The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-18
MY REVENGE.



hated the hoy. Oh, Of course 1t was
pot right and Chrlstianlikel never sad
It was, and no doubt ought 10 have loved
him the better for having such large
supply of the good gifts that fate had de-
MED To me, only did not.
He was my stepbrother. My mother
married the second time when was n lit
tie chap, and year later Claude Eccleston
was born.
He had the better OF me even from birth.
] was a wizencd bit Of boy, dark haired,
dark eycd-sallow like my father, my
mother always said--and he was like his
father. He had laughing gray eyes, hair
with wave I'm IL, n fresh, clear skin,
which made the women want TO kiss him.
Nobody evinced any longing To kiss me,
except the child himself, and / hated him.
He was the only child, and Boddisfleld
would be his after his father, so there was
no need for hinsto earn his living, as there
was for me. was To bo lawyer and 20
study hard to fit myself for the work
while Claude picked up gentleman's cd
ucation I'm leisurely fashion. i felt that
TO bo another injustice.
IL cannot be laid TO my charge that
simulated an affection that did not feel.
always held as far as possible aloof from
him. ! did not return the caresses that
rs child he layishcd upon me- never
encouraged him To grip my arm and pour
his schoolboy condolences into my ear.
Later OH never invited him to join me In
my evening smoke. My reserve did not
seem To rebuff him. Whatever did was
always poor old George" or "dear old
George" and when / uttered my true
sentiments he laughed at my cold bloodod
cyncsm.
He was, of course, my mothers favorito
son. The cup of injustice would not have
becn full without that.
When was 25 and he 10, there occurred
a fresh cause for hatred. The Rise, a
pretty little place just out of Boddisflcld
village, was taken by young and fas
cinating widow, Mrs. Sinclair.
She was tall and SLIM with fair hair
and blue eyes with remarkably long lashcs,
and she suffered 1t TO be understood that
her married life had been short and un-
happy Short il must have been, for she
did not look more than 23. Altogether she
was most interesting person.
My mother and her husband took TO her
at once. ! had already heard of her viii
ming ways and OF her pretty gratitude for
all kindness shown her before 1 went down
at the hall on the very evening of my ar
rival, and before the evening was over I
found myself also entangled in the meshcs
OF those long lashes.
II was keen, frosty night, and she ex-
pressed her intention Of walking home. It
was so delightfully."- moonlight, and she
was not nervous, oh, no. OF course,
had TO escort her, and. OF course, on my
raturp INV mot hpr III ioI mo M n, attcp-
tion that j had certainly never shown to
any woman before.
i had seen her twice before Christmas
day, and, on the second occasion, after
skating with me all afternoon, she had
taken me into her house for n cup OF tea.
dctcst tea, but / had begun To entertain
feeling that was distinctly not detesta-
ton for Adola Sinclair.
Christmas eve brought Claude. Adela
Sinclair's caresses We're expended now
upon him. / was still "dcar Mr. Hol-
land, and my taste and judgment were
continually appealed TO, but | knew that
the Rlanc.s through tho eyelashcs were not
for me.
Certainly the boy was amazingly fresh
and handsome. knew that my face
looked cloudlor and more sallow by CON
trast with his. i know also that he was
heir 10 solnc thousands u year, while
could only hope To count my income by
hundreds. OF course l could not expect
TO bo loved FOR myself
There was some satisfaction for me in
pcrcciving that my mother and the squire
Ncre Gs little pleased by the widows at
tentiOns TO Claude rs / was. IL amused
me TO make her own indirectly, OF course,
that she considered the widow very suit
able for me, but rot GOOD enough for
Claude l betrayed no sort of feeling over
tho matter myself.
Two days after Christmas left Claude
nt Hoddislicld TO enjoy Mrs. Sinclar's So
cicty, but was TO run down again for a
couple OF days hunting before he went
back 10 Oxiord.
When came back those few days later.
found that Claude had been making the
most of his timc. BE had spent part of
every day ~ Tho Risc, Notwithstanding
that Mrs Slr"lair had also been 90 the
hall, and he apoko OF tho lady as Adcla.
If orly we're as old as you, old boyl"
he said regret ully. II suppose she'd laugh
at me If made "a regular proposal at 10,
] shall be 20 in month or two and then
I'll do it,
W.ercf' '7"~h"d quietly. Aw'