The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-05
STEPHENS REVENGE.

were too busy making money 10 pay
any attention to diphthongs, 30 by
them che was simply called "Mod."
Mods surname was Bangs, the
vowel of which was unduly prolonged
by the Smoketonions, as her dipthoug
was upjustly shortened. There Yves
nothing visibly heroic about Mod. She
was the eldest daughter of a Smoke
ton operative, teaching in one OF the
Smoketon public schools. che was
small and slender, awkward in person
and movements, with protruding
forehead, lifeless looking sandy hair,
and small, dull, inexpensive eyes,
Stephen Dare was not bad fellow,
especially in his own opinion. He
was handsome young gisnt, with a
frank, merry face, usually obscured by
a cloud of SCOT; for Stephen, though
only 25 years old, was boss" at
Browns mill. the largest nail mill in
Smoketon. He was well off, too
very wealthy for place whose richt ST
men only couu ted by tens of thous'
ands; go it was not wonderful, pei
haps that he was much petted and
spoiled by the Smoketon lasses.
The Eleventh Ward schoolhouse
was on Stephens direct way home
from work, and, ss 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
together, when they FIST met Myra
Tracy.
"By links amt she a daisy" ex-
claimed Stephen, recovering his breath
and his Smoketown vernacular when
the vision was gone. "She is awfully
swell, but l bet you've got as much
money every time. Look here, Mod,
don't tell anybody, but / wouldn't
mind marrying that grill"
whether she'd have you or not,
suppose
Have meP She'd be lucky 10 gel
me-poor as church mouse. Shed
Jump at me, / knowP
Stephen was more in earnest than
Mod supposed.
1t was not difficult matter to OBJ
tain an introduction TO Miss Tracy
and when he asked permission 10 cal
the girl had not, as she said afterward
sufficient presence of mind to refuse
Myrs, indeed, was profoundly amused
at herself, and scarcely less so thar
Stephen. The handsome, ilEteiatt
young giant was a new type to the
high bred, cultured" Philadelphia
and, though she considered flirting {
very unladylike proceeding, heres
thetic interest was sufficiently visible
to sfford Stephen all the encourage
ment he needed. When Stephen, a
last, aaked Myra to be his wife, and
YVES rejected with a naughty surprise
which she could not quite conceal, i
was Mod who was the least astonished
Stephen believed he understood thu
whole matter perfectly, for 1t was, In
fact, the presence Of Champ Preston
in Smoketon which had hurried hin
on to a declaration.
"a long, lazy, tow headed fool" wal
his terse description Of the all C on
quering Champ, whose soft voice
handsome face, languid elegance O
manner, not to speak Of his attrac
tions in the way of stocks, bonds aud
landed property, had for several sea
sons made him the lion of Eastern
society. He had been abroad at thu
time OF Mr.. Tracy's death.
Immediately upon his return he fol
lowed Myra to SmoketoD, where, he
eoolly informed her, it was his inten
ton TO bivouac with the aborigineI
until she was ready to be married and
I'LL Is,1, 10 otutlfunkInn
Myra readily allowed herseltto bt
persuaded. Smoketon was more dis
hateful to her than ever eince Stephen
had taken his diemissal in such vehe
mently bad part.
The wedding day arrived at Lasts
VAIN, February morning, pouring
with rain. Indeed, it had rained fol
two days over all the surrounding
country. The river was unusually
high, and the Smoketon Trumpet had
already warned its readers to expect 6
food.
Mod had reason 10 fear that Stephen
intended to do some injury to his sue
sessful rival. She knew he had bought
a revolver, aud she saw him going tC
the railway station on the morning Of
the wedding as If to lie in wait for the
bridal party. She followed him and
found him there.
stephen" she said, holding his
eyes with hers, "they will not leave
today. The river is rising; all Smoke.
ton is under water and the people are
drowning. Come with me and save
them, Come, Stephep," she added
Bolemnly, as he hesitated, gazing in
gurprise at her transformed counte.
nance, "prove Yourself man worth
loving. Let that be your revenge"
Blamed If / DON'T" said Stephen
Dare.
He walked forward a step, drew bis
hand from his breast, and with a whirl
Of his wrist sent something bright
cleaning and sparkling into the fast
approaching water. Then, taking Mod
by the arm, he hurried her away to
her home, where he put her within
the door, saying, briefly:
"Now you're safe, Mod; stay there,
and then he FASTENED on"
Stephen Dare was the best oarsman
in Smp ketown, but he found himself
surpassed that day, not only in skill,
but in cSol, ready daring, for Champ
Preston had been the crack oar OF Lis
college, aud had pulled stroke in many
q race, and now, with his brides kisseG
warm on his lips, he felt strong with
the strength OF ten.
Apart at times, at other times to.
sether, the rivals toiled, bringing
many boat load Of half drowned
Wretches to safety and such comfort
as was obtainable, while the rain still
fell and the water rose steadily higher
As the darkness increased 1t grew
more difficult 10 avoid the logs, beams
and wrecks OF all descriptions which
the terrible river swept downward
with resistlees force.