Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-11-19
DELlsLE'S REVENGE.
BY C. L. HILDRETH

BY C. L. HILDRETH,
| finished my letter to my old
friend, Clarencs Bell, whom had moi
seen for two years, with the following
paragraph:
81 am sometimes frightened at my
own good fortune, dreading like the
ancient Greeks lest such happiness be
followed by some compensatlng disas-
ter. Even yet | feel as if were the
victim of d divine illusion. | can
scarcely believe that !, with so little
TO recommend me, have really won
the love Of such woman. | wish you
could see Lois. Beautiful is not an
adequate word for such face as hers.
| cannot describe her to you, for l
should utterly fail 10 convey the
sweetness aud purity of her expression
and the nameless influence that fingers
around her like the odor or some ex-
ouisite Oriental flower Is this ex>
travagancel Very well; it is none the
less true"
One morning, few days later the
door OF my office opened and Clarence
entered, cool, careless, handsome as
of old-the same Clarence who had
ruled me by the charm of his presence,
laughed at me, aud borrowed my
money during our college days.
You did not expect me2" he said,
after | had warmly welcomed him
1.-THE fact is, Delisle, your letter arous-
ed my curiosity. la the first place, ]
don't believe half Of it, mind; but,
allowing even for lovers exaggeraN
ton, you have apparently found a
jewel, EN-
"There is not such another il the
world, | responded.
LET me see. he said, with a reaec
tive air, what is her name2'
LOIS Lorimer."
@'Her age2'
Twenty"
'Good And her coloring"
"a lovely brunette, with soft, dark
eyes and rich, red-browA hair"
Perfection he exclaimed, laugh
ing in his half-moking way. II per-
ceive that shall envy you.
at will do credit to your taste,
replied. However you shall Judge
fer yourself, She expects me this
evening. Come with me and prepare
to admire
There are those who say that, If we
would but heed it, we are always fores
warned of any great sorrow in store
for us. 1t may be so; but it was cer>
taiuly without the faintest distrustful
provision that / introduced my friend
to my betrothed
was proud of him, with his hand
some face and winning manner.
And how beautiful she was, in her
white summer dress, with her favor
lite scarlet flowers in her bosom and a
delicate flush coming and going in
her cheeks as she arose TO welcome
as!
l saw Clarence start as he beheld
her and look of undisguised wonder
and admiration displace his ordinary
careless expression. Contrary to
his usual habit he talked but
little, keeping his eyes fastened up
op Lois, as il fascinated
When we left her he walked beside
me in silence for some time Sudden,
ly he drew a deep breath and said, as
if TO himself
''She is a revelation.
Is She note | exclaimed, triumph
antly. Am l not fortunate fellow
TO have won her lover
Her love he repeated, absentlv.
She loves youi True" he added
bursting into laugh, al had forgot
ten. congratulate you, Delisle: YOU
are indeed the most fortunate OF men
You wanted me 10 envy YOU. and I
do with all my heart. A man nigh
give hls right arm hls lie even, 10 b,
in your place. There, am / sufficient
ly enthusiastic;
He relapsed INTO silence, and durinl
the rest OF the evening RENAME.
moody and distracted.
II love Is blind, friendship is Ger
tainly nearsighted During the tire,
weeks that followed IL anyone ha,
told me that my dearest friend wa
revolving in his mind the basest In
jury one man can do another, or tina
the woman | loved in the deepes
fibre of my heart was being slcwl
bul irresistibly drawn away from he
phghted faith, / should have laughe,
the story TO sCOrn.
There was no leavrn of doubt in m,
love for both, nor any shadow upoi
my happiness
| had indeed observed a change Il
Clarence Bell. He was no longer I'll
careless idle friend Of former times
lie had become restless, gloomy am
irritable. From visiting Lois wit
me almost daily, he refused to see he
tall.
Let me alone, he said. almost saw
agely, when | had repeated my Gus