The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-03-14

wounded her above all else Wnen Il
said she had thrown herself at this
boy to win him; perhaps it had helpee
to harden her into the stern, relentless
woman she had become. At any rate
he had returned, he must pay the
price.
Tt was almost dark when she arose
to pull down the curtains, light the
lamp and relxindIe the fire, yet ever
in the selni-darIness, the unwonted
brilliance} of her eyes, and the firm, set
curve of the lips were perceptible, and
they BODIED no good to Robert Halleck
Spring came and went, then sum
mer burst in full glory upon Dune, and
still Robert Halleck fingered. A ruInor
went over the town that Isabel Bren-
ner's face was the charm that chained
him there; later, their engagement
was announced.
Janet had aged perceptibly since his
return, and she staid away altogether
from the Aid Society, not even going
out upon the street except in the dusk
of the evening, fearing, with some
thing of wild terror, that she might
meet him, yet hungering for sight of
his face with passionate longing. But
face to face with him she might weak
en-, might turn from her purpose.
The golden summer weeks crept
slowly by for her, so slowly that she
wondered how she could endure the
long "afterward," if it crept like the
time of waiting. Nights, when the
moon hung like a silver bow in the
sky, when the wind sighed softly
through the trees, and all else was
silent and hushed, she walked the
length of her room saying again and
again to herself that he should pay
the price.
The semi-madness that crept over
her weary brain while she waited and
brooded over her wrong seemed to her
like the spirit of her ancestors hover
ing over her to arouse her to action,
for the Wilson's had never died with
wrong unayenged, and she was Will
son, with all their passionate blood
coursing through her veins.
The waiting came to an end at last.
The announcement of Robert Halleck's
engagement was the signal for Janet's
action. His happiness, now, depended
upon the beautiful girl he had chosen
from Dune, even as hers (Janet's) had
depended upon him. He had robbed
her, she would in turn rob him. If she
were bereft, so must he be; if the light
Of her life had gone out, even so must
his. She thought of it night and day
with thirst for revenge that knew no
bounds.
It was moonlight night with a gen
tie breeze stirring the trees, letting
the moonbeams ripple through them
inlittle dashes and, throwing shawl
around her, Janet stepped out into that
glory of moonlight and ripping leaves,
casting long, dark shadow upon the
ground as she moved, needless Of the
soft beauty around her. She had reck-
oned well, for when she stepped noise
lessly among the shadows of the trees
in the Bremen grounds she saw Rob
ert and Isabel walking together little
way beyond her.
Isabel's beauty was ten-fold in the
soft moonlight, yet the sight of it did
not add pang to the miserable woman
who watched it with wild bright eyes.
In the strange, mad passion of Janet
Wilson, there. was no jealousy of Isa-
bells fair, girlish face. The face would
be the means of her vengeance, for men
worship woman with face like that.
IsabePs voice reached her ears, clear
ly, distinctly. She was saying:
"Are you sure you dove me as much
as you did Janet Wilson,"
"A thousand times more" came Rob-
ert's fervent reply.
Neither moonhghtnor sunlight could
rival the light in Janet's srnken eyes
as she listened with bated breath to
what was bitterest pain to hear Some
thing flashed like the simmer of tenn
pered steel in her eager hand, but
she waited, she knew not why.
"Did you really love her, Roberto"
''Love her? Yes, with the wild, head
strong love of youth. Why, darling,
/ remember to have awakened in the
night crying aloud for her. That was
when first went away. She fascinated
me, then, and-yes, | loved her. Iprob-
ably would have been happy with her
had they left me alone. She was ter
ribly handsome"
Janet's hand trembled upon the
knife she held, CULVER went over her
face, but she stood still as statue
and as cold.
You know everyone says that she
encouraged you, lured you on-you, a
mere boy, she mature woman?"
''In that they spoke falsely. / re-
member how she fought against her
love for me. She would not yield at
once that a boy had won her love.
Truly, do not care for her. now; the
old love has given place to the better
new, for, after all, we were lily matched
in years, but viii do her justice, at
least"
The voices died away and Janet
turned, with sob, the old love master
ing her, The mans happiness was as
sacred to her as Heaven. She had been
mad. He had loved herl For a mo-
ment aglorious thought, a wild, bright
dream of happiness. rushed over her.
What if she should win him yet? Then,
as if in mockery, q sudden, fitful gust
of wind cast lock of her gray hair be-
fore her eyes, and in an instant the
dream was ended. She was old and
gray, and he was young. Minneapolis
Housekeeper.