Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1907-06-13
MAINWARING'S
REVENGE
By EBEN z. RExFORD

Mainwaring noticed that the eyes Of
good many men sitting in his vicin-
ity were turned toward one Of the
boxes, and he looked that way to see
what the attraction was.
"Ah-that Jezabel," he said to him
self, as he saw the woman's face that
was drawing mems eyes like a lode
stone. Il m ut have known without
looking. It's the old story of the
candle and the moth. Poor fools.
They never learn wisdom until their
wings and singed. I've a mind to
paint the picture of a vampire and
put her face into it. She lives in
blood"
AS he gave a second look toward
the box from which the face of Sybil
Leith shone out like a vivid tropical
flower, he turned pale. Two men were
entering 1t. One of them was Giffith
Deane, the one man of all he knew
whose friendship he cared for. A
young man whose knowledge Of the
life upon which he was entering was
next to nothing. He was bringing to
1t faith in all mankind, and woman
Kind. as well--a belief in the good
-ess rather than the badness Of 9TH
ers-and the enthusiasm of boy who
is half intoxicated with the prospect
before him.
ITS the beginning of the end" he
said, under his breath. Il had hoped
he might be spared. II she breaks his
heart-and she will IL it suits her
fancy-1 believe I could kill her.
He watched the progress OF matters
In the box with the crimson curtains.
and his heart sank with a sick fore
boding as he saw the eager look in
the poor boys fascinated eyes.
Il was sorry to see you in the Leith
box last night" he said to Deane next
day. Beware of the woman you
met there. Her smile means ruin"
I've heard as much from others"
laughed Deane. But do you know
don't believe a word of It, You don't
know her. I'd stake my life on her
womanliness."
You'd lose It, then" answered
Mainwaring. as he turned away with
bitter smile on his face and an ache
in his heart He knew how useless II
was to reason with a man who had
faith In this creature who had made
a plaything Of human hearts for day,
or week-as long as it suited her
whim-and then cast them aside like
a top.
The end Of Grifnth Deane's dream
came sooner than his friend had look.
ed for. He came in one day with the
look Of an old man in his face. Main.
waring knew what had happened the
moment he saw him. His heart went
out In a great wave Of pity to the
dupe Of heartless woman's wiles.
IT'S all over" groaned Deane.
dropping his head on the table to hide
the misery of his face You were
tight, John, but couldn't believe you.
[ can't make it seem possible, now.
But It's true, for she laughed at me
for having made a fool of myself. God!
but that hurt! Say, John"-and the
boys head was lifted, showing the
tears in her eyes-'I don't believe she
can help 1t. She's made that way. II
don't seem as if any woman would do
such a thing If she could help 1t.
does it?"
It's the devil In her." answered
Mainwaring. IF only somebody could
make her heart ache. and when she
showed it, quivering with it's pain,
grind 1t under foot! That would be a
revenge worth striving for. / won
der"
Mainwaring did not complete the
sentence. Suddenly he saw before him
a new object in life, and in one swift
moment he had determined to set
about its accomplishment.
Mainwaring had always kept aloof
from Sybil Leith. Now a change came
He sought her out. He allowed her
to think that at last the spell of her
beauty had drawn him within its in
fuence. She knew that he had the
reputation Of being 8 woman-hater,
and she seemed hattered at his sud
den attention.
Mainwarfn0 woka IN IN The 49,