Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1902-07-24
PAYING THE
PRICE
BY MRS. MoRH PERKINS.
....4s.444+.+44++44+++4++3 T..
u OBERT HALLECK has returned"

OBERT HALLECK has returned
said Isabel Bremen from her cozy
seat before the fire, where she sat,
lovely and idle, among a group of busy
ladies'. II was the weekly meeting Of
"rhe Ladies' Aid Society" and most
of the latlics in the little town Of
Dune were assembled in Mrs. Bren-
ner's warm parlor that afternoon.
They all looked up with surprised eyes
at lsabel's words, for Robert llalleck
had left Dune ten years before and no
one had heard of him since.
"And have you seen him?" asked one
of the ladies.
"No, not l." laughed Isabel. "But
father heard it down town just before
dinner"
Isabel Brenner was the loveliest girl
in all Dune, with ripping hair touched
into gold by every sunbeam that
chanced to fall upon II. while her wide
gray eyes held all sorts Of thrilling
lights and shadows, and her com
plexion was fresh and fair with the
palest OF rose tints upon either round
ed check To the people Of Dune she
was Synonymous with all that was fair
and bright, yet she was unspoiled. and
possessed manner which inspired
neither envy nor hate.
perhaps his return has something
20 do with Janet Wilson's absence this
afternoon" remarked Mrs. Brenner.
'She has not been absent for months
until to-day"
"What would II matter to poor old
Janet?" questioned Isabel.
"rhey were engaged to be married
at the time he went away. Every one
supposes he Tilted her"
"0h. then he is as old as Janetl
Why, she is gray has been ever since
] can remember"
'IIe is not so old, my dear. That
was H. She must have been full 25,
and he only "a boy Of 10. No one pitied
Janet much, because she should not
have encouraged him. A woman Of
her age should have known bcttor."
Meantime, the subject OF their CON
versation sat alone In her little parlor
looking with weary eyes into the
CRATE, where the fire had long since
died out, leaving only colorless nshss.
She was tall, slender woman. with
fine olive complexion which alone
seemed 10 have retained the beauty of
youth. Great masses Of almost snowy
hair were gathered into knot AT the
back Of her well-Shaped head, which
even In her detection was held some
what proudly, while the heavy folds Of
her loose. dark gown swept about her
feet and lay In msterlcss heap upon
the floor
Mrs, lircnner had been right Jnnet's
absence from the Aid Society was due
10 Robert llallccks sudden appear
ance In Dune. She had seen him get
on the train at the station Robert
Hallock In the full vigor of manhood.
tall, dark, handsome, with eyes that
held her heaven and earth once-nnt
so very long ago and yet an eternity
To her.
She had felt the shock of his return
like a thuudcrbolt, da1iug aud be
wildering her for one brief moment
and then had come the realization that
he had returned at last hc whom she
had sought that she might in some
way repay him the dcsoHtiun hc had
brought her. Dune said she had been
To blame, that she had mred boy
only boy who had wcaried Of her
mature charms at last
A scornful smile tlickcred over her
face at the thought. At rs she had
been beautiful in the rich, dark STYLE
Of her southern ancestors beautiful
with jet black hair, magnificent eve
and figure of perfect contu4r and
grace. She knew, no one hcti,i.. that
the slender, dark-cyed boy whom she
had loved without any effort uf her,
to lure him; that he had come into
her life Of his own free will. and gone.
likewise, bearing away her wealth of
love.
She remembered how she had
scorncd herself for loving boy. how
sorely her pride had been wounded
when she plighted her truth TO him.
hut she had loved him none the less