Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-03-13
VIDA'S REVENGE.
CHATTER I.
A MOMAN's MASK.
az hate herp

pie graceful figure at full length, allowed
the anger OF her heart thus 10 find vent in
words.
She was dressed for dinner but with
81 iden furious movement her white lands
had sarrangcd her dark hair. and with tho
coils loosenrd, 1t hung in masses about her
face. Her eyes, lurid with the light Of fury,
flashed upon her own image in the glass,
and the picture she PRESENTED was that OF n
fierce resen; full wOman-a picture new and
startling even 10 herself
IL could play the part of an avenging rod
dess," she said, as she turned away with
/ forced laugh. ~ w nder what the gentle
Ruth would have thought had she seen her
loving cousin doing the tragedy business. 1t
was dish and weak, even with myself for
the only spec atOr."
She walked to q smaller glass uron the
dressing-table, and swiftly and skillfullyre-
arr nged her hair.
There" she said, II don't think that
Chloe will suspect that her work has been
interfered with. A simple maid with sim
pie mistress, who graciously allows me to
share her services. Oh, how hate these
simple PEOPLE, and this life at GOrdonfeils.
What is there in it?'
For moment It seemedas IL amer would
htdlIl Hlt>NI uCI, Dub Silo SoiHNA ASASSiA
with an effort, and sal wn.
STEADY, Vida-be steady" she murmur-
ed. You must not allow your emotions to
play pranlls with Yen. Your lot is to suffer,
and, to use the cant phrase, you must be
strong. Now, let me discipline myself"
She drew let er from her breast, Orened
and smoo.he it out, and lad 1t on the table
before her.
"TAere II is. HIS loving eplstle to Ruth.
have stolen il, and the poor little goose
wonders where she has lost 1t. Daring
reading the letter, i will be with you on tie
eve Of St Valentine. / must Just look in at
Brisrwo0d, but i will be tn you in time
for dinner. Oh, my dear little Ruth, how
long i seemSp"
VIA spfang up and crushed the letter in
her hand.
/ II cannot read it." she moaned, 'it sets
my soul On fire. Oh, that he had written
thus TO me, for ] lOve him-l love hinl-I
love hiWp'
She casped her hands together passion.
a,ely, and rock d TO and fro for few mo-
ments in silence. Then her passion broke
forth again.
What Is Iuth's love to mine?' she asked.
"a tiny rivuiet, while mine is the mountain
to rent. Where can his eyes bo9 Is Basil
Brandreth blind and deaf when he is near
me, that he should have passed Inc by for
her?'
Again her jealous fury was mastering her,
and the dangerous light flashing in her eyes,
but check came.
Somebody tapped lightly at the door.
who is therep' Vida asked in a tone so
soft tat one previously listening would
have thought il was the voice Of another be-
ing.
1T is I--Rutb. Nay come in%'
'0f course you may, Birdie"
Softly and unsteady the leave to enter
fell from her lips, and the door opening ad.
mitted golden-halred beauty Of nineteen,
her soft dress rustling as she came.
Though so unlike in feature, there was
something between the pair that told OF
kindred blood.
They were cousins, indeed, and bore the
same name-that Of the Moores of Gordon.
fells.
But Ruth was the daughter Of Abel Moore
living, and Vida the daughter OF Reginald
Moore, dead these elChteen years.
Fatherless aud motherless the latter had
been brought to the family seat at an early
age and 1t had been her home.
The Moores were an aIniaOle family.
Abel Moore was loving husband and
father, generous landlord, and thorough
Gentleman. Mrs, Moore kind almost to weak
ness, aud Rath favored with much of heI
mothers disposition.
Vida was also supposed 10 be Moore, foi
the pass onste nature that surged witlir
her she had successfully concealed, even If
her grlhOod.
Here again was nature inherited from
mother, for Reginald Moore married wo
man OF Spanish birth, woman OF unbridl'd
pass on, fiery daughter of sunny Spain.
They were unit ID abroad, and after brief
but stormy life together she died In giving
birth to Vida.
Neither Abel nor Mrs. Moore ever saw
her.
This much in needful introduction, and
now we will return TO the society OF the
cousins, allied in blood, but widely apart in
nature.
"What makes my little Birdie SO pale?"
asked V da, taking Ruth's face between her
hands with q gentle womany tenderness
that asSuredfy was not all assumed.
"BaslPs letter. cannot find it," replied
Ruth. at Is too stupid of me to lose It"
You NAV find it by-and-by," said Vida
calmly. what matters about the letter, so
lone as Basil himself is coming? To-mor-
row night, think?'
Tomorrow" said Ruth with dreamy
eyes, "ard he has been away a whole year
so long! But he is not going again"
You could not bear II, Bird.eT
II think It would break my heart"
Hearts" said Vida with smile, "are
not so easily broken"
you do not know, dearest" replied
Ruth, "for you have never been In love"
mo, never in love-" calmly echoed Vida;
never, Birdie. There goes the gong; we
shall be last down, as usual"
She put her arm round Ruth's waist, still,
thus lovingly linked, they passed through
the corridor and down the broad oaken stair
case-one Of the show things of Gordonfells
land entered the drawing-room.
Mr.. and Mrs. Moore were there, and the
former, looking ut his watch, smiled and
saids
'Chattering together until the last mo-
ment-we have been here ten minutes at
least. Barker Is late with the gong. He de-
lays 1t for you girls"
He was fine portly man OF fifty, with
handsome head, which, with the exception
of his iron-grey hair, showed no ravages OF
time. Mrs. Moore was five years h junior