New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-10-13
STEPHENS REVENGE.

Chicago News.
Anywhere else she would have been
called Maud, but Smoketon people
were too busy making money to pay
proper attention to diphthongs, so by
them she was simply called "Mod."
Mod'ss surname was Bangs, the VOW
Ell OF which was unduly prolonged by
the smoketonians. as her diphthong
was unjustly shortened. There was
nothing visibly heroic about Mod.
She was the eldest daughter OF
Smoketon operative, teaching in one
of the smoketon public schools. She
was small and slender, awkward in
person and movements, with a pro-
truding forehead, lifeless looking sandy
hair, and small, dull, inexpensive
eyes.
Stephen Dare was not bad fellow
especially in his own opinion. He was
a handsome young giant, with a frank,
merry face, usually obscured by a
cloud Of SCOT; for Stephen, though
only twenty five years old, was a
"boss'; at Browns mill, the largest
nail mill in Smoketon. He was well
off, too-very wealthy for a place
whose richest men only counted by
tens of thousands; so it was not won
derful, perhaps, that he was much
petted and spoiled by the Smoketon
lasses.
The Eleventh Ward School House
was on Stephens direct way home
from work, and, as Mod always re-
manned there until 6 o'clock to study,
Stephen had got in the habit OF calling
for her; and thence, one September
afternoon, they were walking home to-
gether, when they first met Myra
Tracy.
''By jinks! amt she a daisy?" ex-
claimed Stephen, recovering his breath
and his Smoketon vernacular when
the vision was gone. "She's awfully
swell, but bet you've got as much
money, every time. Look here Mod,
don't tell anybody, but I wouldn't
mind marrying that girlp'
Whether she'd have you or not, I
supRose?"
''Have me! She'd be lucky to get
me-poor as a church mouse. She'd
jump at me, know!"
Stephen was more in earnest than
Mod supposed.
It was a difficult matter to obtain
an introduction to Miss Tracy, and
when he asked permission to call the
girl had not, as shesaid afterward, suf-
ficient presence of mind to refuse.
Myra, indeed, was profoundly amused
at herself ard scarcely less so at Ste
phen. The handsome, illiterateyoung
giant was a new type to the highbred,
: cultured" Philadelphian; and, though
she considered flirting a very unlady-
like proceeding, her esthetic interest
was sufficiently visible to afford
Stephen all the encouragement he
needed. When Stephen, at last, ask
ed Myra to be his wife, and was re-
jected with a naughty surprise which
she could not quite conceal, it was
Mod who was the least astonished.
Stephen believed he understood the
whole matter perfectly, for it was, in
fact, the presence OF Champ Preston
in Smoketon which had hurried him
on to a declaration.
"Along, lazy, tow-headed fool" was
his terse description of the all-con-
quering Champ, whose soft voice,
handsome face, languid elegance of
manner, not to speak of his attrac-
tions IN the way of stocks, bonds and
landed property, had for several sea.
sons made him the lion of Eastern So
ciety. He had been abroad at the
time of Mr.. Tracy's death.
Immediately upon his return he fol-
lowed Myra to Smoketon. where, he
coolly informed her, it was his inten-
ton to bivouac with the aborigines
until she was ready to be married and
return with him to civilization.
Myra readily allowed herself to be
persuaded. Smoketon was more dis
tasteful to her than ever since Stephen
had taken his dismissal in such vehe-
mently bad part.
The wedding day arrived at last-a
warm February morning, pouring
with rain. Indeed, it had rained for
two days over all the surrounding
country. The river was unusually
high, and the Smoketon Trumpet had
already warned it's readers to expect
flood.
Mod had reason to fear that Ste
phen intended to do some injury to
his successful rival. She knew he had
bought d revolver, and she saw him
going to the railway station on the
morning OF the wedding as if to lie in
wait for the bridal party. She fol-
lowed him and found him there.
"Stephen," she said, holding his
eyes with hers, ''they will not leave to-
day. The river is rising; all Smoke
ton is under water and the people are
drowning. Come with me and save
them. Come, Stephen" she added,
solemnly, as he hesitated, gazing in
surprise at her transformed counte-
nance, prove yourself man worth
loving. "Let that be your revenge"
BLAMED if Idon't!'' said Stephen
Dare.
He walked forward a step. drew his