The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-03-23
BOOMERANG VENGEANCE.
by LUKE SHARP.

curious things happen therein, and not
day passes but vengeance is had by
some ono 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 mon, each of
whom revcnged himself upon the
other: the first stcalthily while pre-
tending to be his friends friend, the
second openly as an avowed enemy of
the first, returning revenge for re-
vcngc. Yet in both cases the revenge
had an effect exactly contrary to what
the aggrcssor intended.
Every man living is what we call n
genius if he but knew it. AS the math-
ematical chances arc against the right
man ever meeting the right woman
and marrying her, so, in lesser de-
gree, the chances are against man
finding exactly tho occupation that is
fitted for him. The round pegs nrc
ctcrnally getting into the square holes.
When square peg gets into n square
hole and fits, we say in our blindness
that the peg Is genius.
Human pcrvcrsity' 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
ccssful novelist, Il vocation for which
he was utterly unsuited. Writing was
hic fnrfn 1,,,f
He had the critical faculty strongly de-
velopcd, and had Il style of his own
which ultimately led him, as every one
knows, into the very front rank of Eng
llsh critics. But the circumstances,
seemingly adverse at the time, and the
result of the mcanest treachery, which
guided the square Trigg's footsteps to-
ward the squared hole, arc not so we'll
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 q semi literary club to
which both belonged, Trigg congrat-
ulated himself. Denton ut that time
was the inefficient sub-editor of we'll
known magazine, and Trigg, whose
MSS. were invariably rejected, was
convinced that the magazine editors of
London formed II sort of close corpora
ton, whose chief object in life was to
keep the outsider eternally outside.
Trigg felt certain that if one of his
stories but got n chance, it would be
sure to succeed, and he felt that his
ripcning friendship with Denton would,
when the proper time came, give him
his chance.
There is no doubt but Denton intui-
lively dislilkcd Trigg from the begin
ming This, of course, he had perfect
right TO do, but it is questionable if he
was justified in pretending friend
ship he did not feel, and in leading the
other on to contidc his woes and his
MSS. to him. Perhaps the dislike arose
from the unfortunate habit Trigg had
of reading selections from his stories to
anyone who would listen, and there is
no doubt that in those days Denton got
moro than his share.
Any man has right to resent this
sort of thing, but he should resist it
openly and boldly, and not revenge
himself in sncalsy manner.
Denton praised the MSS. highly, took
them to the magazine office readily,
and kept them for long time Then
they were returned to the unfortunate
Trigg with note saying that the cdi-
tor, in spite of the warmest commcnda-
tons on tho part of Denton, had reject
cd them.
This was very disappointing as far as
Trigg was concerned, and he conceived
q violent hatred of the unknown editor
who barred his way to publicity.
No man can live on rejected MSS
alone, and Trigg, cmbittercd by lacl,
of success, secured subordinate posi-
ton upon the Acndaneum, great
weekly critical journal. His own try
ing experience had added just tho
requisite touch of virulence to his pen
which the Acadancum delighted in and
Trigg speedily rose in the estimation
of his superiors on the paper.
Trigg naturally hated successful
men.
One night ut large literary dinner
he found himself next an old man who
was introduced TO him as the editor Of
the magazine OF which his friend Dem
ton was the sub. Irigg lad by this
time become known as rising man in
what may be termed the cruel school
of criticism, and the aged editor was
very gracious to him.
II wish" he said at last, chat you
could find time to write us an article
on any subject that pleased YOU"
Trgg turned npon the benevolent old
man.
and wish" he replied, "as did the
Scriptural character, that you would
write book"
TLn old trnn lAnn1n1l ,,,aa,, Lin, .s.;4h