Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-11-13
PAYING TIE
PRICE
sy MRS. NONR PERKINS.


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DOBERT HALLECK has returned
n said Isabel Brenncr from her coy
seat before the fire. where she sat,
lovely and idle among group OF busy
ladies. It was the weekly meeting of
"rt.e Ladies' Aid Society" and most
of the ladies in tho little town of
Dune were assembled in Mrs. Bren-
ner's warm parlor that afternoon.
They all looked mp with surprised eyes
at Isabcl's words. for Robert Ilalleck
had left Dune ten years before and no
pne had heard of him since.
And have you seen him?" asked one
of the ladies'.
"No, not T." laughed Isabel. "But
father heard il down town just before
dinner"
Isabel Brenner was the loveliest girl
in all Dune, with ripping hair touched
into gold by every sunbeam that
CHANGED to fall upon it. 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 cheek. To the people of Dune she
was SYNONYMOUS with all that was fair
and bright, yet she was unspoilcd, and
possessed a manner which inspired
neither envy nor hate.
perhaps his return has something
TO do with Janet Wilson's absence this
afternoon" remarked Mrs. Brcnnrr.
"She has not ben absent for months
until to-day"
What would 1t matter to poor old
Janet?" questioned Isabel,
They were engaged 10 be married
at the time he went away. Every one
supposes he Tilted her"
"Oh, then he is as old as Janet,
Why, she is gray, has been ever since
can remember"
He is not SO old, my dear That
was it. She must have been full %,
and he only boy of 10 No one pitied
Janet mex, because she should not
have enc sNIaged him. A woman Of
her age should have known better"
Meantime, the subject Of their con-
versation sat atone in her LITTLE parlo-
Io1hing with weary eve. into the
CRATE, where the fire had long since
died out, leaving only colorlrss ashes.
She was tall, slender woman, with
Ene olive complexion which alone
seemed to have retained the beauty OF
youth. Great masses Of almost snowy
hair were gathered into a knot al the
back of her well-shapcd head. which
even in her de lection was held some
what proudly, while the heavy folds ot
her loose, dark gown swept about her
feet and lay in a lusterless heap upon
the floor.
Mrs. Bremen had been right. Janot's
absence from the Aid Society was due
to Robert Halleck's sudden appear
ance in Dune. She had seen him get
off the train at the station Robert
9lalleck in the fun vigor Of manhood
tail, dark, handsome, with eyes that
held her heaven and earth oncc-nor
so very long ago-ans yet an eternity
TO her.
She had felt the shock of his return
like thunderbolt, daling and be
Nyildering her for one brief moment
and then had come the realization tina
he had returned al last--he whom sh,
had sought that she might in som,
way repay him the desolation he haC
brought her. Dune said she had beer
to blame, that she had lurcd n boy
only n boy-who had wearied Of he
mature charms at last.
A scornful smile hickered over he
face at the thought. At rs she ha,
been beautiful in the rich, dark styl
of her southern ancestorS-bc beautiful
with jet black hair, magnificent eve
and figure of perfect contour an
grace. She knew, no one better, tina
the slender, dark-eyed boy whom sh
had loved without any effort of her
TO lure him; that be had come int
her life of his own free will, and gon,
likewise. bearing away her wealth G
love.
She remembered how she ha
scorned herself for loving boy; no,
sorely her pride had been wounde
when she plighted her troth to hin
but she had loved him none the les,
And hep Well, he went away one de-
and came no more. She had waite
for bis return and grown old in wait
Ing.
His parents had been unfeignedl
glad for they had always objected t
her, not even relenting when the gla
light went from her eyes and tn
snow spread so thickly over her mag
nificent hair.
Now, he had returned a young ma
she had become an old woman in ar
pearance. But he should pay the pric
OF her youth and hope. No man Shout
EOb her of both with rcckIess han