The Leon reporter., 1900-02-08
4 WoMAN'S REVENGE.

Ihe usual throng OF busy workers,
business men, clerks, and shop girls
filed the street. Austin Chandler
moved along with the crowd. In his
heart there was exultation, for he had
made a few hundred in successful
venture In wheat. Pausing at q cor
ner to speak to a friend, he was ac-
costed by a peddler importuning him
to buy one Of his plaster casts.
who is this?'' asked Austin, point-
ing to a grotesque bust of Washington.
That is George Washington, de
fader 'es country, an des is Columbo.
'Columbo? Who was hep
"Columbo, he was spaniard; he dis
cover America"
"a Spaniard, was hep exclaimed
Austin, I'VE want no Spaniards here"
and feigning anger he cast the bust on
the ground. The hot blood rushed to
the head Of the peddler, and, dashing
the other bust on the ground, he cried
in a rage: "You break my Columbo
/ break your George WASN'T" Then,
suddenly realizing that this sort Of re-
tort was pecuniary loss, he COM
menced indignantly demanding pay
ment for his Columbo, but Austin
walked unconcernedly away, amid the
laughter and applause of the crowd.
All observers, however, did not
laugh. A lady whose handsome Ian
dau drew up to the curb just at that
moment marked the incident.
Drive on, John," she said, sharply,
and then, with compressed lips and
flushed cheeks, she sat frowning over
unpleasant thoughts, until the coach
man, having driven several blocks.
aimlessly turned to inquire where she
wished to go.
In the brilliantly lighted drawing
room Of one of San FIancisco's hand
some residences Myrtle Merideth sat.
her slender white hands toying idly
with the fan which she had to shield
her face from the heat Of the wood
fire burning on the hearth.
Austin Chandler, dressed with the
taste and care which q man bestows
upon his person when he approaches
the woman he seeks to please, looked
down upon her, his eyes noting with
pleasure every charm Of her fair face
and graceful figure, and even the de-
tails Of her becoming gown.
The picture stirred his blood and lent
fire to the words in which he made the
formal offer of his hand.
He had no doubt as to his answer.
Myrtle had certainly encouraged him;
not as . coquette, to crafty her vanity
by parading his attentions, but as q
sincere girl who is willing to be won.
How great was the shock, then, to
have his burning words met with an
uncOmpromising no.
"Have you no heart, them" he ex.
claimed bitterly, ''that you can lead a
man on to hope everything and then
dash his hopes to the ground? And
had thought you all that is sincere, all
that is sweet, all that is loyable in a
woman"
Myrtle had risen, somewhat nerv.
ously, at the beginning of his re-
proaches, but she stood quietly now,
looking down at the fire. At last she
said, gravely: II, too, have had my
.ideals-my dreams Of the FUTURE
have pictured you as brave, gener-
Gus, upright, but You break my Co
Jumbo, break your George WASH"
Her mimicry was perfect. The
street scene and the incident Of the
morning rose before Austin's mental
vision.
"Oh, DAMN he exclaimed, under his
breath.
"Well, for all that is unreasonable -
said Austin Chandler, as he paused in
the street a few moments later to light
a cigar, commend me to o woman"
But there was nevertheless pain at
his heart, and Marco Verdago was
avenged Post