Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1899-11-04
GUILDS REVENGE.

IOuT VIE why. 1T
seems only yesterday you were carry
ing my books to school. What do you
know of love?"
And Nellie Rivers glanced Innocent
ly up into the face of him she adj
dressed-as innocently as though she
had not known for many a month the
question just put to her had been
trembling on his eager lips
A hot flush dyed Thornton Mays
cheeks at her words The last sem
tence cut like a knife; a flash of an
ger leaped into the dark eyes, a mo-
ment before so tenderly passionate,
as he answered quicly:
81 am here to talk of mans love-.
not a boys. l am 20, full eight years
your senior, Nellie; but this is a sub
terfuge on your part, and all unwor-
thy of you. Answer, me, darling; tell
me you Will be my wife-will place
your happiness in my keeping, 10
guard for evermore!'
How prettily you talk, Thorntoni
1t reads just like story book. Re-
ally, I'd scarce expect one of your
years-now don't be angry, but you
have taken me so by surprise, ] hard
ly know now to reply-except, Thorn
ton, / believe L won't think of it just
now, if 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 added sting.
''FIrti heartlessi" burst, in a mutt
tered whisper, from the young mans
white lips
Then he rose with a dignity which
seemed suddenly to have sprung into
life
Il will not, then, detain you longer,
Miss Rivers, but when another IIan Of
fers you an honest love. sealed by his
name, will you not remember that true
women wound when a word is neces-
sary, if not with regret, at least with
care that the spear thrust goes no
deeper than the case demands? L shall
go abroad to study my art, to remain
indefinitely, and, since L shall not
again see you, L will now bid you
good-by!"
And without even extending his
hand, with simply low bow of courte-
sy, he left her, she sitting motionless,
the echo of the closing of the outside
door ringing in her ears strangely
like a kneil.
eff you would wreak vengeance up
on 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
a trifie broader; the dark eyes wore a
more earnest look; the long, silken
mustache dropped more heavily. This
was all. In all else Thornton May was
unchanged, outwardIy. Within no eve
can penetrate.
But, as once more the sentence rose
before him, his eyes kindled and he
said aloud:
Revenge is sweet
-Four years have not failed,' he
added to himself, ito teach the folly
of the past
IF you would wreak vengeance uD-
on a woman, first make her love you"
All, this was the work left him, this
the sweet revenge-to gain the heart
which once had mockingly trampled
on his own, then show her how worth
less was the prize.
Once more he stood in the library
which had witnessed, so long ago, the
scene branded upon his memory. Was
it possible it still had power to burn
as he strobe, with impatient steps, up
ana down, waiting the moment OF
Miss Rivers entrance?
She had sent for him. Purpose1y he
had waited until she should do So
until the message Should come asking
If his old friends had been forgotten.
But the door opened. His reverie
was interrupted as, CHANGING up, the
slight, graceful figure, which in spite
of himself had entered so often into
his dreams, stood before him.
The years had added to her lowell
I ness, but deepened the rose upon her
cheeks, but lent softened brilliancy
to the dark gray eyes, which rested SO
reproachfully upon him.
why did you make me send for
you?" she asked.
Once more the low, sweet voice
thrilled him with its old magic power;
but, remembering the part he had to
play, he put his weakness behind him
as he answered.:
-Four years make many changes,
Miss Nellie. L did not know l should
still find a place in your memory"
You have grown older!" she ex-
claimed, unthinkingly.
All, / have put away boyish things
since 1 last saw you, Miss Rivers,'
The hidden meaning of the words
rang through his tone, and scarlet
crept up to the white temples; but no
other sign betrayed her, and so for an
hour they chatted on concerning the
| past, one portion of which both SO
carefully avoided