The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1901-12-24
His Revenge
A Christmas Story

It was Christmas Eve that year
when John Maxwell went away to
make his mark in this world. Alice
Tower was just eighteen. They mad
been lovers for a few years and were
now engaged. Something that she had
said to him about the quality OF the
present he brought to her on Christ
mas Eve piqued him. Two years
from now" he said, II will come back
to claim you. Then l will be rlch
man" These had been John Max
wells last words; and there had been
a fire 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 she had shed bitter tears over
the story of his many failures; though
she had received with gladness the
though she had once waited with i'm
patience for letters that did not come,
she now felt it to be almost a 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 burt in experience. Did it 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
it's stead. 1t was all q bewilder1nS
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 as 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. e thought that l should
lovely for indoor life
Yes" she answered, st Is 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 I 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, 1t is fit that
l should put into words. They are
poor words, darling. | am not versed
in eloquence; and even were l, here
eloquence might stammer. But they
are words old as the world itself I
love you;' have but one hope in life,
and that is, that you will share it. It
is not much that can offer you. dear.
Perhaps / should say wait, before
take you from your comfortable home.
But yet, why should l. If you love
me, you will stand bravely by my side,
and we will share whatever storms
life may have in store for us, as we
share it's SUNSHINE Aloe, what is
your answer? VIII you be my wife,"
An, IL naQ COIuc HI last OQCS the
girl had tried to check the torrent Of
Lis words. He had rut caught tie lit
tie, OBTAINING hand in his own strong
palm and held it tightly. The small
hcae had dropped lower. A hhor,,
gasping sob was in her throat, letting
no word find it's 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 for six
months she had heard nothing. Per-
haps John lad forgotten her-as -ah.
she had almost added, "as she had
forgotten him" But OF John Dent
Dexter knew nothing, and Dent Dex-
ter she loved. So 1t was, that when,
half wondering at her long silence he
again :epeaIed his question, shs sinp-
ly raised to him the sweet, fair face,
and CONTEXT with what he read there.
he stopped and pressed his FIST kiss
upon the young red lips.
Curiously enough, their wedding
day was set for Christmas Day, the
third anniversary of John Maxwell
lesve-taking. Dent wanted the event
fixed for q nearer date. Alice was
Ic%o CHI hod o{ OF