Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-01-09
A NOBLE REVENGE.

have happened, Miss Etherege; YOU
have met all my requirements in every
respect. In an establishment of this
sort Cne is forced to be exceedingly
careful, almost over-cautiOus. as one
may saw | think you will find your
salary quite correct as to the amount.
Mrs. Carter, the smooth-voced and
gracious proprietress" of the Minerva
Academy for Young Ladies, smiled as
sweetly rs il snc were not cutting off
poor Agnes Etherege'S dependence for
daily bread, as she laid the money on
the teachers lap.
Il understand" Agnes said, grow
ing quite white, and with a strange
culver in her voice, mir. Lundie has
been talking to You"
hrs. Carter pursed up her lips.
Il am not at liberty to give the
name of my informant" she said
primly, "but the prompttude with
which YOU guess at the name of pos
sible suggester certainly would give
the idea that YOU were prepared for
some such accusation"
Agnes rose up YEARLY. OF what
use were defense. argument. peadingP
Did not Hugh Lundie's vengeance fol-
low her everywhere, bighting her
every prospect? Had he not said to
her, with green glitterlog light in
those cruel eyes of his Il will vet com
pei YOU to be my wifeP"
No; he could not do that. She
might starve; she might suffer for the
actual necessaries of life; she might
even be driven to throw herself some
of these stormy nights, into the black,
chilly abyss of the cruel river, to find
oblivion for good and all; but she
never would marry him.
This was the third situation of which
his subtle SCREENINGS had deprived her
She was alone and helpless in the
world; he was strong aud powerful
Why was it that one human creature
had power to exert such evil influence
over anotherP
She went home. with a dull, fixed
look in her eyes. and deadly white
ness on her cheeks What could she
do nowP For she was weak, aud
young. and slender aud peri.ousy
beautiful, and the world was so releut-
less and cruel
Agnes Etherege was working out
the problem that many other human
souls struggle through; aud how do
we know how many sink eterua'ly in
the strife and never are heard Of
more?
The little lodging where she keps
her trunk and which she diguilied bv
the title of home had never before
seemed SO hi2h up and difficult of ac-
cess, but when She opened the door
SIZE started back with a low cry. 1t
was no longer dark chill aud silent.
Lights burned on the mantel, and
great fire OF high-heaped Goals roarud
up SAe chimney. willie "a shrcwd-faced.
little old man, brown aud keen, with
glittcrinT eyes, like human squirrel.
sat spreading his handle over the blaze.
"Ah" He looked up with Il nod.
You are Agnes, | suppose? You
don't know me of course?
No, sir, said Agnes. half expect
ING TO see the whole scene melt and
dissolve, like the fabrication of en-
chantment; II DO uot.n
We'll, l don't know how YOU
should said the old man. I'm your
Uncle Tobt. I've come home to live.
Hndastan's very nice climate, but
it's n little Shaky when one has passed
Uue's Goth year. I'm going into the
banking business, ! want YOU to keep
house for me. Yes, I know; You al
ways supposed | was dead ont in the
east. / let your mother think so. /
was a wild chap in my day and 10
particular credit to any OF my rela-
tiyes; aud when | had a decent record
to show her, why she was dead
That's all over and gone-uo use cry
ing over split milk. Come"
And Mr. Daniel Tobt rose up and
seized a yellow alpaca umbrella, which
apparently constituted his sole stock of
baggage.
Are you readyP can have fly
at the door in i've minutes"
But, uncle"
The old man chuckled.
Say it again; it sounds good
uncler'
Where are we going unclep" asked
Agnes, her heart beginning 10 warm
strangely toward this eccentric old
man.
To my agea's. He has hired
house for me somewhere aud FURNISHED
it with something. dare say it will
do well enough "a long a. the roof
don't leak and the cellars aren't damp
And Agnes EJherege, feeling as If
she were ia a dream, allowed herself
to lie led away from the Ola room and
the old life aud tine drearly brooding
shadows at the past
Uncle Daniel Iubit loaded her with
luxuries-hung her with jewels as II
She mad been glitteriug eastern idol.
and anticipated her slightest wish.
Agnes had no more loneliness aud
penury now-yet the one thing over
which she most reiJicei was the COM
plete seyering OF ausht resembling a
Ink between her new lille aud her old.