Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-01-10
D0ROTHY'S REVENGE.

IL harvest moon ciimDed slowly up the
cloudless sky, shining white and clear on
the sleeping town at Tunbridge Wells. The
silence Of night was on the sleeping town.
Two women, closely cloaked, erept stealth.
ly along, the elder one demonstrating
IT'S a great risk you run, Mistress" she
whispered.
IF you fear to come with me, Betty, go
alone"
Nay, madam, my fears are not for my
self. / know my place better than to leave
my mistress alone to meet wild Sir Harry
Fortescue."
Such thing as leaving her mistress to
face the perils OF the night alone had never
entered faithful Betty's mind She had fol-
lowed the varying fortunes Of her young
mistress for years, had known her surround
ed by wealth and had seen her drop from
the proud position that wealth makes pos
sible to one OF poverty, but she was always
the same faithful servant.
Meanwhile, pacing slowly backwards and
forwards in the shadow cast BY high banks
half hidden by brambles, man waited their
approach. As the women came in sight, he
advanced TO meet them.
1T is but five minutes by the clock since
came, madam, yet dare swear that the
moments have been leaden-footed as so
many hours. The post-chaise waits for us in
yonder hollow, and we have many miles to
go before dawn"
"The chaise can watt" she said Il seek
a word with you first, sir!"
"A thousand as you will, sweetheart But
can you not say them as we driver
The moonlight fell full on the group as the
woman stopped and threw back her hood
and II shone on her pale, set face Seeing il,
Sir Harry faltered and tapped uneasiy on
the lid OF his snuiibox 1t did not seem
much ike the look TO be expected on the face
Of romantic girl who had SO easily fallen in
with his suggestion Of a runaway match
Now" she said, Il viii tell you why !
let you think that would marry you in Sc
cret, and also why the ehaise viii not be
needed tonight. You have known me as
Dorothy March, sir; know me now as Dor
othy lngledew-sister TO the man you ru-
med, and whose patrimony you STOLE and to
the woman whose heart you broke"
lie scanned the eager face with some Gu
riosity now. So this explained the haunting
idea that there was something forgotten
which the sight Of Dorothy stirred within
him. He could see now the resemblance be
tween the slender fair-haired Wnifred In
gledew be had tired Of and deserted when he
found it so easy to get the Ingledew money
from her weak, spendthrift brother with
out numbering himself with a wife, and this
dark beauty, who had so Unexpectedly be
come his accuser
Il have stole nothing. Your brother-if
brother OF yours he was-lost it to me in
play He lost and won; il is the way Of the
world, Miss Dorothy"
'He was a boy. You took advantage Of
his youthful folly. My sister loved you you
forsook her when she no longer had gold to
tempt you. He lies in his dishonored grave;
she pinned away and died broken.h hearted
You killed them both, and / vowed to kll
you in turn. That is why | came to the
Wells with my godmother, whose name /
have borne since she took me to live with
her. and let you think that would run
away with you in order to be able to keep
my vow
Tragedy becomes you, madam" he said,
mockingly "But why talk Of killing when
you know that your eyes have already NOR
tally wounded meg'
viii you cease this foolish TALK Do you
still think that love brought me here to-
mighty | have to avenge the honor Of my
name. 1t shall not suffer for the want OF
male kim"
Madam, what folly is this! How can
fight woman"
She une.asped her cloak and threw il
from her as the maid approached and hand
ed her two foils.
Il came prepared, you see, Sir Harry"
she said. as she carefully measured the foils
TO see that they were Of equal length. Now,
sir, choose your foil and take your stand T"
This is midsummer madness, indeed
Mistress March, or Ing!edew, if i pleases
YOU better. And though it may be pretty
fooling when so fair lady plays part in 1t,
like it not"
"Will you choose iOil,"
"No, madam"
Coward" She held the foil by the
hilt now, and at the word struck him lightly
across the face with the fiat of the blade.
His face was white with anger save where
a red line showed where her blow had fallen.
"Had a man struck that blow he would
not have seen tomorrow sum But WON
an is privileged to some extent. Will fence
with you, madam. since you insist, but when
YOU are disarmed l viii take my revenge IN
kisses"
The moon flung their shadows on the
ground in grotesque confusion, and glittered
on the blades OF the foils as they thrust and
married. She fenced with care and skill that
comes with long practice.
At first the man carelessly parted her
thrusts. laughing and testing at the strange
fate which led him, noted duelist, to cross
swords with woman. But by degrees the
Jest and laugh died on his lips, and has gaze
remained fixed on something over Doro-
thy's shoulder. 1t may have been fancy, or
the flicker of the moonlight on his sdver-
sary's uncovered hair, but he thought the
face of Winifred looked over her sisters
shoulder.
He began to falter and iunge Dorothy
made remained impaired.
"Winnie!" he cried, and as the cry left his
lips Dorothy pierced his heart.
He stumbled; then fell at her feet For
moment she stood aghast at the fu.iilment