Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-03-13
VIDA'S REVENGE.
CHATTER I.
A MoMANs MASK.

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
ST. den furious movement her wh,,e lands
had d sarrangcd her dark har, and with the
COTS loosened. 1t hung In masses abCu, her
face. Tier eyes, lurid " th the lgl of fury,
flashed upon her own image I'm the glass,
and the picture she rcsente was that OF u
fielcn resen ful woman-a picture new and
Startling even 10 herself.
IL could play the part Of an avenging rod
drss." she said, as she turned away with
forced laugh. II " nder what the &, nt'e
Ruth won Il have thought had she seen her
loving cousin doing the tragedy business. 1t
Wa, (, oil sh and weak, even with myself fer
the only spectator"
She walked h. smaller glass uron the
DIRE. sing-table. and swiftly and siiilfullyrc-
arr nged her har.
There" she said, II don't think that
Chloe sill suspect that her wOrS has en-
interfered with. A simple maid with SIM
pie mi tire s, who graciously lows me to
shar, her services On, how hate these
smnle e0ple. and this life AZ GOrdOnfels.
What is th, re- in t?'
For moment t seemed as IL amer would
with an effort. and sal d WI.
STEADY, Nida-be Steady!' she murmur-
ed. You must not allow your emotions u
play pranks with you. Your lot is TO suffer,
and. b use the cant phrase, you must be
strong. Now, leJ M discipline myself"
She drew .et er from her 'rcast, ol ened
and smoO. he'd it out, and lad it on the table
before her.
"Thert IL is lis loving epistle TO Ruth.
have stolen il, and the poor little e oSe
wrnd rs where she has lost 1t. Oar ing
reading the letter i will be " In you on tie
eve of st. Valentine. | must just look in at
BraIwood. but / will be W I'll you III time
Tor dinner On. my dear Little Eath, how
long 10 seems
Vida sprans up and crushed the letter in
her hand.
"Ic.n1ot read it." she moanad, "it sets
my soul On Ire. Oh, that lie had written
thus tn m, for / love him-I love him-I
Low him."
She aspel her hands together passion
ely, and rock to and fro for few mo-
ments i'm silence. Th,n her passion broke
forth again.
WHAT Is Ruth's love to mine?" she asked.
"A tiny rvu4et, while mine is the mountain.
10 rent. Where can his eyes b? Is Basil
Brandrrth blind and deaf when he is near
me- that lie should have passed lie by for
herr"
Again her jealous fury was mastering her,
and the dangerous light flashing in her eyes,
but check came.
5 melody tapped lightly ut the door.
Who is there?' Vida asked in tone so
soft at one previously listening would
have thought ii was the voice Of another be
Ing.
1T is I-Ruth. Nay come imp
"Of course you may, Diidie."
Softly and unsteady the leave to enter
fell from her lips, and the door opening adj
mi,ted go.den-haiied beauty of nineteen,
her soft dress rustling as she came.
Though so un ike 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 eighteen years
Faiherless and mother ess, the latter had
been brought to the family seat at an early
age and it had been her home.
The Moores were al amiaole family.
Abel Moore was loving husband and
father, generous landlord, and a thorough
ntleman. Mrs. Moore md almost to weak.
ness, and Ruth favored with much Of hei
moIher's sposition.
Vida was also supposed % be Moore foi
the pass onat. nature that surged witIir
her she had successfully concealed, even ir
her grlhood.
Here aran was a nature inherited from
mother, for Reginald Moore married "a wo
man OF Spanish birth, a woman OF unbrldl d
pass on, a fiery dauyht'r of SIT ny Spain.
They were unit d Guroad, and after brief
bu. storm" 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 10 the society OF tho
cousins, allied IN blood, but widely apart in
ma IRE.
What makes my little Birdie so pale?"
a'kei da, taking Rdth's face between her
hands with gentle womanly tenderness
that assrredly was not al assumed.
"Basil's letter. cannot fad H." replied
Ruth at Is too stupid Of m to lose it,"
You NAV find it by-and-by," said Vida
calmly WHAT matters about the letter, so
row nigh, think?'
Tomorrow, said Ruth with dreamy
eyes, "and he has been away whole year
so longl Bat he Is not going again."
"You n d not b. ar ii, Bird e%'
II think II would break my heart"
Hearts" said Vida with smile, "are
not 80 easily broken"
You do not know. dearest" replied
Ruth, ".Or you have never been in love"
mo, never in love-" calm echoed Vida;
never, Birdie. There goes the gong; we
shall be last down, as usual"
She put her arm round Euth's waist still,
thus lovingly link, d. they passed through
the corridor and down the broad oaken star
case-One OF the show things OF Gordonfells
land entered the drawing-room.
Mr.. and Mrs Moore were there, and the
former, looking at his watch, smiled and
said:
'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"
lie was fine portly man Of City, with a
handsome head, which, with the exception
Of his irou-Orev hair showed no rayaQee of