Marble Hill press., 1901-12-18
His Revenge.


Il was Christmas Eve that year
when John Maxwell went away to
make hln mark IN this world. Alice
Tower was Just eighteen. They had
been lovers for few years and were
now engaged Something that she had
said to him about the quality Of the
present he brought 70 her on Christ
mas Eve piqued him. 1.-TWO years
from now" he said. Il win come back
TO claim you. Then I win be rich
man" These had been John Max
wells last words; and there had been
ire In his eye. and certain lines Of
determination about his mouth which
augured that he would make them
good But the two years had passed
and six months more and Alice had
heard no word.
Sitting under the old apple tree one
warm May afternoon, she idly won
dered whether his silence gave her
pain or pleasure. When John had bid
den her good-by the thought Of his re-
turn had been the sustaining power
IN the moment Of his departure.
Though che had shed bitter tears over
the story OF HIS many failures; though
she had received with gIadnen the
knowledge OF his first successes;
though she had once waited with I'M
patience for letters that did not come.
she now felt II TO be almost relief
may, quite-for two years Is a long,
long time, and Alice felt that IN two
years she had grown old not only In
years but In experience, Did II not
make the difference between eighteen
and twenty? Surely, when one had
LETT their teens behind them II was
time 10 learn wisdom.
Ali Alice would not whisper to her
own thoughts that there had been an
other teacher; that not so easy would
have been the lesson OF forgetfulneas
had not another lesson been conned IN
ita stead. II was all a bewilderIng
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 ~ well-known step
drew nearer, and q shadow for which
the apple trees were not responsible
was thrown beside hers.
Good evening. Miss Alice" said
CHEEKY voice. Il thought that | should |
find you here. The evening Is too
lovely for indoor life."
Yes" she answered, 1T is very
lovely.
AS 1t should be-" he added, in low
er, more impressive tones, ito grace I
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. II Is at that
| should put into words. They are
poor words, darling. am not versed
In el0quence; and even were I, here
eloquence might stammer. But they
are words old as the world itself. n
love you:' have but one hope in life.
md that Is. that you will share It. It
3 not much that can offer you, dear.
Perhaps | should say wait, before /
AXE you from your comfortable home,
But yet. why should |. II you love
no, you will stand bravely by my side,
md we will share whatever storms
lie may have In store for us, as we I
hare its SUNSHINE Alice, what Ia /,
our answer? Will you be my wife?' /.
All, It had come at last. Once the J
irl had tried to check the torrent Of
is words. He had lut caught tie lit !,
le. detaining hand In hl1 own strong I
aim and held II tightly. The small !
ca6 had dropped lower. A short, 4 4
asplng sob was In her throat, letting I
0 word find its way there. What 1
as she to do? Two years ago she \ \
i'd given another promise; two years Z
toll and ilcmesickness hal been i,
idured for her sake; but f1r six n
onths she had heard nothing. Per- Y
Fps John lad forgotten her-as ah. =
10 hal almost added, "as she had "
rgotten him" But Of John Dent y
axter knew nothing, and Dent Dex- "
+ she loved. So It was, that when. "a
III wondering at her long silence he n
aln :epcared his question, shs sinp-
raistn to him the sweet, fair face, w
ID CONTEXT with what he read there, WI
stopped and pressed his fi-st kiss
'on the young red lips.
Curiously enough, their wedding
y was set for Christmas Day, tfs pa
Ird anniversary Of John MaxweII's me
Dent wanted the event on
ed for a nearer date. Alice was the
rsistent, Perhaps she had a special ths
lson for fixing the time 50 far the
cad. Poor John Maxwell! Maybe All
! thought Of him. Ella
n all these weeks she had told him ora
hing of John. Somehow she could an{
gather courage to frame tho Inc
rds. And John had forgotten her. al
would never know. II was better me, ~
{ he should not. Love Is ever
ous, and he might upbraid her, er u
lk even while he had won her that con
might prove ineonstant TO him a. M,
her first lover. Some day when "a
was his wife. HIS very own. she ann as
lid whisper the story into his ear, M M
then they would bury poor John ,-a,,
.ther " !.
,mebody has said II was bad luck
q bride to don her wedding dress sne
re the wedding day. II was All ~
sense. Alice thought. as later, she ,as ~,
d before her mirror and saw re- MAJ
ed there her own form clad ID Its sour
e silken robes. n
'or John! She wished she had nos mss
ght of him, as she stood IN her Hsb
ling dress. The air was very rn9I
y tonight. Il was this which on- ~
sed her 50, wsIi
ONE in. . she called to the knnsk d,sh,
er door. =.
e little maid entered, sh.r.
h. Miss Aiiess law. Mias. how ~ Z,
tlful you DO Ieok. The gentle n Il