The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1902-03-20

| went over the town that Isabel HrUh
ner'S face vas the chsrm that chained
him there; later. their engagement
was announced.
Janet bad aged pcrceptibly since hIs
return. and. she stald away altogether
from the Aid Society. not even going
out upon The street except Ia the dusk
uf the evening. fearing. with some.
I thing uf a wild terror, tina: she might
meet him, yet hungcring 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," " Il crept like the
time IT waiting. Nights, when the
moon hung like silver bow in the
Ekyr when the wind sighed softl,
/ through The trees, and all else was
silent and hushed. she walked the
length nf her room saying again and
again to herself that he should pay
the price,
The semi Madness that crcpt over
her weary brain while she waited md
brnodcd over her wrong seemed 10 her
like the spirit of her ancestors hover
Ing over her "a arouse her to action,
for the Wilson's had never died with
a wrong unasrnged. and she was Wi.
son, with all their passionate blood
coursiuR through her veins.
The waiting came 10 an end az laat.
The announcement 81 Robert Halleck's
engagement was the signal for Janct's
action His happiness, now, depended
upon the beautiful girl he had chosen
from Dune. even as hers (JHnet'sl had
depended upon him. he had robbed
her, she would in turn rob him. Ifshe
were bereft, sU nu-i - be; n tine light
~ her lie had gone out, even so must
his. She thought ~ Il night and dHy
with thirst for revenge that knew NO
bounds.
Il was moonlight night with n gen.
tie breeze stirring the trees, letting
the mounhcams ripple through them
In little 3ashcs-and, throwing shawl
around her. Janet stepped out into that
glory ~ moonlight and ripping leaves.
custing long, dark shadow upon the
ground as ,he moved heedle.t Of the
soft beauty around her. She had reck-
oued we'll, for when she stepped noise.
lcssly among the shadows 81 the trees
In the lircuucr grounds she saw Rob
crt and Isabel walking together little
WY beyond her
lsabcls beauty was ten-fold In the
soft moonlight, yet the sight ~ u did
not add pauE "a the miserable woman
who watched II with wild bright eyes.
Ia the strange. mad passion 81 Janet
Wilson, there WIS no jealousy Of Isa.
nets fair giriish face The face would
Ice The means II her vengeance. for men
wuT-hip woman with face like that.
lsahrl's y0ice reached her ears. clear
~, distinctly. She was saying;
Are you sure you love me ~ much
o. yuu did Janet Wilson,"
"A thousand times more. came Rob
crt's frr,cnt reply.
Neither moonlight nor sunlight could
rival tho light IN IancCr sunkcn eve.
~ she listened with batcd breath To
what was bittcrest pain Ia hear. Some.
thing flashed like the simmer ~ tern.
pcrcd steel In her eager hnnd, but -
she waited, she knew not why.
Did YOU really love her. Robert"
Love her? Ncs with the wild head
strong love 81 ynulh why, darling.
/ remember to have awakened In tie
night crSing aloud for her. That WIS
when first went away. She fascinated
me, then. and yes, luvcd her Iprul,.
nhly would have been happy with her
had they left me alone She was ter.
ribly handsome"
.IanrtE hand trrmhlpd upon the
knife she held, q qui,cr went over her
face. but she stood still as statue
and ns cold.
You know everyone saws that sic
encouraged YOU, lured you on-you,
mere boy, she a mature wuman?"
an thHt they spoke falsely. Pc.
member how she fought against Der
love for mc She would moi Weld nj
once that q boy had won her love.
Truly. I de- not care for her. now; The
old love has given place &C. the better
new, for nftcrall We were lily matched
in years, but viii do her justice. ri
least"
The voices died away and janet
turned. with o sob, the old love master.
ing her The mans happiness was %
sacred to her ~ Heaven. She had been
mad lie had bowed her! For a mo.
lnent glorious thought. II Wild. bright
dream -! happiness rushed over her.
what ~ she should win him yet? Then.
a. II in muckcry, sudden. fitful gust
Of wind cast II lock Of her gray hair be.
fore her eyes, and in an instant the
dream was ended She WAS old aad
gray, and he was young. Minneapolis
4 T..