The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-01-31
BOOMERANG VENGEANCE.
BY LUKE SHARP.

49,
n day passes but vengeance is had by
some one inhabitant upon another.
Revenge in London is different in
form from revenge in Corsica, but it is
generally quite as effective, even
though it keeps within the law.
This is the story of two men, each of
whom revenged himself upon the
other: the first stealthily while pre-
tending to be his friends friend, the
second openly as an avowed enemy of
the first, returning revenge for re-
venge. Yet in both cases the revenge
had an effect exactly contrary to what
the aggressor intended.
Every man living is what we call a
genius if he but knew it. As the math-
ematical chances are against the right
man ever meeting the right woman
and marrying her, so, in lesser de-
gree, the chances are against a man
finding exactly the occupation that is
fitted for him. The round pegs are
eternally getting into the square holes.
When a square peg gets into a square
hole and fits, we say in our blindness
that the peg is genius.
Human perversity helps the mathe-
NAUTICAL chance to prevent the pegs
getting into the right places. The sue
cessful tragedian invariably thinks
that his forte is low comedy, and the
renowned comedian imagines that if
he but had the chance he could play
Hamlet.
Frederick Trigg wanted to be a sue
cessful novelist, vocation for which
he was utterly unsuited. Writing was
his forte, but not the writing of novels.
He had the critical faculty strongly de-
veloped, and had style of his own
which ultimately led him, as every one
knows, into the very front rank of Eng
lish critics. But the circumstances,
seemingly adverse at the time, and the
result of the meanest treachery, which
guided the square Trigg's footsteps to-
ward the squared hole, are not SO well
known.
Alfred Denton, on the other hand,
was born novelist, yet all his hopes
were conferred into becoming great
editor-a position for which he was
conspicuously untitled.
When young Trigg met young Den
ton by chance at semi literary club to
which both belonged, Trigg congrat-
ulated himself. Denton at that time
was the inefficient sub-editor of a we'll
known magazine, and Trigg, whose
MSS. were invariably rejected, was
convinced that the magazine editors OF
London formed a sort of close corpora
ton, whose chief object in life was tc
keep the outsider eternally outside
Trigg felt certain that if one of his
stories but got a chance, it would be
sure to succeed, and he felt that his
ripening friendship with Denton would
when the proper time came, give him
his chance.
There is no doubt but Denton intui
lively disliled Trigg from the begin
ming. This, of course, he had perfec'
right to do, but it is questionable i he
was justified in pretending a friend
ship he did not feel, and in leading the
other on to confide his woes and hi
MSS. to him. Perhaps the dislike arose
from the unfortunate habit Trigg haC
of reading selections from his stories tt
anyone who would listen, and there il
no doubt that in those days Denton go
more than his share.
Any man has right to resent thi
sort of thing, but he should resist i
openly and boldly, and not reveng'
himself in a sneaky manner.
Denton praised the MSS. highly, tool
them to the magazine Office readily
and kept them for long time. Thel
they were returned to the unfortunat
Trigg with note saying that the edi
tor, in spite of the warmest commenda
lions on the part of Denton, had reject
ed them.
This was very disappointing as far a
Trigg was concerned, and he conceive
violent hatred of the unknown edito
who barred his way to publicity.
No man can live on rejected MSS
alone, and Trigg, embittered by lac
of success, secured a subordinate pcs
ton upon the Acadaneum, grea
weekly critical journal. His own try
ing experience had added just III
requisite touch of virulence to his pc
which the Acadaneum delighted in, an
Trigg speedily rose in the estimation
of his superiors on the paper.
Trigg naturally hated successful
men.
One night at large literary Dime
he found himself next an old man VIII
was introduced to him as the editor c
the magazine of which his friend Der
ton was the sub. Trigg had by thi
time become known as a rising man i
what may be termed the cruel schoC
of criticism, and the aged editor wa
very gracious to him.
81 wish" he said at last, that 20
could find time to write us an articl
on any subject that pleased you"
Trigg turned npon the benevolent oil
man.
''And l wish" he replied ''as did tn
Scriptural character, that you woul
write book
The old man beamed upon him wit
surprise.
THE Scriptural character" he said
chopped that his enemy would write
book. l am certainly not an enemy {
yours"
Not now, perhaps" said Trigg brr
tally. You are like all the rest. Yo
give man encouragement when h
doesn't need it. Now that | am get
tinr ALONG Won ask me to write fC