was to win that mans ad-
miratlon-if possible his love. Upon the
day when he offered me the latter, and 1
coldly and scornfully rejected it, should
feel that 1 had squared all accounts be-
tween us In manner highly satisfactory
to myself.
How do women win mems love did
not quite know; but fancied. if conduct
ed properly, the operation was not of
difficult nature. | hoped and believed l
should succeed. Although my resolution
reads badly, and sounds even worse,
comforted myself by thinking that as
meant to refuse what laid myself out to
win, no one would dare to censure me, or
accuse me of very unbecoming conduct.
And now what are my weapons with
which to conqner?
look at myself in the glass. 1t may
read like vanity, but l feel that old Mr..
Ramsay's prediction is fairly verified. AL
though I blush as appraise myself,
know l am no longer the slim school girl
that am something not, perhaps, far
off beautiful woman. I am tall. NY
figure is certainly good. My complexion
will bear any test; and something tells me
could, if wished, make my eyes dang
erous. SO much for nature. AS for art.
have chosen the prettiest Of many pref.
ty gowns, and my gowns now have a
knack of setting we'll upon me; so 1 am
not ashamed to walk gracefully across the
room. and courtesying to myself in the
glass, say approvlngly to my double: Yes
Heritage Rivers, you have grown into a
very decent sort of woman-a very de-
cent sort!' Having refreshed my mem-
DRY by the repetition of that peculiarly
CALLING phrase, I gather up my skirts and
sally forth to victory.
Fortune favored me. AS the greatest
stranger and last arrival, 1t would have
been in Vincent Hopes province to take
our hostess into the dining-room, had we
not been favored that day by the presence
of county magnate. whose claim to pre-
cedence could not be lightly overlooked
1t seemed but natural and part of the plot
chat the Squire should present Mr.. Vim
cent Hope to Miss Rivers, and for the
second time in their lives these two should
be seated sids by side slipping their soup in
unIson-but this time, if wounded vanity
was to be the result of the contiguity.
Miss Rivers would not be the victim.
So began: You have come straight
from town. Mr.-Vlncent-I fancied the
Squire said? We all call him Squire, you
know"
80 yes. He is an old friend of mine
But he called me Vincent Hope, I sus-
pect."
This gave me what wanted, an excuse
for looking him full in the face-an act
which, besides being fitting tribute to
his fame. enabled me to observe how time
had treated him. So lifted my lashes
and looked straight at him. If time had
not been quite idle with him, it had
treated him kindly. He was handsome
as ever. The hair near lis temples being
just fecked with gray, did not detract
from his good looks. I thought his fea-
lures looked more marked, and the whole
expression of his face more confident and
powerful even than Of old. He had won