The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-03-31

not bear the hot room. | should 20 to
bed at once; and in spite of Clara's en-
treaties. to bed | went. and had the
pleasure of dreaming that ! was stick
ing stllcttOs and scissors into Mr.. Vim
cent Hope. This WIS 50 comforting.
that ! was sorry when morning came
and | found IL was but dream
Wasn't he delghtfulY" was Clara's
first question when we met.
Wasn't who delightful
Mr.. Hope, of course. The other men
were fOgies"
Now. Clara. look here. Once for all.
| tell YOU found nat Young man de-
testable-simply detestablel hate
him. never met any one took such
a dislike to-"
Clara's blue eyes opened in amaze
ment.
81 thought you got on 80 well togeth-
er." she said. "llc asked for YOU In the
drawing-rOOm. and seemed quite sorry
to hear YOU were i'll. We all liked him
immensely"
lie asked after mel a piece Of i'm
pertinence-a gratuitous insult-a piece
of superlluOus hypocrisy. which, were
1t possible, made my wish for revenge
stronger.
We'll. | loathc him,"I said, "and
there's an end of it. won't even talk
about him."
was rs good as my word. and Clara,
for the want of listener. was obliged
to dcsist from ringing the changes in
praise of Mr. Hope.
| left Twickenham two or three days
after this. As drove to the station,
Mr.. IIope-most likely on his way to
the Ramsays' hOuse-passed the car
rage. Clara was with me, SO the Young
man bowed to us collectively. | made
no sign of recognition.
Heritage said Clara, that was Mr..
Hope. Didn't you see himy'
WAS ~" ! replied. IL had quite for
gotten what he was like
For beginner, this was pretty
good lib. After telling it 50 calmly. /
felt | was getting on. Raw and awk-
wardv Oh, mol did not forget either
the words or the speaker. When de-
clare vendetta, mean it.
Five years passed by. ] was twenty
two. had seen many people and many
things. Either for better or worse, |
had changed in much, but still retained
my knack of never forgetting n foe or
friend. Incredible as it seems, my an
ger against Mr.. Hope was keen as ever
my wish for revenge as strong. The
injury he had unwittingly done me had
been greater than, even in my first burst
VI lhkis 4 llti'l lgullllE lllt lll=
terval his words kept recurring to nv
mind, and hindered the growth of prop
er confidence and self-esteem. A long
series of pleasant little social triumphs
alone permitted me to say at last that
his prophecy had not been fulfilled. But
now, after five years, the more thought
Of the annoyance, even anguish, his
words had caused me, the more vicious
felt toward him; the more resolved to
compass revenge when the opportunity
occurred. Oh yes; was good hater-
not doubt of it. | could carry my
stone seven years in my pocket, then
turn it and carry it seven years more, or
twice seven years, never for moment
forgetting its ultimate destination.
But when should | have the chance OF
hurting IL, and how should act when
the chance came? Except in the street,
casualty had never since met the man.
Vincent Hope visited no friends of mine
save the Ramsays. They left Twicken-
ham shortly after my visit, and now
lived hundred miles from town. Ihad
stayed with them several times, but my
foe had never appeared. OF course, l
had heard great deal about him. lie
was now quite famous man. Tokeep
myself posted up in the light literature
OF the day, | was compelled to read his
books, and in honesty | am bound to
say admired them, although detested
the author of them. Surely we must
meet some day. | went out a great deal,
and L heard he was much sought after.
But our paths as yet had not crossed.
1t was winter. | was spending some
weeks with new friends, who had taken
n great fancy to me-kind hospitable
people, who liked TO have a constant
stream of visitors passing but very
slowly, through their house. The Light
ons were a wealthy country family,
noted for their Open-handed hospitality.
l never stayed at gayer or pleasanter
place than Blaize House. II was not
very large; but from the way in which
it seemed to extend itself to accommo-
date guests, my belief is it must have
been built on the plan of an accordion.
can only account for its capabilities by
this theory.
Except from the tiny village which
gave or took its name. Blaize House
was miles away from everywhere; but
| ITS resources, so far as amusement went,
made it immaterial in what part of the
world it stood. The family consisted
of Mr.. Lighton-called by every one,
even his guests, the squire; his wife, a
fitting companion to him, who shared
his pursuits and heartily seconded the
welcome he gave to every one; and two
daughters, about my own age. These
may be termed the nucleus, the stand
| ing congregation of the establishment.
In addition, there were sons who turn
ed up Unexpectedly and at intervals;
and two or three cousins were invari-
ably sojOurning there. Add to these,
again, the floating population in the
shape of visitors who came and went,
and you will realize that it was a merry
house.
| Breakfast was Just over; we had been
longer about it than usual, the weather
being too damp and drizZly to tempt
us out-of-doOrs. Letters were being
read with the last cup of tea. The squire
selected one from his Pile and tossed it
over to his wife, remarking that she
would be glad to hear the good news it
contained. Then it went from hand TO
hand until | had the pleasure of read
ing;
MY DEAR SQuIRE,-l have Just written
the delightful word Flnis ut the bottom of
| page, which Is the last Of my immortal y
production. will do no more work for
weeks, but will take the train tomorrow
| and come to l}lalZl House, In time, | hope,
for dinner. | do not apologize for this short
notice, knowing there iseven more joy with
In your gates over the unlimited ihsl the
Invited guest.
yours always,
VINCENT HOPE"
Vincent Ilopel 1t must be my enemy.
The allusion to his literary pursuits mt
that beyond doubt. My time had
comel | could not have selected fair
er field on which to mete out the ven
geance had stored up. AS read that
letter, positively blished with pleas
ure, SO vividly that | feared people