The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-05-24
MOMENT OF REVENGE
BY NELLIE cRAvEY GILMORE.

a-aliar?" The words escaped her in
voluntarily. It was appalling, that tbs
man she called her husband and wor
SHIPPED with absolute trust and con
fdence for ten solid years should have
betrayed her faith so grievously. The
day had been oppressive and tire
some, doubtless for the very reason
that Derrick had telephoned he had
to run up to Milwaukee for a few
hours and could not return before mid.
night. So she had started out for a
long walk to pass away the time, had
gained only three squares when Der
rick himself Whizzed directly past her
IN a runabout-and sitting beside him,
one of the most beautiful creatures
she had ever seen.
She could not eat. SO she walked
abseatly out on the veranda Present
ly one Of the city clocks near struck
ten, and her husband ran lightly up
the steps, Whistling merriIy.
by the way she said, your train
| must have gotten in quite two hours
ahead of time''
But didn't go after all. The fun
niest thing happened. I got as far as
the depot, where ! met Chantry-just
in from st. Louis. He was in a peck
Of trouble, and nothing would do but
must help him out. 1t was tight
| fix and | concluded that ! must stay
and hq9p him.
Lancaster bent suddenly and looked
| into her face, conscious for the first
time Of her determined coldness..
What's the. matter, dear? Are you
| ill., She walked into the house.
Lancaster, his face full of bewilder-
| ment, followed her Immediately He
made several attempts to speak to
her, but she evaded him empathical-
ly. At breakfast the next morning she
treated him with the same unap-
proachable iciness.
When he had left the house for his
Office Carlotta went into the library
L mds1ent later the maid brought in a
telegram.
Expect me cn the 11:40 train,
Billy"
William Darlington had been with
his regiment in the Philippines for
half score of years, and this was
his first visit home. Billy was her
only brother, and Carlotta had &C.
corded him more than usual amount of
sisterly devotion. Putting aside her
grievance, she set merrily to work to
prepare a. room for him.
She went first into Derrick's dress
ing room, and saw that things were in
order. While she was there, a sud
den thought flashed into her ingenious
brain. She could never, never be-
guilty Of really dishonorable act,
but she would make Derrick pay, in
part, for his treatment of her. It was
barely probable that he would recog.
nize her brother at once, after a dozen
years. But a feeling of alarm made
her stop suddenly, reconsidering.
Then a smile of inspiration rippled
over her face; she would unload the
pistol!
When Darlington came. she was SIT
ting on the veranda, waiting to well |
come him. After little, they went |
up to her boudoir for a ''cozy chat"
over old times.
Suddenly the gate clicked, and she
heard Shis bounding step up the stairs.
NV faE her revenge! She rose abrupt +
ly and went over to Billy's chair and
sat down in his lap, just as she used
to do in the old days.
Lancaster went first to his own
room, then turned, as usual, toward
his wife's boudoir.
The sight that met his gaze froze
the blood in his veins; and almost in
stantly transformed it to lava He
backed quickly into the adjoining
room and laid his hand On the revol-
yer lying on the table. Standing
where he was, he aimed three DELHI
crate SHIFTS at the culprits; the trigger
clicked hatly, and no sound issued
from the empty chambers.
Billy burst out laughing.
Why, Derrick, old man! Surely
you have not forgotten"
BY the Eternals!' calculated Lam
caster. "You!" DECIDEDLY got for
once in his life, he looked toward Car
otta. She stiffened and drew back
rom his threatened embrace.
Not till YOU have exonerated your
;elf-if you can!--of driving down
State street at full speed with-With
- Her voice trailed to an ignomin-
GUS standstill,
so! Well, my dear, had you al
owed me to finish my discourse last
evening all would have been we'll. AS
was trying to tell you, Chantry came
lD from st. Louis to marry young
ady who was to meet him here from | 4;
Buffalo. Her train arrived half an
Jour after his, and 1t seemed that she
vas very much disconnected; the old
nan was following-had got wind of !
he elopement and put detectives on
,hantry's trail, and hers. His idea
vas to go on to the Palmer, have me
meet Miss Preston and take her, out
0 his aunt's at Woodbine. They ex- 1
ected to be married there at noon
nd"