The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-09-11


mo. and greatly as ] had been attracted
by her. shrank from again intrading on
the privacy Of that jealoasly guarded
home.
There was evidently something myste.
rious about the malady and the seclusicn
Of Mr. Hamilton Gossip at N.ce ran riot
on the subject, and suggested all sorts Of
solutions for the riddle. One was that
the invalid was not i'll, but was simply In
sane; the constant presence Of Dr. Scmers
and the pecnliar taciturnity and reticence
Of the servants in the face OF questions,
and-must ii b. addedf--even Of bribes,
being alleged In support Of the theory.
Then more malicious persons declared
that Mrs. Hamilton was an adventures
who concealed whole troop Of lovers un
der the identity OF the one unseen inya-
lid. but that wicked report was speedily
silenced, having no foundation in proba
bility. as il had none in fact The expla.
nation Of the matter which | was inclined
to consider correct was, that Mr.. Hamil-
ton had been disigured for life by iniu-
ries received in some accident or other
shortly after his marriage and sshrank
from permitting strangers to look upon
his marred and distorted features This
theory was corrohorated in my own mind
hv the tears Mrs Hamilton had shed over
her husbands miniature, and by his re-
fusaI 10 come down stairs while | WAS in
the house
The month Of March had passed away,
and the Riviera was flashing forth into all
the brightness Of early spring SThen. one
day. On ny way home frum an afternoon
reception. l chanced to pass the Villa Wit
toria. and was surprised to observe that
the usually tranquil and solitary home
was the center of universal c0mmotion.
Servants were hurrying TO and fro, groups
Of people hung about the lodge gate. talk
ing and gesticulating, and within the sNa-
lit windows Of the distant villa might be
observed sir and confusion altogether
foreign to the usual customs Of the house,
| sent my servant TO inquire the cause OF
the excitement. and the lodgekeepcrs 3
aged wife came hurrying out herself 70
impart her rtidlngs. They were both tragic
and distressing. Mrs Hamilton hSa gone
out for an early drive to MOntboron- Hen
horses had taken fright whilst descending
the mountain, had run away and had
overturned the carriage. The unfortu-
nate lady was thrown out, and was in
jured so terribly that her life was de
SPARED Of. DR.. Soners, who had accom-
panied her, had escaped with some slight
bruises. and had been able to supertntenc
the removal Of his sister TO her home
He has been watching over her even
since. madam. continued the old woman
and he sent far and near for the best
doctors in Nice, but they did not stay long
when they came. and am afraid the poo
lady is dying"
4 Acting ON my first ;inpulse, ] spranl
from my carriage and hastened TO thu
I villa. The sound Of voices guided me 4
the room Of the sufferer. ] paused on th'
I threshold Of lhe open door, bat Dr
Somers. who was seAted by his sister
bed, looked up and saw me, and signed II
me. without speaking. to enter. Mrs
Hamilton did not notice me. Gnd do no
think she was even aware Of my presence
Her fair face was uninjured but the pal
shadow Of approaching death rested upol
her features and dimmed the luster of he
beautiful eyes. She was pleading Wis
her brother as arrived, and she vent O
with her piteous prayer as approacsss'
the bed.
4 know that am dying, Mark, wsile'
the melancholy tones. still SO sweet ami
their fsebleness. Call Edgar-do ca
Edgar--let me see him once more before
gol | cannot die happy unless ! loo
again on his dear face. II cannot hur
y him more than the news Of my death wi
do. Oh, Mark-dea Mark--do tell Edga
to come TO mel"
X Without word, DR. Somers arose an
flung wide open door opposite to tina
BY which / had entered. and which led t
an inner room. all inundated with tn
golden glory Of the april sunset. Th
whole interior Of the apartment thus dis
closed was visible to me from where
stood. There were flowers everywhere
and pictures, and books. and exquisit
trifes Of all kinds. were visible on aver
side; but there was no human being to b
seen within
With the opening Of the door sudde
change passed over the features Of the d.
ing woman. The light returned to hi
eyes, and faint color tinged her pa
face. as. half raising herself on her pi
lows, she fixed her eager gaze on apoir
near the foot Of the bed There was 4
one there-she spoke to empty space-br
never shall forget the pathetic tones
her voice, the loving tenderness Of h'
fixed, dilated eyes.
u knew you would come to me. Edgar
sha ,,a,,4td IA ia hard In say po0d -by-