Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1896-08-13
A MANS VENGEANCE.

| lence had inspired miSgvingS not easy
to allay Once more free, he had re-
turned at the earliest date to England,
and at Plymouth, where he landed, had
met friend. who. among other items
Of Pengely news, Informed him Of her
deSertiOn. adding;
And she'll be Mrs. Hocken in a fort
night"
Determined to demand full eXplana-
tion from Bertha herself VIII made
no comment but his laugh was un-
mirthful. And with rage in his heart
he had hailed a passing cab, driven to
the railway station anG taken the train
for WadeUridge. Thence he could walk
to the Tregons'.
But the house in view. in crossing the
field, Will had espied Bertha in the gar
den and, with muffled ahOy. sped to
the tree that sheltered old Isaac. She
had swiftly joined him. Nevertheless,
the shock of his return was visible in
her white face, and her trembling lips
would frame no welcome. Looking at
| him implOringly, her blue eyes filled.
And. longing to clasp her in his arms,
the reaSsuring words which, whilst en-
| tightening him, had chilled .Iim's faith
er, did duty for the reprOaches he had
come primcd with.
But VIII had taken Bertha by sur
prise, and between her dread of him
and terror of her mother who ruled
1,n hangnhn1T ,t.itl Of
iron, he rightly OWNED that she had
caught at the readieSt means of escape
which in her distraction had presented
itself to her. Yet his faith in her firm
ness was limited; the revival of fond
memories would tend to lessen her
mothers influence. And cunningly cal
culating that apparent Indifference
would further incline her to be guided
by his counSels later, he devoted
week to his friends and generally enjoy
ing himself. His disappointment treat
ed thus lightly, he succeeded in delud-
ing everybody, including Bertha. who
shed bitter tears in secret that he snould
be so easily cOnsOled for her loss The
maddened her. and she had to hide her
aversion to him and listen evening af-
ter evening to his dull talk. And in an
other week she would be his wife.
The tree beneath which she and Will
had parted became her favorite resort.
Here she could indulge in the luxury
of good cry" unrebuked. and. grown
desperate with the nearer approach of
the wedding day, sitting on the gnarled
roots one afternoon, she burst into Il
very passionate grief.
a acknowledgements above the
wall.
"Ahay! Whativer's the matter, Miss
Tregon?" he gravely inquired. Shall
l fetch Mr.. Hocken to 'ee?"
Il hate him! hate him" she sob
bed hysterically.
That's bad" said Will. sympathiz-
ingly. What's he been up to?'
up to! Isn't he old. isn't he ugly,
isn't he stupid? And-and-I hate him.
Mother may storm, but don't care"
Will yaulted over the wall.
On the day appointed for James
Hocken's nuptials the whole villag,
ilOcked betimes to the church. But
neither bridegroom nor bride put in al
appearance. and by and by it was
known that Will Carter and Bertha
Tregon We're missing, and that ther,
would be no wedding ut Pengelly tina
day.
Weeks and months rolled by. and nj
tidlngs could be cleaned of the grace
less couple. They had clean vanished
leaving no clew to their whereabouts
Mrs. Tregon's tongue sharpened to
dounblee edged sword. ready to sla,
friend and foe alike who alluded TO he
daughter. And the dumb misery Ii
Jim's plain face was pitiful to see. Ol,
lsaac's heart ached for his son. If h
had only prepared him for the blow
To have him so imposed on! And wit
his experience of womankind.
Curiosity was at length appeased. A
acquaintance of the runawayS visite
London and returned with woefr
story. She had seen Bertha. who ha
contided to her that after being maj
ried at Il registry office Will and Sh
had decided to go to America. but Will
looking in shop window he had bee
robbed of his savings, and that subs,
Qucntly they were reduced to grey
' straits. Then he had brought her III
: welcome news that he had obtained
Y berth on n steam launch, and the ne,
r morning bade her good-by TO go aboar,
r since when she had never clapped h,
q eyes on him. Mrs. Pegg also said. tn,
Bertha had refused to give her addrcs
l. But Jim ascertaned that she had m,
her at Rotherhithe, and that w,
is enough for him.
n I'm of 10 London" he announce
IL. 4. 4