Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-11-13

wounded her above all else when it
said she had thrown herself at this
boy to win him; perhaps it had helped
to harden her int o 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 rckindlc the fire, yet even
in the semi-darliness, the unwonted
brilliancc 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
mcr burst in full glory upon Dune, and
still Robert Hallcck 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 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 a 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 "aftcrward,' 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 hushcd, 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
a wrong unavenged. 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 inc slghal Tor Janet s
notion. His happiness, now, depended
upon the beautiful girl he had chosen
from Dune, even as hers (Janet's) had
depended upon NM lie mad robbed
her, She would in turn rob him. If she
were bcrett, so must he be: if the light
of her life had gone out, even so must
his. She thought of it night and dav
win thirst LOT revenge that knew no
bounds
1t was moonlight night with gen
tie breeze stirring the trees, letting
the noohneams ripple 'hrougE them
IN llt' lie eS--and' throWmsa shawl
around cr,Janr' stepped our INTO that
Fiory OF inoon'leitt ana ripping leaves
casing long dark SHADOW upon the
ground as she moved needless or the
SOFT beauty around her' Nhe had reck-
oneu WELL l"r W'eI' she S'oppeo NOISE
IeSslE among inc shaoo"S Oh inc 'rees
III 'he premier GROUNDS Sne saw hon-
ert and Isabel walking together a little
way beyond hor'
lsabeIs beauty was ten-fold in the
soft moonlight yet the sight Of it did
not add panc to the miserable woman
who watched IT with wild bright eyes
In the strange mad passion OF Janet
Wilson, there was no jealousy of lisa
bel fair Glrli.h face. The face would
be the means OF vengeance. for mel
worship woman with face like that
0apei voice reached hcr cars, clear
~ oi"'lhci'T' she was saying;
are YOU sure you love me as mucf
as You dl4 Janet Wilson,
"A thousand times more, came Rob
erts ferVent reply.
Neither moonlight nor sunlight coulc
rival the light in Janct's sunkcn eye,
as she listened with bated breath to
what was bittcrest pain TO hear. Some
thing flashed like the simmer of TEN
pered steel in her eager hand, but
she waited, she knew not why.
Did you really love her, Robert"
"Loye'he"? Yes, with the wild, head
strong love Of youth. Why, darling
remember to have awakened in IN,
night crying aloud for her That wa,
when I first went away. She Fascinated
me then. and--yes, loved her. Iprob
ably would have been happy with he
had they left me alone. She was ter
ribly handsome"