The Portland daily press., 1896-10-22
A MANS VENGEANCE.

1t was stiff climb from Pengelly, and
the basket of fish Isaac Hocken carried
was heavy. AT the top of the hill he was
fain to stretch himself on the turf and resi-
his bent old back against the low stone
wall which Enclosed John Tregon's field.
s'No use going up to the house. Johns
st market, ard the missis'u be turning the
place topsy turvy," he reflected "What
with spring cleanis's, all the year round
and the drivin, Bertha has had terrible
hard time. And they do say In the village
we'll WE'LL" he muttered, checking him
self, sit wasn't to be expected with her
pretty face that Jim's her first sweetheart !"
Not breeze stirred the lifeless calm,
and the midday sun poured f1ercely down.
Presently he sought the shade Of q spread
ing tree which overhung the wall a few
PAGES from him. But he was no longer
solitary. Voices fell on his ear-Bertha
Tregons and that of the man who report
said had Tilted her.
"My poor Bertha! You've no cause to
fear me. know exactly how it was You
forsook me for James Hocken. But 7
wrote WHENEVER had the chance"
"Not single letter reached me-"
Because your mother waylaid the post
man."
Despite the heat, Isaac shivered. Willis
insight was making clear much that had
puzzled him.
Perhaps What matters now" asked
Bertha in forlorn tones ''You should
have kept away. 1t would have been
kinder
"And let you continue to think that
was false? Lookee here, Bertha, you
promised to be my wife before ever Hocken
courted you. And now you knaw I've
been faithful to you''-
~ durstn't break with Jim. Mother is
set on him. Oh, why did you comet
You'll get fresh sweetheart, but Jim
won't feel he won't. And shall keep
my promise to him.
But Bertha's love was unchanged, and
to the breathless listener on the thither
side Of the wall Wills tender pleadings
were the knell Of his sons hopes.
What girl who loved him could resist
handsome Will Carter?
Gaunt and grizzled, with weather beaten,
strongly marked features, he had always
known that Jim wasn't ons that girl
would fancy And Bertha had only &C
cepted him at her mothers bidding be-
ieving that Will was untrue to her. 1t
was all so plain to him now. Poor Jim,
even a flower that Bertha had plucked was
precious to him. Hadn't he found rose
withered and dead in his pocket And all
his love in vainl Isaac whipped out his
handkerchief and mopped his face. Yet, II
Win hadn't returned
But, contrary to his expectations, the
girl was firm in her resolve.
~ won't listen to you, she said at last,
reused by Wills upbraidings. Jim isn't
to blanche knew nothing of our sweet
hearting; nor am I. 1t didn't enter my
mind that mother might've got your let
tiers. How should itp As il you alone suf-
fered," she faltered. "Let us part
friends.''
''Sweethearts or nothing said VIII
grufly.
With the swish, swish Of feet through
the long grass crawling on his knees, old
Isaac psered cautiously over the wall
Bertha was running toward the house,
and VIA Carter, with his head thrown
back. striding ip an opposite direction.
"Bless the little maidI'' be calculated.
Zone time I was afeared for Jim. But
she's got good grip O. things. Yes,
plenty n1oge sweethearts for WILL" he
chuckied, observaut of the pose of his head.
'And there's hut enc in tho world for my
1ad-Bertha Tregon. May my tongue be
slit if Let Out to him."
Rising, Isaac 6houidered his basket and
proceeded On bis round
The old fisherman had been somewhat
rash, however, in his conclusions
BY her ownsaaInfssions Bertha s decision
had beea presapEsd solely by fear Of her
mother. But ff ap reflection she were still
willing to aatst4oe her happiness, Will
Garter certainly had n0slntention of yield
ing to her Weakness,
A line seaman, 81 svshosp Rengelly was
proud, tor ehe past ysar Will had been on
board yacht cruising IN the Msditerra-
mean. Bat tor rrAsops best known to her
self, Mrs. Tregon had ACKNOWLEDGEMENT his
suit, and although be hsn, evsay confidence
in her Bertha's siienc9 had inspired mis-
givings not easy to AQay. Once more free,
he had retHnael at the earliest date to
England, and as Plymouth. where he land
ed, had met Friend, who, among other
items of PengsHY news, informed him of
her desertion, adding:
And she'll be Mrs. Hocken in fort
might"
Determined to demand full explana-
ton FROM f&artLa herself, Will made no
comment hAs his laugh was unmirthful
And with rage 10 its heart be hailed
passing cab. Nas draysn to the railway
station and taken BY the train to Wade
bridge Themes he could walk to the Ire
gans,.
But, the house in view, in crossing the
field Will had espied Bertha in the gar
ten, and, with mssfled tAhoyr' 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, while Tightening him, had chilled
Jim's father did duty for the reproaches
he had come primed with.
But Will had taken Bertha by surprise,
and between her dream OF him and terror
Of her mother, who ruled the Tregon house
hold with rod 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 firmness was limited; the revival of
fond memories would tend to lessen her