The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-28
HIS REVENGE.


pleading look in them, while pretty Selma
was smiling and glanced roguishly through
her dropping lashes.
Peter and Selma were lovers and had
been such from earliest childhood. OF
course they had had their little quarrels,
but whenever Selma chose to bestow q
glance and smile upon Peter hc had al
ways been ready to come to her side and
sue for pardon.
Selma knew her power. Peter had been
the slave of her will whenever she asserted
it, and of late she had been very ready to
put her influence over him to tho severest
tests. He had tried to rebel, but in the
end she had conquered, as usual, and in
spite of himself he had found that he was
powcrless to resist tho wayward whims her
fancy wove to annoy and try him.
The sun was setting. Through the tops
of tho tall pines the rays sifted their gold
upon tho ground at Selma's feet, where
she sat on an old driftwood log on the
bank of the river. The ferryboat was tug
ging gently at its moorings as the water
flowed along and formed little eddy just
below it. The wind seemed to have gone
to sleep, and the trees stood with unmov-
ing branches, as If listening and longing
for his waking again.
Peter was the ferryman. His little homo
nestled under the tall pines on the bluff
above the ferry landing. 1t was not pre-
tentious home, but ho had tried to make
it as cozy and comfortable as his means
would allow, and Selma's taste had often
been consulted Now, however, cloud
had risen between them, dark cloud that
would soon bring storm of ruin and des-
olation behind 1t for one of them.
II will not endure this playing fast and
loose with my feelings any longer" said
Peter rising to his feet. If you love me,
Selma, you will not flirt with this stranger
any more"
II never sought Mr.. Window" Selma
replied. "Ho always comes to me, and he
never quarrels with me-"
'That may be true, Selma, but he does
not love you like 1 do-no man ever did
or willard often feel as if could kill
him with one strong blow when see you
together"
He stood there, giant almost in stature
and strength, his eyes flashing with anger,
as Selma had never seen them before. She
could not help admiring him and felt
proud of her power to inspire him with
such passion.
There was no doubt in her heart that
she loved Peter, and she felt he would
willingly give his life for her if she only
spoke tho word. But there was a growing
waywardness in her nature, and even
now, when she longed to throw herself
into his arms, that very waywardness mado
her turn to him with mocking words on
her lips
You should put guard ON your
tongue, or it will get you into trouble
sooner or later" sho said. las it is,
am tired Of quarrelng with you and don t
want to have anything more to do with
you. What would the future hold for me
anyway-living penned up there in that
little coop on the bluffW pointing her fin
ger in scorn at tho little home Peter had
made ready to receive her some day in the
future.
Peter stood watching her hungrily, his
eyes bent upon her in silent questioning,
but she did not relent, she did not smile,
she did not bid him come to her side. In
stead, she turned slowlSand walked away
from him.
"SelmaW he cried, but she did not seem
to hear him. Her feet never wavered as
she wended her way from the river up the
bluff to where the last rays of the setting
sun still fingered, leaving him in the
shadows below.
Day after day Peter kept closely at his
work, brooding over his loss. There were
times when he told himself Selma would
return to him, but she never came, and q
bitter hate against the man who had
stolen his love away from him was kin
died in his heart.
II will kill him" he cried. II will go
tonight and find him and choke the life
out Of him!"
But he fingered on and on by the river
hoping against hope that Selma would yet
return to him. Then hope died away alto
gether, and hate alone filled his heart
A man, while crossing the river one day,
told him that Selma had left her home
and gone to the city with Mr.. Window,
the stranger who had sojourned in the VII
lage for the last few weeks.
twill follow them and kill himl' Peter
muttered, and the man went on his way
fully believing that Peter would do as he
had threatened.
But Peter fingered at the ferry. In the
course of time tidings came that Selma
was Mrs. Window, and that she was liv-
ing in fine house in the city, where her
husband was o prosperous man Of busi-
ness
Peter only ground his teeth and NUT
tered, "Tll have my revenge yet some
day"
The days made weeks and months and
years. As the time passed, however, Peter
grew more and more morose, and the hate
that gnawed necessarily at his heart began
to show in all his deeds and words.
One day the little home on the bluff was
on fire, and tho people from the village
rushed there to fight the flames and to try
to save whatever they could of its furnish
ings. Peter was standing at one side, lean
ing against O. y of the giant pines, watch
ing the destruction of his home unmoved,
making no attempt to save anything. Tho
people looked upon him wrathfully, and
some Of them, moro daring than the rest,
upbraided him for not making an effort to
help put out the fire.
Peter only smiled grimly and would not
even reply to the inquiries they made
about the origin Of tho fro.
1t was easy to SEQ that no was not fa-
vorite among them. Tho women espo-
cially looked upon him with disapprovai in
their eyes.
When the house was burned to the
ground and Peter was homeless, ono or
two of the men approached him and Of.
fered him shelter at their houses. These
offers ho refused, however, telling them
that hc had already formed some plans
which mado it impossible for him to ac-
cept their hospitality, and so they left him
to take care Of himself.
mo, mol" he muttcred. IT feel now
that Selma has forgotten me. She is off
guard, and my time has como to work out
my revenge"
Had the memory OF her power over him
1oNo al l. l;,x. Ill A.