Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-02-11
e:sStcryette
A WoMAN'S VENGEANCE.
BY Cecil Hayter.

by cecil taYter.
Mrs. Prothero sprang back with q
cry of horror, an angry red mark
staining her pale cheek.
She stood for d moment with head
erect and blazing eyes. qutyering
throughout the length of her Slight
body with suppressed emotion
You struck me" she said at last
"Iou--yoE dared to lay hands on me. "
Her voice was low and tense with
passion. She had southern blood pulls
ing through her veins.
MIR. Prothcro lurched unSteadiiy to
the table and poured himself out Ito.
eral brandy and soda Swaying
slightly, he turned and regarded her,
an evil leer on his coarse features.
Her small, oval face. white save for
the spot where the blow had fallen
was thrown deiantly back. The way
irg masses of luXuriant dark hair.
glistaning in the lamplight formed a
vivid contrast to the soft billowy
fields of chiffon and lace of her opera
cloak.
Struck you, did I?'' said he thickly.
Serve you right-bring you to your
senses. Tell you what ii is" he added.
sayagely, I've had enough of your
airs and graces. I'm going to put a
stop to them, so understand that"
Without a word she swept past him
and left the room, closing the door
quietly behind her.
= l, lnANI ! he
hrougham drove swiftly away. IT was
the height of the season and she was
expected at several houses.
Leaning back against the well
sprung cushions, she drew in deep
breath of the warm air of the summer
night.
Her mind wandered back to the
early loveless marriage forced on her
in strict accordance with Italian social
custom. Her mother had been a
Molena.
The intervening years of misery,
the mans constant brutality and
coarseness, his utter inability to un-
derstand her, his callous indifference,
and then this last horror of all. Her
cheek famed again in the darkness
as she thought of it, and her hands
clenched Involuntary.
When her brougham came to stop
opposite the awned entrance, she
paused on her way up the steps and
spoke to the footman. You can go
home. James. | shall not need the
carriage again. | shall take a cab If
necessary.
The man touched his hat, and she
passed into the house.
Up in the eayly lit ballroom many
noticed hes-and admired. Some, a
few. women especially, envied. En-
WED her her beauty. her grace, her
money
She refused to dance. pleading a
headache but she staid talking to
those who focked round her. though
now and again she lifted a slender
4loyed hand to her face with an un.
conscious gesture.
When the room was at its fullest,
she rose and left.
Going SO early, Mrs Prothero. =
demonstrated a man.
she turned TO him with a ready
smile 1t is only an revoir, she
said. Il am going on elsewhere. We
snail meet later al Mallison's.'
The cab drove rapidly to a house
near by There was the usual crowd
of people coming in and going out.
Ste descended. paid the man, and dis
missed him,
But instead OF entering she joined a
snail knot of people on their way out.
No me saw her or noticed her and.
getting into second cab, she drove
awas.
At her request the man drove her
to the entrance Of quiet street she
directed him to- and whipped up his
horse in hopes of a new fare. without
even glancing a second time in her
direction
She hurried down the street: every
thing was quiet On one side of her
there were houses commonplace
e1ough IN appearance: on the other
a high dingy wall pierced here and
there by low doorways.
It the fourth of these she stopped
and unlocking IT, stepped swiftly in
side, closing II quickly behind her.
4 small garden. such as is common
to a certain class of English houses.
stretched betwixt her and tie large
Frenta window Of room in which a
liant was burning. The window was