Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-11-02
ouPIDs REVENGE.

,
ly up into the face of him she a,
dressed-as innoceltly as though 81
had not known for many month ii
question just put to her had bee
trembling on his eager lips.
A hot flush dyed Thornton May
cheeks at her words. The last ser
tence cut like a knife; a flash of ar
ger leaped into the dark eyes, me
ment before so tenderly passionate
as he answered quicly:
II am here to talk Of a mans love
not boys. ! am 20, full eight year
your senior, Nellie; but this is q sub
terfuge on your part, and all unwor
thy OF you. Answer, me, darling; tel
me you will be my wife-will plac
your happiness in my keeping, t.
guard for evermore!"
How prettily you talk, Thornton
1t reads just like story book. Re
ally, I'd scarce expect one Of youl
years-now don't be angry, but you
have taken me SO by surprise, l hard
~ know how to reply-except, Thorn
ton, ! believe ! won't think of it just
now, II you don't mind. l am afraid
your age would weigh too heavily on
your shoulders to burden them with
any added weight"
And the laughing voice had in it a
ring of mockery, which gave to every
word an added sting.
"Flirt! heartless!" burst, in NUT
tered whisper, from the young mans
white lips.
Then he rose with dignity which
seemed suddenly to have sprung into
life.
II will not, then, detain you longer,
Miss Rivers, but when another Nan Of.
fers you an honest love, sealed by hia
name, will you not remember that true
women wound when word is neces.
sary, II not with regret, at least with
care that the spear thrust goes no
deeper than the case demands? shall
60 abroad to study my art, to remain
indefinitely, and, since l shall not
again see you, will now bid YOU
good-by!"
And without even extending his
hand, with simply low bow of courte-
BY, he left her, she sitting motionless,
the echo Of the closing of the outside
door ringing in her ears strangely
like knell.
IF you would wreak vengeance I'D.
on q woman, first gain her heart, then
she is at your mercy
-Four years had wrought but little
change in the young man who had
left his native land to find elsewhere
forgetfulness, and who now Stood
once more upon its shores, with this
sentence-a piece Of advice picked up
in some book on his foreign travels
ringing in his ears.
An added shade Of bronze was on
his cheeks, the broad shoulders were
. tritle broader; the dark eyes wore a
more earnest look; the long, silken
dropped more heavily. This
was all. In all else Thornton May was
unchanged, outwardly. Within no eye
can penetrate.
But, as once more the sentence rose
before him, his eyes kindled and he
Iaid aloud:
Revenge is sweet"
-Four years have not failed" he
added to himself, "to teach the folly
Of the past"
III you would wreak vengeance up
y woman, first make her love you."
All, this was the work left him, this
me sweet revenge-to gain the heart
which once had mockingly trampled
IN his own, then show her how worth.
ess was the prize.
Once more he stood in the library
which had witnessed, so long ago, the !
'cene branded upon his memory. Was
t possible it still had power to burn,
Is he strobe, with impatient steps, up
md down, waiting the moment of
Miss Rivers entrance?
She had sent for him. Purposely he
lad waited until she should do So
lntll the message should come asking
! MS old friends had been forgotten.
But the door opened. His reverie
vas interrupted as, glancing up, the
light graceful figure, which in spite
i himself had entered so often into
is dreams, stood before him.
The years had added to her lowell.
ess, but deepened the rose upon her
heeks, but lent a softened brilliancy
0 the dark gray eyes, which rested 10
eproachfully upon him.
why did you make me send for
CUP? she asked.
once more the low, sweet voice
hrllled him with its old magic power:
ut, remembering the part he had to
lay, he put his weakness behind him
s he answered:
-Four years make many changes.
liss Nellie. ! did not know | should
TIL find place in your memory"
You have grown older!" she ex.
Iaimed, unthinkipgly.
"Ah, | have put away boyish things
lnce ! last saw you, Miss Rivers!"
The hidden meaning of the words
ang through his tone, and scarlet
rept up to the white temples; but no
ther sign betrayed her, and so for an
our they chatted on concerning the
asst, one portion Of which both so
arefully avoided.
"As heartless flirt as ever!" he
'liloquized, as he descended the steps,
,membering her glance of welcome,
hich seemed to say so much, as in the
Iden time it told the self-same story.
The man who wrote his wise advice
lould have given us some other
canon for xvnman xvho nosr.z. -.