The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1901-11-21
An Interrupted
Revenge D D D
BY JOHN oAsToN
NTHO is the distinguished look
Wv ing man who came in then
oSSSoSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSo oS6SSSoSSSSSSSoSSSo
Copyright, 1901, by Authors syndicate)

w ing man who came In then
with Mr.. Campbell?"
The person to whom the question
was addressed glanced across the re-
ception hall and replied:
Robert Gordon. He Is the fellow
about whom the newspapers are say
ing SO much-the lobbyist from New
York who has succeeded in getting the
Consolidated Telephone ordinances
through the council. Handsome, isn't
hep"
Remarkably so.. Still, on closer
view his expression is not entirely
pleasant, and / should say that he
bears marks of dissipation-not gross
ly, but there is something that sug-
gests wine, women and song at unholy
hours-or am I mistaken? Is that
pallor natural?"
A woman standing near bent keen
glance at the man as his name was
mentioned, and the slightest sugges-
tion Of Aush appeared on her cheeks.
1t was the hrst time she had laid eyes
on him since the night she had Tilted
him for Frederick Markham. That was
10 years ago. They were both young
about 1s--and had been sweethearts
from childhood. He was still in COL
iege, brilliant boy and career pre-.
dicted for him. But the career was .
long ways Of and Gordon had little
other than expectations.
Frederick Markham was rich and
well-oonnected and ten years her
sorto, ua oNar.d ha~ all tha xhin1o
so dear to the girl Just budding into 30
ciety, and she had accepted him and
thrown Gordon over. She had not an
taoipated such q scene, however, as fol-
lowed when she told him that she was
to marry Markham. He accused her
bitterly Of heartlessness and Of delib-
srately leading him on for the sake Of
amusement. He swors that she had
ruined his life and for the wreck that
would follow she was responsible by
every law of God and of man. He told
her that he would never again believe
in the sincerity Of human creature.
He would live, he declared, solely to
crafty his senses, and he wished her
much Joy In the sale she had made of
herself. II was the speech of hot
headed, high.spirited, disappointed
boy. II all came up before her this
night many years later with startling
vividness - she looked st him across
the reception hall.
And II had evsntuated much as he
had predicted. He had finished his COL
lsgs course and studied law, while
plunging into extreme dissipations.
His great natural abilities had carried
him through and he had settled in New
York, where, instead Of dsvoting him
self to his profession, he had used his
brilliant qualities to forward all sorts
of questionable schemes. He had be-
come a very successful lobbyist.
| He had never visited the home city
since his interview with the woman
until this time, when he had come to
force through the city council the most
audacious and otorious measure that
had ever been attempted in the city.
And he had succeeded and it. was whis-
pered that he had secured small for
tune for his work.
She was surprised at the great
change in the man, and still more sur
prised at the unchanged resemblance
to the Ingenious, enthusiastic youth
she had known. He looked scarcely
older. excepting for the prematurely
gray hair. although the face had lost
its roundness and the cheeks were
white with pallor.
While all this flashed through her
mind Robert Gordon and Mr.. Campbell
were surrounded by merry party OF
ladies and gentlemen. to whom the
former was being presented. When
Mrs. Markham glanced toward the
party, Gordon was being presented to
her daughter, a tall, handsome, viva.
| cious girl of IS. The mother noted the
look of startled recognition in his eyes
(the girl was perfect prototype of her
mother at the same age), and noted
The mask of indifference had vanished d
from his face and he entered at once
into an animated conversation with
the girl. An expression of anxiety
came into the face of Mrs. Markham
and the shadow of a great apprehen n,
sion crossed her heart. Then she
Strengthened herself haughtily and
muttered to herself:
1 ''What an idea. must be going in c
second childhood"
During the entire evening Gordon
monopolized Miss Markham's atten,
tion, and at the close handed her tc
the carriage--all to the considera bic
| discontinue of her mother
Robert Gordon did not return at once
to New York as he had announced pre-
viously. The weeks faded into months
and still he occupied the handsomes,
suite at the Royal and hung over the
dainty hand of the young heiress OF
the Markham fortune. Mrs. Markham
fretted and stewed, but her expostula
tions fell on unheeding ears. The CIR
felt the strong attraction toward the
handsome man Of the world ever felt
by daughters toward the men whc
have been the unsuccessful suitors fol
their mothers hands; and as for Mark
ham, he was charmed by the dominan N
personality of the New Yorker.
The mothers apprehensions wer,
not unfounded, however, and one da,
the father awoke to the situatio,
and there was most serious tall
between Clare's parents. 1t was full,
evident that the girl was madly II
love with the brilliant lobbyist. an,
when the matter was talked owe
Frederick Markham saw ut once ths
II was not q proper match for tn