The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-03-31
ASWEET REVENGE
BY HUGH CONWAY.
CHAPTER IL

Noklngly handsome as he stood bare
headed IN the moonlight, watching the
wreaths of smoke from his cigar curling
about III the still air. / could now scar
aim quite at my ease. My courage had
returned, and / felt myself insured against
discovery. My only dread was that the
two men would begin to talk secrets. IL
such case, my keen sense of honor must
OF course, make me reveal my presence.
made a firm resolution that / would not
play at eavesdropping. Alas, for poor
humanity! III g minute | was strainine
my ears to catch every word. Yet how
could | help it? Heritage Rivers was the
subject of their discourse.
Il hope you found your companion al
dinner pleasant one?" said Mr.. Ramsay.
"Oh, yes; very pleasant, replied Mr.
Hope carelessly. She's nice sort o. &
girl, dare say"
| hated him
We think great deal more of her thar
HAT. said that dear old Mr.. Ramsay.
Indeed, replied his companion, with
out evincing the slightest interest in the
natter.
"Yes-indeed. and indeed" echoed my
Did friend, But, joking apart, did you
not notice she bids fair to be most beau
tiful woman?"
1t would have needed little more to have
brought me from my lurking place on pur-
pose to kiss that good old man!
Vincent Hope laughed quietly.
To tell You the truth" he said,
Il don't think | noticed her
much. She seemed to me of the ordinary
schoolgirl type. l don't care much fol
school girls"
dug my nails into my hands and ground
my teeth. Handsome as the man looked in
the moonlight, could have killed him then
and there.
Yet, said Mr.. Ramsay, Il noticed she
talked pretty freely to you"
The shrug of Mr.. Hopes shoulders al
most maddened me.
Yes; but sad nonsense" he said, cal
though it was rather amusing at times. OF
course, its not fair to Judge her now. She
is very raw, and, should say, rather awk-
ward. If properly looked after, no doubt
she Will grow up to be decent sort of q
young woman.
Raw and awkward! He spoke of me
me, whom many of my school friends called
Queen Heritage, from the stately and dig
nltied manner | was supposed to assume al
times. \ decent sort of young woman
That should hear man, one, moreover,
IN his own opinion a Judge on such mat
tiers, grayely set this up as the standard to
which | might arrive if properly looked
after. 1t was too much; the fall was toe
great. And rs the horrible thought flashed
across me that his description might be
true, his prediction correct, tears of sheer
modification sprung into my eyes. Even
Mr.. Ramsay's almost testy rejoinder gave
me no comfort.
oh, nonsense Hope! She will grow up
beautiful, accomplished and clever
woman. 1ou Judge her wrongly. Talk tC
her again in the drawing room; there she
will DE more at home"
All right, / will, the wretch answered
But at present i want to talk to you about
more important things than young ladies'.
/ have to-day been offered the editorship
of the PiccadHiy Mdgazine. Shall I
take it,"
Il congratulate You. But it is too seri-
Gus a matter to decide out here. We Will
talk it over by-and-by. We must join the
ladies now. / see every one else has
gone in"
Then I suppose we must" said Mr.
Hope rather ruefully, and tossing his
cigar away with half-sigh.
] waited a minute; then | peered out
and a. last yentured to creep round the
laurel and reconnoiter. The broad back
OF my candid critic was lust disappearing
ny fist yiciously at it. l watched Mr.
Ramsay follow his guest, saw the window
close and the blind fall; then | flew ut tor
speed 10 the library, whence | had made
NY exit, entered noiselessly, and threw
nlysef into chair, feeling that my life
was blighted.
The room was family lighted up; the
door was closed; | was alone with NV
misery; for misery it was; l use tie word
soberly and adyisadlv. without a thought
os testing. Fortunately or unfortunately,
| had heard myself appraised at my true
value. Ny merits had been weighed by
an impartial hand had been Judged and
cond mned. | was a failure. Raw and
avkWark. a decent sort of a young
woman the words ate into my heart. Nc
i expressions could have been devised
which would have wounded me more
deeply.
lie would give me another chance in the
drawing room. Would he? | think not, Mr..
Vincent Hope. Nopower on earth shall take
me there tonight. | turn the gas up, and
look at myself III the mirror. Ny hair is
dlsueveled, my eyes are red, and | cannot
help fancying that my nose looks rather
coarse. Yes; it must be true; am not
even good looking
Beneficial as it may be for one who is
with deadly hatred the man who has re-
yealed it 10 me. Solemnlv | declare, some
how, that some day | will have my revenge.
| ain very young, y hich IS an advantage tC
ore who may have TO wait long time fol
n certain object. Oh, yes; | can wait even
for ten, fifteen or twenty years, | can wait
hut | Will have revenge, full revenge. SC
] rived on ana on, growing more tragical
every moment until / broke down, and be-
gan to cry again.
had barely dried my eyes, when Glars
entered the room.
what, Heritagei" she cried; "you here
| have hunted high and low for you, but
never thought OF looking here. Come IN
70 the dlawiug-room; we must sing on,
duet.
] pleaded a splitting headache: I could
no her the hotfoo l should 60 to bed
at Q C.. ard, ia spite Of Claras entreaties.
70 led | went, and had the pleasure OF
dfea'Ii t at | WIS sticking st lettos and
scissors into MIR. Vincent Hope. This was
so comforting that | was quite sorry wher
morning came and l found it was but 6
dream.
Wasn't he delightfully."- was Claras first
question when we met
Wasn't who delightful"
Mr.. Hope, of course. The other mer
were fogies."
Now, Clara; look here. Once for all
| tell YOU | found that young man de-
testatle-simply detestablel | hate him
| never met any one l took such dis
like to"
tlara's blue eyes opened III amazement.
Il thought YOU got on so well together,
she said. He asked for you in the
draWlng-room, and seemed quite sorry to
hear You We're i'll. We all liked him I'M
mensely.
He asked after me, A piece of irnper-
tlnence-a gratuitous insult-a piece OF
superiiuous hypocrisy, which were it pos
slble, made my wish for revenge stronger.
Well. | loathe him, l said. and there's
an end OF 1t. l won't even talk abou,
HIM"
| was as good as my word, and Clara.
Tor the want of a listener, was obliged to
desist from ringing the changes in praise
OF hr. Hope.
left Twickenham tive or three davs
after this. As | drove to the station, Mr.,
Hope most likely on his way to Ramsav's
house-passed the carriage. Clara was
with me, so the young man bowed to MS
collectively. | made no sign of reoog-
milton.
Heritage" said Clara, that was Mr.