The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-09-18
FRUSTRATED VENGEANCE.

hOUUcu udS SuCs sEC WIZ oOS
who laughs last in this game OF hearts.
ThiSma be your day. Martha Con-
verse; tomorrow will be mine!"
The only person who heard these
words was young girl OF eighteen,
one of the occupants OF lady's bou-
doir in certain mansion which but
few years ago was the pride OF the IA
NOUS bluegrass region of Kentucky.
Estelle Hammond and Margie Storms
were friends, and Margie was the young
girl mentioned above.
Estelle carried off the palm as the
beauty of TIE neighborhood.
She was beautiful, and to her youth
full companion and confidant she had
never appeared so dazzling as now,
when she stood in front of the sweep
ing mirror of Ler boudoir, with hands
clenched and eyes flashing fire as her
mad words dropped from her lips.
Colonel Hammond was everywhere
known and famed for his riches, hos
pitality. and-his beautiful but spoiled
child, Estelle.
Don't forget it, Margie," Estelle
went on. Tomorrow will be my day.
Martha Converse, without trace OF
beauty to make him love you, l wish l
held your hopes in the hollow OF my
hand. I'd like to crush them"
You will not strike openly. Es-
tellep' ventured the confidante.
'Why not? l am mad enough to do
it! You know, Margie. that l love at
last. l have played with hearts long
enough. worship Carylon Morgan.
l would give my hopes of eternal bliss
to stand beside him at the altar. When
you love as l do, Margie. you will
know what passion is. But the woman
who has stepped between me and the
altar-this Converse girl-she has rob-
bed me of Carvlon Morgan; but she
shall not keep the prize. l could take
my riding whip, go to her house across
the fields, and cut her face to shreds!
Margie Storms essayed smile.
Didn't he submit to the robbery"
"Yes; and that's what makes me
hate himr' flashed Estelle. ''Wait till
see him If there be no hope for me
I'll create a sensation In the bluegrass
country"
Estelle Hammond's words passed
from Margie's mind ere the night wore
away, and she did not recall them when
she saw the queenly woman in the CEN
tire of an admiring throng of men and
women. who filled the splendid Ham,
mond mansion on the anniversary OF
the ColonePs birthday.
The wealth, beauty, and gallantry of
the bluegrass oion were there. and
the delighted guests were already
prophesying that the occasion had nev-
er been surpassed by anything of the
kind in the country.
The woman 50 cordially hated by Es-
telle, however, was not there.
Not one of the elegant satin invita-
tions had penetrated Martha Converse s
home 'acroEs the fields
Rufus Converse, her father, occupied
q few acres of the Hammond estate,
and she had not reached, in Estelle's 8
estimation, that round of the social
ladder which entitled her to become
one of the favored guests.
Estelle did not know that on his way
to her house that very night Carylon
Mo-gan had stopped at the Converse
bnne % chat few moments with Mar
tha and ia depart with laugh and a
promise to e..ve her on his way back a
full account of t.He ''dolngs as the
Hammond mansion.
Martha Converse, gentle, though not
beautiful, had won the younnn man 3
heart, which Estelle, with all the arts
of dazzling beauty, had assaulted in
vain.
This observation-disclosures. bpt the
more startling for that matter-had
maddened the woman who had loved
and worshiped in vain, and, ready to
commit any rash deed that would break
Martha's triumph, she watched Cary
Ion Morgan, as he moved hither and
thither among her fathers guests.
At last he approached her when she
was alone.
There was smile on his face.
Il am here for your congratulations,
Estelle." he said. 81 have been caught
at last, as you women say"
E5telle gave him a look which told
that his words were an arrow that had
gone home.
She could not speak, but stood be-
fore him in the soft moonlight with
clenched hands, whose white nails
bruised her creamy palms.
She knew what was coming; he was
going to announce Martha Converse 8
victory.
And to her-Estellei
Yes, caught at last" he continued,
taking no note of the volcano which
was rendin9 her heart 'Need / tell
you who has captured meP"
Nor almost Kissed Estelle. 81
know. 1t is Miss Converse, my father S
tenant. Caryion. l do congratulate
~ ha fnroaI ha
heart. 1--WE bellies will envy Miss Con-
verse. But meet me at the spring ten
minutes from now. have something
to say-something l cannot say here" I"
And before Carylon Morgan could ans
wer her, Estelle was gone.
"At the spring. he murmured.
gazing strangely after her. "On the
eve of my marriage with Martha,
have clandestne meeting with the
acknowledged belle of the bluegrass
country. Well, my little one-the Col
oners tenant, as Estelle calls you--I
will tell you all before morning." And
laughing to himself. the young man
left the porch.
The night air was quite chilly. for
Colonel Hammond's birthday fell in
the first week in March.
"At the spring. is it?" said young
girl whose ears had caught the conver-
sation on the porch. 'They are going
to part there. What will Estelle say,
and how will he answerP Iwould like
to know. There are several good hid
ing places at the spring. and am go
ing TO occupy one"
These words fell from the lips of
Margie Storms. Estelle's confidante,
and unable to beat down the curiosity
that had taken possession of her, she
went for her cloak to the wrap-room.
Before she crossed the threshold she
looked back and saw Colonel Ham
mold and Carylon Morgan conversing
together.
The Colonel will keep him for
F WHILE" she said. and seizing q gar
ment that offered itself. she threw it
over her shoulders and passed out.
The eager girl did not notice the coat
until she had left the house, and then
.l, zl,n koS oh Ia l.