The Lamar register., 1902-05-21

|
ing.
His parents had been unfeignedly
glad, for they had always objected to
her, not even relenting when the glad
light went from her eyes and the
snow spread so thickly over her mag
| nificent hair.
Now, he had returned a young man
she had become an old woman in ap-
pearance. But he should pay the price
of her youth and hope. No man should
rob her of both with reckless hand
and leave her to bear the pain and
humiliation alone. Perhaps Dune had
wounded her above all else when IL
said she had thrown herself at this
boy to win him; perhaps it had helped
to harden her into the stern, relentless
woman she had become. At any rate,
he had returned, he must pay the
price.
1t was almost dark when she arose
to pull down the curtains, light the
lamp and rekindle the fire, yet even
in the semi-darknesa, the unwonted
brilliance OF her eyes, and the firm, set
curve of the lips were perceptible, and
they boded no good to Robert Halleck.
Spring came and went, then sum
mer burst in full glory upon Dune, and
still Robert Halleck fingered. A rumor
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 percsptibly since his
return, and she staid away altogether
frnv,, ha III Gruntatv fyntrD
out upon the street except in the dusk
of the evening. fearing, with some
thing of a wild terror, that she might
meet him, yet hungering for a sight of
his fnce 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," il it crept like the
time of waiting. Nights. when the
moon hung like silver bow In the
sky, when the wind sighed softly
through the trees, and all else was
silent and hushsd, she walked the
length of her room saying again and
again to herself that he should pay
the price.
The ssmi-madnsss 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 unavenged, and she was a Will
son, with all their passionate blood
coursing through her veins.
The waiting came to an end ut 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; II the light
of her life had gone out, even so must
his. She thought of 1t night and day
with thirst for revenge that knew NO
bounds.
It was a moonlight night with gen.
tie breeze stirring the trees, letting
the moonbeams ripple through them
in little dashes-and. throwing q shawl
around her. Janet stepped out into that
glory of moonlight and ripping leaves.
casting a long. dark shadow upon the
ground as she moved, needless of the
soft beauty around her. She had reck-
oned we'll. for when she stepped noise
lessly among the shadows of the trees
in the Brenner 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 a 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.
labels voice reached her ears, clear
ly, distinctly. She was saying:
"Are you sure you love me a. much
as you did Janet Wilson7"
"A thousand times more" came Rob
ert's fervent reply.
Neither moonlight nor sunlight could
rival the light In Janet's sunken eyes
as she listened with batsd 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, Robertf"
Love herr Yes, with the wild, head
strong love of youth. Why, darling,
I 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. quiver went over her
face, but she stood still as q statue
and as cold.