Confessions of a Vengeance Seeker.
who kept a library on Arch Street for so many years, do you
not?"
"Yes, only too well."
"Then you also remember it was rumored that the
Major had an enemy who would not hesitate to put him out
of the way if he saw fit and who had declared everlasting
vengeance against the wrecker of his hopes. I was that man !
"Our enmity began about five years before the war.
I was living on a farm close to a small village in the central
part of New Jersey. In this village lived Alice Narley.
She and I had been in the first reader class together and
were sweethearts from that time until she met that scoun
drel Joe Wilson. After my school days were over I was
employed as a clerk in the village store but I soon tired of
that life and secured a position as travelling salesman for
one of the firms with whom we had been dealing. In the
meantime Alice and I had set a date for our wedding day
and we were each as happy as anyone who ever anticipated
such a step. My work kept me away from home the greater
part of the time but every evening I always wrote two let
ters: one to her and one to my firm. mach day I eagerly
went to the office of the hotel where I happened to be and I
always received two letters in return. Sometimes, though,
the letter from the firm might be delayed but never the let
ter from Alice.
"About two months before our wedding day I was sent
on a route into the middle West. It was to be a five weeks'
tour and Alice and I had counted how short the time would
be after my return until I, and she, would take advantage of
the four weeks' vacation promised me by my firm.
"It was a Monday morning when I left home and as
Alice and I parted at the station everything seemed bright
and clear. Little did I even suppose as I stood on the rear
platform waving my hand good-bye to her it was destined to
be my last happy meeting with one so pure and true as I be,