The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-11-07
A MEAN REVENGE.

would hardly recognize at home. So it
was that Victor Torrens and Herbert
Warnc, who had never sought each
others society in their native place,
were dining together in Paris as If they
had always been the dearest friends.
Herbert was telling Victor over the cof
fee that it was pity the latter could
not stay longer in the city instead of
making Off without seeing the sights.
Victor responded by saying that his
engagement could not be postponed. He
did not think it necessary to add that he
returned to make Myra Carleton his wife.
For reasons of his own their engagement
had been kept profound secret.
"If You will wait n month";" said
Warne, II will return with you. ! have
an engagement, but it will keep"
1T is hardly as pressing as mine"
II don't know but an engagement to
be married is important"
THAT is rather particular" assented
Victor.
Especially when the lady's not only
pretty, but rich"
"Do 1 know her?"
81 hardly think So" said Herbert.
"Her name is--but no, 1 won't mention
1t. You see, our engagements secret
yet. However, I'll give you glimpse
of her picture; that won't be telling, will
it2"
Herbert Warne produced handsome
locket of which he touched the spring,
revealing q miniature of bright, girlish
face, surprisingly beautiful and charm
ing.
Victor started as though an adder had
stung him. The face was that of Myra
Carleton
"And she--she has promised toto be
your wife % he gasped, CHASTITY pallor
overspreading his quivering features.
"What an unhattering question, my
dear fellow Am / such an ungainly
monster that every fair maiden must,
perforce, be frightened at me?"
'And-and-she gave you that minia-
ture?"
"You don't suppose / stole it, do you,
Torrens? But what on earth's the mat
ter, man? Upon my word, you've a
strange way OF congratulating a fellow
on his good fortune ~
Recovering himself with an effort,
Victor asked with forced calmness;
when is your marriage to take placer"
"Ohl as soon as | return. haven't
been silly enough to tie myself down to
day certain. mean TO see a little of
Paris first
As soon as he could Victor excused
himself and sought his lodgings. AT first
he thought of writing to tax Myra with
her perfdy; but on reflection he decided
to go his way in silence. concealing, as
far as practicable, from the faithless one
the misery she had caused him..
After months wandering from one
European city to another, Victor at last
turned his face homeward. If his hearts
anguish was yet unassuaged, he had at
least learned to hide it.
Every day, as he neared his native
land, he felt his trepidation increase
He almost wished he had remained
abroad. If chance threw Myra in his
way would he have the strength to SO
conduct himself as to convince her that
she was completely banished from his
heart? This he was resolved to do at
any cost, but the ordeal was one he
dreaded.
The day Victor landed he met one of
his best and oldest friends, who re-
turned his greeting with a GOODNESS and
reserve so marked that he could not for
bear saying;
"You do not appear over glad to see
me, Jasper"
''If | do not" returned the other,
''you can scarcely be at loss for the
reason"
"But assure you I am at loss"
answered Victor, cycling his friend
curiously.
cone who engages the affections Of an
artless girl and appoints a day to marry
her and then absents himself without
word of explanation, leaving her to bear
as best she may the humiliation of such
slight and at last to die of broken
heart, can scarcely wonder that any hon
orable man should wish TO strike him
from his list of friends"
"Do not tell me that Myra Carleton is
deadP" cried Victor, in tone of agon-
lied appeal.
at is not your merit that she is not"
was the reproachful answer. Ever since
that day when in her bridal robes she
waited your arrival, insisting to indig-
nant friends that some accident had de-
tanned you, till, at last, hope died even
in her trustful heart, she has dropped
and withered like blighted rosebue,
her only consolation being that grief
kills at lastp'
"But," replied Victor, sit was not 1
who proved faithless; 1t was she who
transferred to another the affection she
had pledged to me-
"Who told you that?"
Herbert Warne. He showed me her
picture in Paris, and said she had prom
ised TO be his wife"
"Then the villain simply lied -
"But the picture-he said she had
given it to him"
Have you forgotten that Herbert
Warne is slSilful artist and could easily
steal an opportunity Of painting Myra's
likeness, or could even produce it from
memory Trust me, his story about the
picture is as false as the rest. If Myra
had given you up for Herbert Warne,
why, think you, should she have pre-
pared to marry you on the day APP
pointed, and broken her heart because
you did not Gomez
Without moments waste of time
Victor flew to Myra' S home. He needed
no assurance Of her truth now, and when
she told him how, in his absence, Her
bert Warne had sued for her hand and
been rejected, the motive of the mean
revenge he had attempted seemed so
plain that Victor exclaimed against his
own stupidity in not having at once de-
vined the truth.
Myra needed little persuading to for
give Victor for his lapse of trust, and
it's astonishing how soon the dropping
rosebud regained its blooming freshness
A Father Worth Having.
BostOa Herald.
n ic ranoptaI that a n,etnn