Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1901-12-26
His Revenge
A Christmas Story

1t was Christmas Eve that year
when John Maxwell went away to
make his mark in this world. Alice
Tower was just eighteen. They had
been lovers for few years and we're
now engaged. Something that she had
said to him about the quality or the
present he brought to her on Christ
mas Eve piqued him. Two years
from now" he said. Il will come back
to claim you. Then will be rich
man" These had been John Max
wells last words; and there had been
fire in his eye, and certain lines oil
determination about his mouth when
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 she had shed bitter tears over
the story of his many failures; though
she had received with gladness the
knowledge OF his first successes;
though she had once waited with I'M
patience for letters that did not come,
she now felt 1t to be almost q relief
nay. quite-for two years is long,
long time, and Alice felt that in two
years she had grown old not only In
years but in experience. Did 1t not
make the difference between eighteen
and twenty? Surely, when one had
left their teens behind them it was
time to learn wisdom.
All! 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 forgetfulness
had not another lesson been conned in
its stead 1t 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 a brighter red stole into the
rounded cheek as a well-known step
drew nearer, and 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 il too
lovely for indoor life"
Yes" she answered lit il very
lovely.
las it should be" he added. in low
er, more impressive tones, Ito grace
your presence. Alice" he continued
throwing himself on the ground be-
side her, shall l tell you why | am
so glad to find you here? Because 1t
seems the, most fitting place to tell
you something else, which, though
you must already know, it is fit that
/ should put into words. The:X ara
poor words. darling. am not vsrseG
in eloquence; and even were !. here
cloquence might stammcr But they
are words old as the world itself. i
love you;' | have but one hope it, life
and that is. that you will share y. II
is not much that can offer you, dear
Perhaps ! should say wait, before
take you from your comfortable ONE
But yet, why should |. II you love
me, you will stand bravely by ny side
and We will share whatever storms
life may have in store for us, ss W.
share its SUNSHINE. Alice, what is
your answer? viii you be my ife?
All, it had come at last. One, the
girl had tried to check the torrent OF
lis words. He had Tut caught tie lit
tie. OBTAINING hand in his own g=rnnG
palm and held it tightly. Tbs small
hCat had dropped lower, 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 and Inconsistencies had been
endured for her sake; but f.: six
months she had heard nothing. Per-
Aaps John rad forgotten her-ao ali
che had almost added, "as she had
forgotten him" But of John Den,
Dexter knew nothing. and Dent Dex
ter she loved. So 1t was, that ghen
half wondering at her long silence he
again :cpCa.ed his question, sh , Amp
~ TilSou W aim the Sweet, lair lace
and CONTEXT with what he read there
he STOPPED and pressed his frs: kiss
upon the young red lips.
CurioIsIy enough, their wedding
| day was set for Christmas Day, tn:
third anniversary OF John Maxwell's
ieave-taking. Dent wanted the event
fixed for nearer date. Alice was
persistent, Perhaps she had a special
reason for fixing the time go fal
ahead, Poor John Maxwell. Maybe
she thought Of him.
| In all these wesks size had told hin
nothing OF John. Somehow she coult
not gather courage Ia frame thu
words. And John had forgotten her
He would never know. II was bette
that he should not Love is eve
Jealous. and he might upbraid her. o
think even while ne had won her tha
she might prove inconstsnt to him 4,
to her first lover. Some day wher
she was his wife, his very own. sh,
would whisper the story into his ear
and then they would bury poor JohI
together.
Somebody has said II was bad luel
J. for a bride to don her wedding dres