Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-11-22
MY REVENGE.

ing on the pillows, woman face with
eyes full of happiness. On her breast
the little boy child the angels had
given into her keeping, and watching
over both with a dim wonderment at
his heart If heaven at last was not
reached, the proud husband and
father.
Such the picture on that morning in
early May, which seemed as though no
disturbing element could enter TO de-
stroy it; yet in answering to sum-
mons to enter servant appears, bear
ing in her hand u letter. Still, with no
prescience of i'll, her master receives
and tears it open, not with impatient
haste, but his eyes still feasting on the
scene before him. They turn reluct-
antly upon the page, and Reginald
Archer learns that he is beggared.
At the hands of the man who has
been friend and brother in one was the
fatal blow struck. He was banker,
rich and respected and held all
Reginald Archer's property in his pos
session. He had specuIated, saw ruin
staring him lin the face, and Horace
Grey fled the country, followed by the
curses OF his victims.
Horace Grey! !, the son Of Regin-
aid Archer. was not like TO forget the
name; ], who, years after, had heard
how my gentle mother had sickened and
died under the blow, knew TO whom |
owed the fact that was not as other
boys-could not eXult over my pony or
handsome dress and that even the
education / received was bought by my
fathers premature age IN his struggle
with adversely.
And as J. at Is, looked down upon
the coffin which held the dear form,
and traced the lines OF care around
mouth and brow, had any one question
ed me as to the cause of death | would
have cried, Murdered, and Horace
Grey is his murderer"
A few months later | accepted a
business offer which would take me
far from my native land. / did not
care for wealth. Yet, somehow, all
that my hand touched turned to gold,
and when. "a few years later, | turned
my face homeward, it was with u COM
potency assured for life.
Up TO this time love had never
entered my heart l knew not its
meaning until chance threw Maude
Roland into my path. Did / say
chance? Providence would have been
the better word.
She was singularly unlike other
girls, and perhaps on that account first
attracted me. She had but little time
to devote TO girlish graces and follies,
for her heart and soul seemed conferred
in the old man whose feeble footsteps
she strove to guide and support.
These two lived alone; she, young
and beautiful, with no companion save
that old father who was as child in
her hands. Age and trouble had with
him done fatal work, but with what
ever exaction he demanded she COM
piled cheerfully. And so | grew to
love her.
For herself she would accept moth
ing save the flowers / sent her daily,
but her father l could supply with
fruits and wine and delicacies neces-
sary TO him, which he was unable to
provide. They lived very simply in
small cottage on the outskirts Of the
town, but it grew to be hallowed
spot.
One day said to her. "Maude, be
my wife. / love you and can make you
a happier home, where you can still
give your father every comfort"
But she sadly shook her head.
mo, Percy. Here is my post; will
not desert it. As your wife, you would
have the right TO demand more Of my
time than / could give you. Often
night and day | spend by his side; and
when he needs me | must not be found
wanting"
In vain | sought to combat her reso-
luton; she was MEMORABLE But per-
sued her ut last to allow me to live I'M
der their roof; for her father was
gradually breaking down, and at times
had fits almost OF madness which need
ed a strong controlling hand.
Once | awakened from my sleep to
find him standing by my bed. his eyes
burning with fierce light, his lips
muttering incoherent words, and his
hands restlessly moving to and fro.
up. Percy, up" at last he exclaimed.
''He has been here again tonight de-
manded his own, and / must satisfy
him!"
With soothing hands ! persuaded him
to 60 back to his bed, and he soon fell
into quiet sleep. But after that
night he grew weaker day by day, and
the doctors warned US the end was
near.
A week later was sitting alone by
his bedside. He had been tossing rest
lessly for hours until sleep had con-
quered him, and my own eyes were
closing when l heard him pronounce
my name.
Something in the tone caused me TO
look inquiringly into his face. Over it
there had crept an expressive calm.
almost happy, and the uneasiDess had
died out of his eyes, which reflected
the light OF reason awakened in his
brain.
care we alone?" he questioned 81
have story to tell. 1t has been here"
touching his forehead" "a long time
past; but somehow l could not put it
into words. / think now / can make it
plain. You have been kind friend to
me; you will be so still TO Maude
when / am gone, and I can trust you
to fulfill the duty l impose upon you.
n II. a.