Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1901-12-20
His Revenge
A Christmas Story


when John Maxwell went away to
make ms mark in this world. Alice
Tower was just eighteen. They had
been lovers for a few years and were
now engaged something that she had
said 10 him about the quality OF the
present he brought to her Oh Christ
mas Eve piqued him. Two years
from now he said. L Will come back
to claim YOU. Then | Will be rich
man These had been John Max
wells last words. and there had been
a fire in his eye. and certain lines OF
determination about his mouth which
ausured that he would make them
good. But the two years had passed
and six months more and Alice had
heard ne word.
Sitting under the oiG apple tree one
warm May afternoon she idly won
cered whether MS silence gave her
pam o. pleasure When John had bid
del her eood-by the thought OF his re
turn had been the sustaining power
in the moment of his departure
Though sne had shed bitter tears over
the story OF his many failures, though
she mad received with giadness the
know edee Of his first suecesses,
though she mad once waited with i'm
patience for letters that did not come
she new felt il 10 be almost a relief
nay. quite FOR Two years is long.
long time ard Alice felt that IN two
years size bad grown old NOT only III
years but in experience Did 1t not
make the difference between eighteen
and twenty Surely. when one had
time TO learn wisdom
All, Alice would not whisper 10 her
own thoughts that there had been an
other teacher, that not SO easy would
have been the lesson of fOrsetfulness
had not another lesson been cOnned in
its stead 1t was all bewildernS
maze in the little head under the
masses of rich brown hair. with just
a CLINT OF red among them as the sun
gave them its farewell kiss.
But brighter red stole into the
rounded cheek as a weli-knoWn step
drew nearer, and a shadow for which
the apple trees were not responsible
was thrown beside hers.
Good evening Miss Alice said a
CHEEKY voice. Il thought that should
find you here The evening is too
lovely for indoor life
Yes, she answered. it is very
lovely.
As il should be, he added, in low
er. more impressive tones. TO grace
your presence. Alice" he continued
throwing himself on the ground be-
side her. shall | tell you why | am
so glad TO find you here? Because it
seems the most fitting place to tell
you something else. which. though
you must already know. it is fit that
| should put into words They are
poor words. darling ! am not versed
in eloquence: and even were |. here
eloquence might stammer But they
are words old as the world itself. /
love you have but one hope in life.
and that is, that you will share it. Ii
is not much that l can offer you. dear
Perhaps | should say wait. before |
take you from your comfortable home.
But yet, why should l. If you love
me. you will stand bravely by my side,
and We will share whatever storms
life may have in store for us. as W.
share it's SUNSHINE Alice. what is
Your answer? Will you be my wife,
All, it had come at last Once the
girl had tried to check the torrent of
lis words. He hal cut caught tie lit
tie, OBTAINING hand iii his own strong
palm AMI held ii tightly. The small
hCat rad dropped tower a short.
gasping sob was in her throat. letting
no word find its way there What
was she to do? Two years ago she
had given another PROMISE two years
OF toll ana Inconsistencies hal been
endured for her sake. but for six
months she had heard nothing Per-
haps John lad forgotten her-as alb.
she hal almost added. 'as she lad
forgotten htm. But of JOh' Den5
Dexter knew nothing, and Dent Dex-
ter she loved. So it was, that when,
half wondering at her long silence he
again .ep.aJed his question. sha simp-
ly raisCa TO him the sweet fair face.
and contert with what he read there.
he stopped and pressed his f~s. kiss
upon the young red lips
Curiously enough. their wedding
day was set for Christmas Day. the
third anniversary of John Maxwelrs
leave-taking. Dent wanted the event
fixed for a nearer date Alice was
persistent. Perhaps she had a special
reason for fixing the time so far
ahead Poor John Maxwell, Maybe
she thought of him.
In all these weeks she had told him
nothing of John Somehow she could
not gather courage to frame the
words And John had forgotten her
He would never know. 1t was better
that he should not. Love is ever
Jealous, and he might upbraid her. or
think even while ne had won her that
she might prove incOnstant to him as
to her first lover Some day when
she was his wife. his very own. she
would whisper the story into his ear,
and then they would bury poor John
together.
Somebody has said it was bad luck
for bride to don her wedding dress