The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1902-01-24
4 Fair
Revenge
BY JOHN A. ST. CLAIR.
THE tender shades of an August eve

THE tender shades of an August eve
were stealing over the classic
haunts of Macatawa. On the hotel
veranda sat two lovers. No sweet MUIR
mur of lovers condolences made the air
melodious or mingled with the ripple
of the waves. That they were lovers
appeared rather from the proprietary
air with which the young woman re-
garded her companion and the tones of
reproach in which she addressed him.
There they sat, obvious of all around,
needless of many quizzing glance and
significant toss of the head in their d.
rection. The summer brigade from
Chicago was keenly alive to the rela-
tions of the pair and mortified beyond
measure that nothing of what was TAX
ing place could be overheard.
"My!" said Grace Medlicott, II never
could think what Percy Ten Brock saw
in that green-eyed, red-headed Doro-
thy Smith. She's older than he is, tool"
"Oh, don't know" said Tiny Mason.
"She's certainly no Venus, that Doro-
thy; but what of him? His face will
never be his fortune, and he has moth
ing but the few dollars he gets in Law
yer Shearer's office. His father has to
support him. I wouldn't have him If
every hair of his head were hung with
diamonds"
"You didn't always think so," as
serted Grace. "Last winter you and he
were great friends. It's case of the
fox and the grapes with you"
~ }n11GV
with you," retorted Tiny, and the pair
of friends sauntered down to the lake
in search of the eternal male.
Meanwhile the lovers modify re-
garded each other. Their quarrels had
been frequent of late and had reached
q crisis.
II think it is too bad, Percy, the way
you treat me-" said Dorothy, her au-
burn hair cleaning like gold in the twi-
light, her sweet American face with its
"reminiscences of spirited ancestry
beaming with intelligence, yet over
cast with the consciousness of injus-
tice. A fair picture she made, with her
1.-THE athletic figure and look of hon
esty and hatred of all things mean.
"You deliberately sighted me last
night at Mrs. Browns dance. What is
the meaning of this? You know you
are engaged to me, yet you danced with
me but once and firted outrageously
with that Medlicott girl. Now YOU re-
sent my speaking about it. Do you
think have no spirit? Do you imagine
am going to sit down tamely under in
suit? Never! Percy. You know have
loved you. Through good report and
ill report have stood by you. I know
you are extravagant. I tell you so,
though I have denied the stories when
others have repeated them. Though I
have indignantly repudiated the idea
when others said it, I am persuaded
that it is too true that you have been,
as they say, up against every game
that's going
II believe" she went on, passionatc-
", "that you are in debt; that your
only hope is this Philippine appoint
ment that has been offered you. Yet,
in spite of all, am willing to marry
you if you will only swear solemnly to
reform. I will go with you at once to
Zamboanga. What do care for isola-
ton and want of society. I care for
love. The love you once promised me.
The strong, deep, undying affection
two kindred souls should have for each
other. I believe in virtue, in honor. In
honesty in man and woman, and am
ready to devote myself to you and to
our household, come what will. You
can't say l am unreasonable. l only
ask that you love me in return. My
father will object at first, but when he
sees that my happiness is involved he
will give way. Oh, Percy, we could be
SO happy!"
The young mans somewhat stolid
oountenance lighted up for an instant
at the enthusiasm of his fair COM
panion. His better nature stirred
family beneath its cerements of self
ishness for a moment. But Immediate
" self-interest asserted its sway and
stifed the incipient pleadings of honor
and honesty. "Why, Dorothy" he
said, coldly, "you surely have known
me long enough to have learned that [
never adopt resolution without hav-
ing carefully examined all reasons for
and against it,"
Ibid you," broke in Dorothy, i'm
pu1sively, "exercise this caution before
you told, me you loved me?''
Percy flushed angrily. IT believe"
he went on, Gin the old Persian prov
erb, Undertake nothing of which thou
hast not well considered the end"
"An excellent motto, truly" said
Dorothy, coldly. "Since when, may /
ask, did you adopt this most wise
philosophy. It seems pity it should
have come to you so late. Do you think
you have we'll considered the end YOU
so evidently contemplated" Feminine
instinct had already warned her of tho
treachery the unworthy youth medi-
tated.
''Oh, yes" he continued, II know
what 1 am doing. I have considered
it all. I did avoid you last night. u,
want to bring this thing to an end, he
added, brutally.
"Don't trouble yourself, Percy Te1
Brock" replied the now indignant girl.