The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-03-13

diu~er a pleasant one" said Mr.. Ramsay
ooh. yes; very pleasant replied Mr.
Hope carelessly. "She's a nice sort of @
girl, dare say"
A nice sort OF girl The wretched man
hated him
sWe think a great deal more O. hei
than that said that dear old Mr.. Ram
say.
aIndced,r replied his companion, with
out evincing the slightest interest in the
matter.
sYes-Gdeed aud indeed" echoed my
old friend. "But joking apart, did you
not notice she bids fair TO be n most beau
tiful woman
H. would have needed little more 10
have brought me from my lurking place
to have kissed that good old mani
Vincent Hope laughed quietly.
eSbe seemed 10 me OF the ordinary
school girl type, / don't care much for
school girls"
dug my nails into my hands and
ground my teeth Handsome az the man
looked in the moonlight, | could have
killed him then and there
"Yct," said Mr. Ramsay, u noticed she
talked pretty freely to you"
The shrug of Mr. Hopes shoulders al
most maddened me.
waited minute: then | peeped out,
and at last venturcd to creep round the
laurel and rcconnoiter. The broad back
Of my candid critic was just disappearing
through the dining-room window. lsho0k
my fiat yciously ut It, j watched Mr.
Ramsay follow his guest, saw the window
close and the blind fall then flew at top
speed to the library, whence | made my
exit, entered noiselessly, and threw myself
into chair, feeling that my life was
blighted.
Five years passed by. Either for better
or worse, had changed in much hut still
retained my knack Of never forgetting a
foe or friend. Incredible rs II seems, my
anger against Mr.. Hope was keen as ever
my wish for revenge as strong.
II was winter. was spending some
weeks with new friends, who had taken
great fancy to me-hind, hospitahie people
who liked to have n constant stream OF
visitors passing, but very slowly, through
their house Breakfast was just over, we
had been longer about it than usual, the
weather being too damp and driHLly TO
tempt us out OF doors. Letters were being
read with the last cup Of rea. The Squire
we called him the Squire selected one
from his pile, and tossed II over to hls
wife. remarking that she would De glad to
hear the good news IL COntairod Then II
went from hand to hand until had the
pleasure Of reading
II will do no more work for weeks, but
will take the train tomorrow and come to
Blaze house. in time hope for dinner.
"NINCENP lEOPE
Vincent Hope 1t must be my old
enemy.
had plenty Of time 10 mature my plans
and draw soothing pictures OF the effects
~ my revenge.
Fortune favored me. As the greatest
stranger and last arrival, il would
have been in Vincent Hopes province
Ia take our hostess into the dining
room. had we not been favored
that day 10y the presence of county
nagnate. whose claim To precedence could
not be- lightly overlooked. 1t seemed but
natural and part Of the plot that the
Squire should present Mr.. Vincent Hope
to Miss Rivers, and for the second time in
their lives these two should Toe seated side
10y side.
lifted my lashcs and looked straight
at him II time had not been quite idle
with him, it had treated HIM kindly. He
was handsome as ever The hair near
his temple being just flcckcd with gray
did not dctract from his good looks. |
thought his features looked more marked,
and the whole expression Of his face more
confident and powerful even than Of old,
He had won success, and, no doubt, fully
realized the fact.
"Vncent Hope" echoed. mot the
Vincent IIope'
guessed instinctively that hattery was
not bad gun with which to open fire.
BY this time his name was 81 well known
that il would have been affcctauon TO ap-
pear TO misunderstaD. me. He bowed
and smiled.
exchange is but fair scarcely heard
what the Squire called You
"Riyer, Heritage Rivers
"Heritagc Rivers" he echoed muSingly.
at is an uncommon name; but fancy
have heard it before
ooh. please don't say SO, Mr.. Hope. !
did think | had one original thing to
boast Of my name. How would you like,
after looking upon all your plots ~ orig
inal. 20 find them but plHgiarsms!'
He laughed
"Many are, fear. But you are tres
passing on forbidden ground Let us
seek fresh pastures
We did SO We talked all dinner time
Mr. Hope was CondesceudinG enough not
only to listen attentively to my words,
but to reply to them rs If they had weight
with him All this was very delightful.
The first steps to revenge were smooth
and pleasant ones; for there is no need to
say that ! hated him IA much, and felt as
vindlctiNe rs ever.
He was walking straight 10 his fate.
felt il when just before the signal for de
parture, he dropped his voice almost 10 a
whisper and was good enough to say,
that, 10 him, the peculiar charm Of this
particular dinner was that such an agree
able interchange OF ideas would not he
ended with the night, but might be re-
sumcd tomorrow. Coming rs il did
from such famous person, could only
glance my thanks, blush, and look pleased
at the compliment
Very promising, too. were the events Of
the next day. lie walked with me, and
told me, among other things, great deal
about his early life and struggles for sue
cess He was quite interesting. so much
so that | wished could check these conf