The Portland daily press., 1893-04-21


Piled. "What's the meaning of this
farce?"
'It means revenge, she answered, with
a little laugh. 81 owe you an explanation,
and you shall have it."
Then she went on to tell him how when,
years ago, her beautiful mother died, and
she had been left a lonely, sorrowful child,
to the care of her dead fathers sister,
that lady's ambition had induced her to
make sure of the girls vast wealth by be-
trothing her early to her only son, Vim
cent Maxwell. Kept closely imprisoned
during her girlhood, Nita had grown up
entirely ignorant Of the world and COM
pletely under the influence of a designing
woman and cold hearted, despotic man.
Even her marriage with Vincent was
looked upon as a matter Of course, and
much as she disliked him she dared not
revolt against her fate.
'And I should never have thought of
defying him had he not by his own saw
age temper reused me from the state of
semiapathy into which I had fallen. she
added, and an indignant light flashed
into her eyes. Gone day had refused
to do his bidding-fetch him something
that he had commanded in his usual i'm
perative way-and in q momentary fit of
passion he struck me"
'The cowardp Frank exclaimed and
unconsciously twined his arm round her
trembling form.
81 never forgot nor forgave," Nita
continued. 81 simply acquiesced in all
they proposed and bided my time. To
have revenge was the one aim Of my
life, and that is why I asked you to
marry me. The denouement planned
in my head succeeded beautifully, and
have to thank you again for the charm
ing way you did your part. felt that I
could rely upon you"
Frank gazed at her a moment in 81
lence; then he said:
"Will you tell me now why you chose
me, above all other men, to be the in
strument of your vengeance"
Because knew no one else I met
you once, two years ago. You have
probably forgotten the incident. When
coming up from Yorkshire, you rendered
some slight assistance to Aunt Mary,
and upon quitting the train, by design
or accident, left your card on the seat.
Some impulse made me keep the bit Of
pasteboard, and when had determined
to free myself from the net Aunt Mary
had drawn SO slzillfully around me re-
membered you, and-and you know the
rest"
He had no time to answer. The car
riage stopped in front of small hotel,
and before Frank could recover from his
bewilderment he found himself alone in
warm, comfortably furnished sitting
room, with Nita's parting words ringing
in his ears.
''Wait for me here, please, Mr.. Ire
mayne. shall not be long, and then
to business"
Ten minutes later she again stood in
his presence, her bridal robes changed
for an elegant garnet velvet dress, which
set off to advantage her slender form,
dusky complexion and silky black hair.
AS she came, half shyly, toward him,
Frank glanced at her with a new light
in his eyes, and stretching out both
hands he clasped hers.
'Well, what next?"
81 wrote my solicitors to meet me
here, but they have not yet arrived.
When they do, they will arrange with
you about the money, and then-then we
will say goodby."
Frank released her hands suddenly,
and folding his arms across his breast
gazed at her for awhile with a strange
expression in his eyes.
mo-" he said at last in deep, moved
voice. eve will not say goodby, Nita,
or if we do will accept nothing from
you"
''You mean you will not take the
money" she whispered.
| eyes, unless-unless, Nita, / take my
wife with it,
A dead silence followed his words, DUR
| ing which he remained steadfast1y re-
garding her, while she, with downcast
eyes and heaving breast, hesitated.
Presently, with a sweet, tremulous
light on her face, she moved nearer to
him and laid both hands upon his breast.
"You will take the money, Frank?'
'With you?"
eyes"
He put his arms very gently round
her, and bending his head pressed his
lips to hers.
In the eloquent pause which followed
that caress they looked into each others
eyes with sort of timid wonder, and
low, tremulous ecstasy awakened in
both their hearts.
At last Frank whispered:
'Nita, my wife, you will never leave
me now?"
And Mia softly answered:
'sNeverp'-New York Dispatch.
| When the Cubans Sneeze.
A situation illustrating Cuban socio-
logical peculiarities was found in a rail-