Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-11-09
Cupids Revenge.
66 NJ OUR wife, Thornton? why,
" 1t seems only yesterday you


up into the face of him she addressed
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.
hot flush dyed Thornton Mays
cheekssat her words. A fash Of anger
leaped into the dark eyes, moment be-
fore so tenderly passionate
"Flirt! Heartlessv' burst in NUT
tered whisper from the young mans
white Inns.
Then he rose with a dignity which
seemed suddenly to have sprung into
life.
Without even extending his hanb
with simply low bow of courtesy. he
left her, she sitting motionless, the echo
of the closing Of the outside door ring
ing in her ears strangely like a kneil.
=
"They say Thornton May is engaged.
What wonderful strides he has made in
his artv' A
wonderful, indeed But who Is the
fortunate winner Of such prizey'
"A Spanish girl. whom he met abroad.
His last picture. about which every one
Is raving, Is said to be her counter
part"
Such was the idle conversation at an
evening party which fell upon Nellie
Rivers listening ear.
And this was the meaning of his In
difference, when she would have made
atonement for the PASTOR the folly
OF a girl, who did not know herself, aud
who had learned the lesson only
through four years of bitter suffering,
of which this was the end.
Dreaming Miss Nellie, and alone?
What does this meanY
1t was his voice which broke upon
her reverie, his eyes resting on her.
from whom, at any cost, she must hide
the truth.
II am growing DID," she answered,
lightly. Like yourself l have put away
childish things. though, unlike you,
have not assumed fresh responsible
ties. upon which, by the way. believe
you are to be congratulated, although
you hardly deserve it for keeping such
a secret from your friends"
"You speak in enigmas. OF what do
you speakT'
IF SO, II is a Spanish enigma. and
painted in lovely character. however
caballstic they may be-"
oh" sudden light breaking In upon
him, ''you speak of my picture. And
does rumor give her to me as my bride?
1 am indeed, then, open to your con-
gratulations. But come, as am not
yet Benedict. may l not have this
waltz"
And this is my revenge?" thought
Thornton May. as few hours later
he sat alone in his bachelor apartments
modify surveying the dying embers In
the crate. II, who fancied her voice
could no longer thrill or her beauty
move me, have but riveted the chains
/ thought struck off from me forever.
Tonight how indifferently she con-
graduated me upon my supposed en-
gagement. Had things been different
how charmingly my pretty model might
have helped out my plan! l will put
the ocean between us ere, In my weak
ness l once more give her the right to
mock me-"
- -
Going away. Mr.. May? Have you
tired SO soon of your old friends that
you must desert them? But / forget
some one is waiting for YOU"
Yes" he answered. II must once
more say good-by, but this time, Miss
Nellie, hope you will add godspeed.
/ have not forgotten our last parting,
though hope my folly has long ceased
to be remembered. You were right.
1t was boys presumption, and must
thank you for my lesson"
This was almost more than she could
bear. For the moment tears SHIN
mered in the dark eyes, sob rose In
her throat, but she answered bravely:
ut was / who should rather ask your
pardon for the Idle vanity of a girl
who knew not the meaning of her
own words, but who through them has
been the only sufferer. Good-by, Mr.
May. and godspeedw
she the only sufferer? What could
she mean?
For a moment a wild hope crossed
his mind, to be extinguished the next
rs he glanced into the calm race and
the eyes whence all trace of tears had
fed. but at the hall door moment
later he paused.
He would return to dlsabuse her
mind of this idle folly as his engage
ment. SO, again crossing the hall and
mounting the stairs, he stood upon the
threshold of the room he had left so
short a time before. But, ., how
changed!
Down upon her face lay the figure
of the girl who had haunted him all
these years, while sob after sob racked
her frame.
His revenge was in his hands at last
The moment had come to mock her as
she had Knocked him; but surely the
light growing in his eyes had no mock
ing ray. as he clasped the sobbing girl
close to his lSart.
'Is this true. my darlingy' he said.
and has our game been cross-pur-
poses all this weary time? o, Nellie,
my pride would have kept me silent
had you not shown me your secret.
meant, my darling, to teach you, IL 1
could, to love me. but l forgot I had