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An Unexpected Result
by
“It certainly would be a well-deserved retribution,” said Ackland, musingly.
“Jack, you are the one, of all the world, to administer the punishment. I don’t believe a woman’s smiles ever quickened your pulse one beat.”
“You are right, Will, it is my cold-bloodedness–to put your thought in plain English–that will prove your best ally.”
“I only hope that I am not leading you into danger. You will need an Indian’s stoicism.”
“Bah! I may fail ignominiously, and find her vanity invulnerable, but I pledge you my word that I will avenge you if it be within the compass of my skill. My cousin, Mrs. Alston, may prove a useful ally. I think you wrote me that the name of this siren was Eva Van Tyne?”
“Yes; I only wish she had the rudiments of a heart, so that she might feel in a faint, far-off way a little of the pain she has inflicted on me. Don’t let her make you falter or grow remorseful, Jack. Remember that you have given a pledge to one who may be dead before you can fulfil it.”
Ackland said farewell to his friend with the fear that he might never see him again, and a few days later found himself at a New England seaside resort, with a relentless purpose lurking in his dark eyes. Mrs. Alston did unconsciously prove a useful ally, for her wealth and elegance gave her unusual prestige in the house, and in joining her party Ackland achieved immediately all the social recognition he desired.
While strolling with this lady on the piazza he observed the object of his quest, and was at once compelled to make more allowance than he had done hitherto for his friend’s discomfiture. Two or three children were leaning over the young girl’s chair, and she was amusing them by some clever caricatures. She was not so interested, however, but that she soon noted the new-comer, and bestowed upon him from time to time curious and furtive glances. That these were not returned seemed to occasion her some surprise, for she was not accustomed to be so utterly ignored, even by a stranger. A little later Ackland saw her consulting the hotel register.
“I have at least awakened her curiosity,” he thought.
“I’ve been waiting for you to ask me who that pretty girl is,” said Mrs. Alton, laughing; “you do indeed exceed all men in indifference to women.”
“I know all about that girl,” was the grim reply. “She has played the very deuce with my friend Munson.”
“Yes,” replied Mrs. Alston, indignantly, “it was the most shameful piece of coquetry I ever saw. She is a puzzle to me. To the children and the old people in the house she is consideration and kindness itself; but she appears to regard men of your years as legitimate game and is perfectly remorseless. So beware! She is dangerous, invulnerable as you imagine yourself to be. She will practice her wiles upon you if you give her half a chance, and her art has much more than her pretty face to enforce it. She is unusually clever.”
Ackland’s slight shrug was so contemptuous that his cousin was nettled, and she thought, “I wish the girl could disturb his complacent equanimity just a little. It vexes one to see a man so indifferent; it’s a slight to woman;” and she determined to give Miss Van Tyne the vantage-ground of an introduction at the first opportunity.
And this occurred before the evening was over. To her surprise Ackland entered into an extended conversation with the enemy. “Well,” she thought, “if he begins in this style there will soon be another victim. Miss Van Tyne can talk to as bright a man as he is and hold her own. Meanwhile she will assail him in a hundred covert ways. Out of regard for his friend he should have shown some disapproval of her; but there he sits quietly talking in the publicity of the parlor.”