Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-08-22
A MANS VENGEANCE.
r T was a stifY climb from Pengelly
and the basket Of Ash Isaac Hocken


the hill he was fam to stretch himself
On the turf and rest his bent old back
AGAINST the low stone wall which In
closed John Tregon's field.
mo use going up to the house; Johns
at market and the misses'll be turning
the place topsy.turvey," he reflected.
'what with spring cleanin's all the
year round and the drivin', Bertha has
had q terrible hard time. And they do
say in the vlllage-Well, WELL" he
muttered, checking himself, ut wasn't
70 be expected with her pretty face that
Jim's her FIRST sweetheart. And II VIII
Garter deceived her, mebbe she'll think
the more Of him. Jim just dotes on her.
More fule, he! Bad wives are Of no
account WHATEVER, and supposin' you
10 hap on good woman and II pleases
he Lord to take her, the year won't
OH the emptiness In you she leaves b.
had. I ought to know" and Isaac
Aeaved a mighty sigh. "rve buried
wives OF both sorts-thrce Of EN-"
Not breeze stirred the lifelesS calm;
and the midday sun poured hercely
down. Presently he sought the shade
Of Q spreading tree which overhuns
the wall few PAGES from him. But
hs was no longer solitary. Voices fell
on his enr-Bertha Trcgon's and that
Of the man who report said had Tilted
her.
my poor Bertha! You've no cause 10
fear me. I know exactly how It was
you fOrsoOk me for James HOcken. But
/ wrote whenever I had the chance"
mot a single letter reached me-"
because your mother waylaid the
pcstman."
Despite the heat, Isaac shivered.
wills insight was making clear much
that had puzzled him.
"Pcrhnps. what matters now"
asked Bertha In forlcrn tones. You
should have kept away. It would have
been kinder"
"And let you continue to think that
was false. Lookee here. Bertha. yon
promised to be my wife before ever
Hocken courted you. And now you
know I've been faithful to you"
n durstn't break with Jim. Mother
10 set on him. oh, why did you Gomez
You'll get a fresh sweetheart, but jim
won't. I feel he won't. And shall
keep my promise to him."
But Bertha's love was unchanged.
and 10 the breathless listener on tho
thither side Of the wall, wills tender
plsadings were the knell Of his sons
hopes.
What girl who loved him could resist
handsome VIII Cnrterf
Gaunt and grlxxled. with weather.
beaten. strongly marked features, he
had always known that Jim wasn't ono
that a girl would fancy. And Bertha
had only accepted him at her mothers
bidding, believing that VIII was untrue
to her. II was all 20 plain to him now.
Poor Jim! Even q flower that Bertha
had piucked was precious to him.
Hadn't he found q rose withered and
dead In bis pockct7 And oil his love In
vain! Isaac whipped out his handker.
chief and moppcd his face. Yet, II
VIII hadn't returned
But contrary to his expectations, tho
girl was firm In her resolve.
II won't listen to you." she said At
last, reused by Wills upbraidings.
"Jim isn't to blanche knew nothing
Of our observation-disclosures am !. II
didn't enter my mind that mother might
We got your letters. How should Il!
A. II you alone sufferedv' she faltered.
'Lst 10 part friends"
'Swecthearts or nothing" said VIII.
Srumy.
With the swish. swish Of feet through
che long grass, crawling to his knees,
old Isaac pecred cautiously over tho
wall. Bertha was running toward the
house and VIII Carter. with his head
thrown back, stridin6 In an opposite d.
section.
"Bless the little maidr' he calculated
zone time ! was afcared for Jim. But
she's got q good grip O. things. Yes
plenty moro sweethearts for Will," he
ehuckled. observant Of the pose Of BID
head. "And there's but one In thu
world for my lad-Bertha Tregon. MAY
my tongue be slit II I let out to him."
Rising, Isaac sh0uldered bis basket
and proceeded on his round.
The old fisherman had been some
what rash, however. In his conclusions
BY her own admission, Bertha's do
cision had been prompted solely by feal
Of her mother and consideration fol
James Hocken. But II on reflection oh,
were still willing to sacrifice her happi
cess. Win Garter certainly had no In
tention Of yielding to her weakness.
A ane seaman, Of whom Pengelly wal
proud. for the last year VIII had bedl
On board q yacht cruising In the Medit
erranean. But for reasons best kn0wl
10 herself, Mrs. TregOn had discounte
danced his suit, and, although he hat
every confidence In her. Bertha's 81
lsnce had inspired misgivings not cas-,
10 allay. Once more free. he had 70
turned at the earliest date to England
and at Plymouth. where he landed, hat
met friend, who. among other item
Of Pengelly news. Informed him Of be-
oeserti0n, adding:
"And she'll be Mrs. Hocken in q fort
night"
Determined to demand full explana
ti0n from Bertha herself. VIII mad
no comment, but his laugh was uu
mirthful. And with rage In his hear
he had hailed passing cab. driven 4
the railway station ana taken the tran
for Wadebridge. Thence he could wall
10 the Tregons'.
But the house In view, In crossing tn
aeld, VIII had espied Bertha In the Gal
den and, with a mufiied ahoy! sped :