The citizen., 1900-06-22
HAS HIS REVENGE.

.
ing my books to school. What do boys
I know of loveT
! And Nellie Rivers glanced innOoently
/ up into the face of him she address d
/ as innOcently as hough she had not
/ known for many month the question
! Just put to her bad been trembling OH
| his eager lips.
A hot flush dyed Thornton Mays
checks at her words A flash of anger
leaped into the dark eyes. moment
before so ten1erly passionate
"Flrt! Heartless!' burst in a NUT
tered whisper from the young mans
white lips,
Then he rose with a dignity which
seemed suddenly TO have sprung into
life
Without even extending his hand
with simply low bow of courtesy, he
left her, she sitting motonless. ne
echo of the closing Of the outside door
ringing in her ears strangely like a
knell.
"They say Thornton May is engaged
What wonderful strides he has made
In his artr'
Wonderful, indeed. But who is the
fortunate winner of such a prize?"
ga Spanish girl, whom he met
abroad His last picture, about which
every one is raving, is said to be her
counterpart"
Such was the idle conversation at
an evening party, which fell upon Mel
lie 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
and who had learned the lesson only
through four years of bitter suffering
and who had learned the lesson only
of which this was the end.
Dreaming, Miss Nellie, and alone?
| What does this mean"
1t was his voice which broke upon
her reverie, his eyes resting on her,
from whom, at any cost, she must
hide the truth.
Il am growing DID," she answered
away childish things. though, unlike
you, l have not assumed fresh respon.
sibilities, 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 speak"
"If so, it is Spanish enigma, and
painted in very lovely characters.
however cabaliStic they may be-"
"Oh!' sudden light breaking in up
on him, you speak of my picture.
And does rumor give her to me as my
bride? / am indeed, then, open to your
congratulations. But come; as | am
not yet a Benedict, may | not have
this waltZ?"
"And this is my revengeY thought
| Thornton May, as few hours later he
sat alone in his bachelor apartments
moodily surveying the dying embers
in the CRATE. Il 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 congfat-
ulated me upon my supposed engage.
ment! Had things been different, how
! charmingly my pretty model might
have helped out my plan! | will put
I 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 l forget
some one is waiting for you"
"Yes," he answered, Il must once
more say goodby, but this time, Miss
Nellie. hope you will add God-speed.
have not forgotten our last parting,
though l hope my folly has long ceas.
ed to be remembered. You were right.
1t was a boys presumption, and
must thank you for my lesson"
This was almost more than she
could bear. For the moment tears
shimmered in the dark eyes, sob
rose in her throat, but she answered
bravely:
1T 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 God-speedr'
She the only sufferer? What could
she mean?
For moment a wild hope crossed
his mind, to be extinguished the next
as he glanced into the calm face and
the eyes whence all traces of tears
had fled, but at the hall door a mo.
ment later he paused
He would return to disabuse her
mind if this folly as to 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 time before. But, oh, how
changed!
Down Upon her face lay the figure
of the girl who had haunted him all
these years, while sob after sob rack.
ed her frame.
His revenge was in his hands qt
last. The moment had come to mock
her as she had Knocked him; but sure.
ly the light growing in his eyes had no
mocking ray, as he clasped the sob.
bing girl close to his heart.
rs this true, my darling?' he said.
And has our game been cross-pur.
poses all this weary time? Oh, Nellie.
my pride would have kept me silent
had you not shown me your secret. l
had meant, my darling, to teach you,