Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-04-10
RATES OF ADVERTIsIEG,
A RARE REVENGE,
sOftened BY Time.

Godfrey Lanier, the banker aud milion.
aire, was in tn ,ughtfu, mood that dav A
he walked home to his hotel. He was
thinking of the woman he had once loved
aud who fed from him 90 his wedding days
TO Join a former lover. He wondered what
had become of her since then, and if 1t
would ever be in his power to be revenged
on her for jilting him. In the midst Of
these thoughts be felt little hand on his
arm, while breathless voice exclaimed:
"You bad papa, to walk so fast. |
thonght I'd never catch up"
The banker turned With start, seeing
little girl at his side, while she added,
hastily:
Il beg your pardon. I thought you were
my father"
His eyes followed her as she tripped
down the street. Why did he feel such O
strange sensation at the sight of this little
mad? He saw her after that and the same
peculiar feeling ofinterest and admiration
thrilled him as she passed with a bright
look of recognition.
1t was year Of great financial distress
and panic. Many a stout craft that had
been considered proof against any wind
might blow, went to pieces in that storm.
stood firm.
One afternoon, as he was preparing to
leave the bank, lady asked to see him,
and was shown into the private Office.
She was dressed in black and closely
yelled, but something familiar in her air
smote him like a blow.
She put back her veil. He knew her in
stautly though so many years had passed.
1t was the still beautiful face of the
woman who had turned the best years of
his manhood to ashes. What was she here
for?
Suddenly she burst into tears. The
banker rose to his feet, and said, coldly:
Madame, in what way can l serve
you?"
"You can save ns-you can save my
not hate me too much, and choose rather
you long ago."
Godfrey Lanier was silent.
All these years he had never thought Of
this woman without bitterness. He had
said that day when she deserted him for
another, in so public and contemplate a
manner, that he would never forgive her.
Revenge. Yes, be had longed for it; he
could take it now. He had beard rumors
some days ago of the embarrassment of the
mercantile house of Akron & Co.
"Mrs. Akron" he said, "why have you
come to D.e?''
because there is no one else. My hus-
band has tried others, but some are afraid
to help him some cannot if they woald."
"Mrs Akron, do you mean that your
husband wants to borrow money of meS'
"Ny husband does not know that | have
come. He told me his marning that if he
atr,o NG ha-
fore tomorrow night he would be ruined.
He said there was no one who could lend it
to him but you, and he could never ask
you. He would not have let me come if he
had known"
Again the banker was silent 1t had
come to him at lsst-the chance to make
this woman suffer in some measure as he
had done. She was so sure that he meant
to refuse her that she did not dare to look
at him.
"Mrs Akron" he said, after some no
ments, ''tell your husband to come to me
to morrow at 10 O'Clock. If can accom-
modate MIN | will"
The woman stared at him. She was so
overcome with emotion that 1T first she
could not speak. Then:
"Do you mean it?' she stsmmered.
81 do mean it," no answered, smiling
ana extending MS hano. Iet us po
frieuds"
On the following day, at the appointed
hour, MIR. Adron came.
He entered the bankers cffice pale and
agilated. When he oime out again he was
stilI pale, bat Grdfrey Lanier was with
him, and both meu looked happier than
they had doue in a long time.
They entered a carriage aud drove to the
merchant place of business,
As they went into the stole young lady
was just coming out. She wore dark
blue silk walking dress trimmed with fur,
and she blushed vividly at sight of Mr..
Lanier.
Mr.. Akron stopped and spoke with her,
aud introduced her as his daughter.
As he and ths banker moved on, he said,
his voice shaken by emotion:
"She knows nothing of my embarrass-
ments, and now, thanks to you, she need
never know"
Godfrey Lsnier said nothing, but his heart
was full
| Before he had left the merchant he had
| learned that Lucy Akron was not an en-
gagged young lady, and hs had re-
solved to try aud wiu her for his wife.
| The wooing was neither long nor diff.
cult, for Lncy was already more than half
10 love with the handsome, stately gentle-
man whom she had met for the first time
under such unrom4ntic circumstances.