The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-09
A BITTER
REVENGE.

1t was a bright morning In the month
OF May and down the beautiful avenue
OF Eim5. which led from the house 10 the
gate, was seen a little girl dressed In
blue gingham. her large shaue hat was
hanging by ats elastic doHn her back over
her golden curis. she was as fair q pic
ture OF grace and beauty as ever a cnild
or eight years old presented. She had
her mothers soft golden curly hair. her
dark blue eyes with long. curling lasnes.
ana pretty red lips that parted 10 display
her white, even teeth. The dainty little
mead was so evenly poised upon the
slender neck, the graceful figure. the
tapering fingers. the arched instep OF the
tiny foot were so deity fashoned by The
generous hand OF nature. that an artist
seeking for portrayal OF perfection CT
grace and beauty would have rested con-
tent with such n model as GwendoIne
McFellows. She kept on, slowly walking.
humming n little song and pulling to
pieces rose, which she had plucked
from It's bush as she walked by. AS she
reached the gate she met a handsome
barefooted boy. coming across the dusty
road. Harry" she said. come with me
to the house and see my new doll father
brought it to me last evening, and hand
In hand the two children went up the
avenue, laughing. and talking In great
glee.
Harry Robson was the son OF very
poor but arisiocratic family. Harry lived
with his father and grandmother. his
mother died wnen he was quite a little
fellow. The Robson place consisted Of
about twenty acres of very poor land.
with little four-room cottage in a very
dilapidated state. sitting close to the road.
right across from the palatal home OF
the McFellows-"The Elms," as the Nc
Fellows place was called. was the home
Of an old aristocratic family. but, they
becoming very poor after the war. had TO
sacrifice 1t, and IT was bought by George
McFelows. a self-made man, and IL mad
been fixed up in regal style Mr.. Nc
Fellows was a banker and drove TO his
office every morning from The Films,
which was about three miles from the
pretty town of G.
Harry Robson was a handsome lad Of
ten years. He had seen good deal Of
trouble in his ten years Of existence. He
was born. as the old saying Is. with
silver spoon In his mouth" His father
ten years ago was the richest man in
Georgia. but a heavy failure in business
made him very respondent then he took
TO drink and card playing. He mortgaged
every thing he had and went FROM bad 10
worse. Until he had nothing left but a
few acres of land and a miserable little
shanty for a home and still he kept on
his sad life.
"Good morning Mrs. Robson" well.
well. how are you this morning, how are
your mother and father? Take a seat.
said the old lady. Gwendollne TOOK
seat I'm a little rickety chair by the WIN
dow. mother and father are very well
thank you ma'am. how Is Mr. Robson!
"Just the same as usual" and the old
lady gave a long sigh, Gwendoline moved
her little chair nearer the old lady.
'VVhat Is the matter Mrs. Robson?'
Nothing. my dear, only times are so
hard with us and poor Harry has 10 work
so hard" you needn't 10 worry, he Is
going to be a rich man some day." said
Gwendollne, then we are going to live
in a fine stone house and you can 1--we
with US" Thank you my child, said
the old lady and she stroked the pretty
golden curls, shook her head and thought
to herself, lit will never be-. Mrs
Robson where is Harry?' you viii and
him at the wood-pile, where he has been
hard at work ever since light this morn
ing my child
Chapter II: Harry and Gwendoline had
grown four more years apiece. There
never had been seen such little love
couple, as they were. Mr.. McFellows had
kept such a watch over Gwendoline that
she did not see very much OF Harry. Mr..
Robson had grown worse. He had rot
seen a sober day for three months. lie
would take the old horse, that mad work
ed hard all day. and ride off TO the = ross
Roads. down at Hobsons Creek" where
there was the typical rural store with
barroom attached, and nrs ietbr' uhtI
the, wee sma' hours of morning. OLD
Mrs. Robson was growing very weak and
feeble. she tried hard 10 convert her son.
said she only wanted TO live TO see him
better man.
"Wen, you amt going out again to-
night John" said his mother, as he pick
ed up the saddle in the porch. yes, TO-
night again. You amt going before
supper. it will soon be ready" well.
hurry it up" They say that Hobsons
Creek Is rising and you wont be able TO
cross IL coming back tonight Il can
cross anything with that old horse, can
cross the Atlantic Ocean" you ough,
to stay at home one night and give that
poor horse some rest" 'Aint you go
ing TO nave supper tonight, II not l am
gong along. Boy" Sir said Harry
come here you good for nothing calf
and put the saddle on that d-n old
horse" Il would not talk TO the boy So
demonstrated the old lady, "Oh! d-n
the boy, amt you going to have sup
per?" Eyes, come and take your seat.
and the old lady hurriedly dished II up.
Mr.. Robson ate very little, supper; he
seemed to be in great hurry and mount
ing his horse he went galloping down
the road towards Hobson's Creek.
II was an old-fashioned place, coun-
try store. that had seen its best days. II
STOOD on the slope Of hill right at the
Cross Roads, one road leading up the
mountain and the other, around about
way to c., and facing 1t, not more than
one hundred yards away, flowed nasty
steam, filled with holes and snags, ana II
was known as "Hobson's Creek ana
"Hobson Greek was now On IT'S rise
obstruction 70 crops ana
fences all along its banks. on the ola
wooden porch of the store there were
rough benches and a few split-bottomed
chairs. IL was twO-stOry building, the
upper story was used by the proprietor
to store away travel-worn strangers.
the open door was seen medly
Of millinery, dry goods. brass jewelry.
modern buckets with bright brass hoops
tin ware, rope, saddles, harness.
gray and red blankets and an assortment
OF cheap candles. and groceries. Back OF
the store proper was barroom. with
side door opening on the road that led
across "Hobson Creek" The crossings
OF "Hobson's Creek" were bad ali a'ong
It's course. but this crossing was unusually