The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-08-06
! Our Daily Short Stories !
An INTERRUPTED REVENGE,
BY JOHN CASTOR.
copyright, 19Ol. by Authors, syndicate.

I ham. he was charmed by the dominant
personality of the New Yorker.
The mothers apprehensions were not
unfounded,. however, and one day
the father awoke to the situation
and there was a most serious talk be-
tween Clare's parents. 1t was fully
evident that the girl was madly in
love with the brilliant lobbyist, and
when the matter was talked over
Frederick Markham saw at once that
II was not proper match for the
daughter. Then there was a serious
interview with the girl, who was told
plalnly the character of the man
She resented, Ii passionately, and the
result was that a few DAYS later
Robert Gordon formally proposed to
Markham for the hand of his daugh-
ter. In reply to the indignant re-
Iusal of the father Gordon coolly in
formed him that he already had the
consent OF the girl and proposed to
marry her in any event-with the pa
rental consent, if possible, without, if
necessary. Clare when consulted cast
her lot with Gordon. All revelations
concerning Gordon's career and record
were without avail 81 t&@
Then the mother in desperation went
10 Gordon's apartments at the Royal
and made pathetic appeal to him.
There can be no happiness in such
match" she said. When she awak-
ems to the realities she will be heart
broken-as you we'll know. There is
no happiness in such a marriage either
for her or for you. 1 do not know
what you are after. 1 will not insult
you by intimating that you seek her
money. II you do it shall be yours
without marriage. In any event,
conjure you by a mothers love; by the
memory of the old times when we were
friends-more than friends, do not de-
stroy my daughters life"
Rising from his chair where he had
sat nonchalant and unconcerned dur
ing the interview, Gordon advanced
directly in front of the excited woman,
who stood with clasped hands and
flushed face pouring out her heart, and
said in voice hoarse with emotion:
ut has been my dream for nineteen
years to see you in front of me plead
ing for something dear to your heart
never dared to hope the dream would
come true-certainly not in the manner
1t has. Let me tell you, l will give
you your hearts desire just as you
gave me mine nineteen years ago. You
chose deliberately to ruin my life. You
were merciless-even scornful. What
am. am as a result of your heartless-
ness. What 1 am not is the result of
your faithlessness. All the reasons that
make me in your estimation an unfit
husband for your daughter are the le-
suit of your ambition and your ad-
vice. l was not a man of bad instincts
in the old days. l was not void of
ambition. All this you deliberately
killed. You Slapped all the good out of
my nature and threw me aside, a mere
husk. Now you appeal to the moral
nature you destroyed, 1 never dream
ed of so perfect a revenge until 1. saw
the girl-your very second self, and
then 1 saw the way to make you suffer
even as l have suffered. And you must
suffer to the end. / will not spare you
Go, and ten the girl what / have said
and that I am your old lover, If you
please. She will not believe it and
will deny it, 1t is your turn to walk
the floor now. 1 have done it for nine
teen years. Oh, 1 will lead your proud
and sensitive girl a pretty dance,
promise you"
He caught her as she tainted, and
after applying restoratives showed
her to her carriage.
The wedding was a swell affair and
the newlywedded pair went abroad
for a honeymoon tour.
1t was ten months later at Venice,
when the crisis came. They had lin
gered there for five weeks. enjoying
the soft languor of the Italian skies.
The months had been revelation to
Gordon. Never had he supposed earth
held such joy as he had found in the
golden weeks that had slipped by
since his marriage. AS he penetrated
further and further into the nature
of the woman who had married him
despite warning and evil report, he
sounded depths of tenderness that he
never expected had existed. Far from
carrying out his threat and intention
to break her heart, he became in
spired day by day with the deepest
reverence for her. This soft evening
in Venice the climax came. He cross
ed over to where his wife sat and said;
"Clare, / have a confession to make.
l cannot go on in this way with lie
in my heart. 1 did not marry you
with clean soul and from a pure
love. All they have said about me is
true. Your mother knew me better
tain any living person, and she told
you the truth. Since / have known
you as wife 1 have come to learn
somewhat of your real worth, and
great loathing of myself has taken
possession of me until life seems only
tolerable on the condition that I cease
to act lie and that you know me as
1 am. Forgive me? 1 was cruelty hurt
by a woman once and l charged it to
all womankind. I will make any
amends you say. 1 will leave you if
you will it-anything, anything, no
matter how hard so stand at least
honest in your sight"
With broken sob he sank on one
knee and buried his face in his hands.
In an instant she was beside him
with both arms about his neck.
1T knew you better than you knew
vollrself" she whispered.