Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-03-06
A WILD VENGEANCE.
By the Author of 'The Surrender of Mary" Etc

hand.
He's quiet now. Take him to the
stable. Don't ill-use him; he was badly
handled"
John turned to the form which lay on
the grass. Lady Ayrill was already kneel-
ing beside it, and be put compassionate
hand on her shoulder.
Don't stay" he whispered; 1T is too
horrible. Go into the house. / will see
that all is done properly"
The miserable mother rose slowly to-
her feet and stretched up one hand to the
sky, an awful figure of tragic despair.
1T is Heavens Judgment" she cried
aloud. Il have sinned for this-my son
and he has been killed before my eyes
The punishment should have been mine
The sin was minel"
John put him arm about her and drew
her gently away from the huddled heap
OF mangled humanity that had once been
the pride and JOY of her life.
Let me take care of you," he muir
INJURED, AS you once took care of me
when was helpless baby"
She turned on him wide, glaring eyes.
You, John-you, the boy whose life
was to be required at my hands You,
whom / must preserve if | wished my
own boy to live! And now he is deadi
You risked your life for himi You are
mora noble than l, John You were a
good son to me once, and / have done you
wrong always. Well, at last YOU shall
have justice. | will give you your moth
ers papers. Listen, all of you !"-and
she waved an imperious hand to the
group OF servants who had now collected
This is the true Viscount! | defrauded
him and put my own son in his place! /
alone knew it"
Then she caught Johns hand, and led
him slowly and gently into the house.
A few hours later John stood in Hon
ors schoolroom and gazed at her in ad-
nnration. This was the dainty, capri
cious beauty who had danced through
life to joyous tune-this pale girl with
tired eyes and hair loosened from its
CHARMING arrangement by little clutch
ing fingers; an infant in her arms, an
| other not much bigger grasping her dress
and leaning against her, four children of
various sizes surrounding her Something
throbbed in Johns heart and for a mo-
ment he could not speak.
Honor recovered from her startled sur
prise and gave the wailing infant to the
maid at the door,
Keep him for a little while, please,
Ellen" she said, Then turning to her
visitor she explained apologetically, Tm
sorry you should find us in such tur-
moil; but they're all suffering from colds,
and I'm giving the nurses a rest this
afternoon. l don't generally have the
lot. Do sit down"
John looked round the room and then
his eyes travelled over her shy, wistful
face and slender figure
"This sha'n't last" he said curtlv. a
ring of authority in his voice which she
! had never heard from him before.
She laughed, not i'll pleased, and sur
rendered both her hands to his
Have you come for your answer.
John? 1t is there in that letter." and
she hlushed adorably as she glanced to-
wards a letter addressed to himself
standing on the mantelpieee
| John possessed himself If the letter.
| No, / did not actually come for that.
| came to tell you some news But that
eau wait. Your answer Is the most i'm :
! portant thing" and he gravely tore open
the envelope.
One child scrambled into Honor's lap.
ENORMOUSLY complaining she was so
tired; another pulled at her sleeve to
get attention, but she scarcely needed
them. For once her ready, tender sym
/ pathy was lacking. She was waiting for
Johns comment on the brief note at
which he was gazing
/ Il want all yon can give me, dear
john she had written, and take from
me everything that l have; it is ready
for you.-Yours, Honor"
! John looked at her. his eyes compelling
hers to meet them.
Honor" he said very softly. Dear
est, it is marvelous 1t is almost be-
You'd belief"
/ And lonely Honor read in the depths
Of his eyes a passion sc deep and fervent
that she gave great wondering gasp
Tlis-this was more even than she
dreamt.
John stood beside her quietly, and in
spite of the five pairs of staring eyes he
kissed her sweet lips. Honor, with a
| little choked sob, laid her head against
| his arm.
81 think-Pve always been ready. John.
only you wouldn't see it. Now"-recol-
| lecting herself-"think of the children.
Sit down and tell me your news"
| 1T will shock you rather. Vincent
died suddenly this morning"
John, how dreadful!" she exclaimed
| in horror. what was it?"
"a fall from his horse. lie was riding
Peter, that beast with the uncertain tenn
per, was thrown, and we picked him up
dead"
"Ol,, his poor mother!" cried the girl
pitifully. "How will she bear it?"
''She is hardly sane now" was his re-
PLY. He was watching for her next ex-
clamation, and in an instant it came.
''Tnen-John-surely, must be Lady
Avrill again?"
eyes, if you will, dear" he said gently.
"If | will! Oh, you silly boy-if l
will There can't be any doubt about
that. Now, John, / really shall have
something to give you," and she glanced
ex,Iltingly at him.
yourself is the best gift" he muir
INJURED, wondering how to tell her the
| truth.
| Its very strange went on Honor
thoughtfully, land you didn't know this
L. I