Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-10-16


grew to hours she rose impatiently and,
taking a silver-mounted revolver from
aatchel, laid it beside q roll of papers up
on the table that supported the lighted
lamp.
II can have everything in readiness, at
least" she murmured. "Lucian shall
have no reason to doubt my resolution.
If his heart preserves no 1utter of the
past, if all memory of our love is eff
faced, still the lines have sent him con-
tain sufficient grief and despair, suffi-
cient threats of scandal to force him to
come to me; fear will impose the power
which love has lost. If l cannot recon
quer your heart, Lucian Courtlandt you
shall at least give me back my child.
Then we shall see whether you will not
follow him. Hark! Some one is mount
ing the steps! 1t is he!'
She sprang to the window and threw
open the blinds; but recoiling as sudden
ly, she gave vent to one stined word.
Your
Eyes, l." replied Gresham, coolly, en-
tering, and carefully closing the blinds
behind him. 1--WE decided that should
do as we'll"
'He refuses to see me? Why?" she
gasped, feebly
"Why? You know perfectly we'll"
"'Tt Is because he loves that other
woman, now, is 1t not?' she cried, Bit
terly. "Is that keeping his oath with me?
Was that what you promised me, Gresh-
am? You swore to me that she had
scarcely three months to live"
With maddening deliberation, Gresh-
am drew up chair and seated himself
opposite his agonized subject.
Madam" he began, calmly, I'VE doc
tors have neither friends nor enemies;
we deal mpartially with the whole world.
1t Is our business to save our patients.
Let us look at 1t seriously. In a moment
of ambition you cherished the hope Of
becoming Mrs. Lucian Courtlandt; to-
day, you understand, this hope rs for
ever crushed. Now, your wisest course
is to leave the interests Of your child
in the hands of her to whom you have
confided them, and let them rest in
peace"
"And what remains to me in this bar
gain?"
First, the satisfaction of having done
your duty"
"And then?"
'"Then the conditions that you may be
pleased to impose, which l can promise
will be accepted in advance by Mr..
Oourtlandt."
1.-THE only condition that / shall see fit
to make" she Kissed through her set
teeth, "is the unconditional surrender of
my childr'
at seems to me that your maternal
love smacks of selfishness."
"You have no right to judge me, hav-
ing played the traitor! Oh, you may
spare me the infection of any moral stric-
tures," she sneered; "if you have been
sent to me as an ambassador, be content
to fulfill your mission"
Every we'll, then. What do you de-
mand?''
HAS Lucian Courtlandt determined
never to see me again?"
Il have already answered that ques-
ton. The rcproaches contained in your
letter, your menace that you would kill
yourself, have only served to make me
smile. Oh, I'm horrible fellow! 1 even
went SO far, in order to reassure those
who might be startled by your threats,
as to say that your religious scruples
would prevent your doing violence to s0
sweet life. All, but I'm sorry ras-
cal!'
Goaded by his merciless raillery, Syl-
phide was upon her feet in an instant,
and bending threateningly above his smil-
ing face.
"Have a care" she painted. 'Your
people had better not exasperate me be
You'd endurance
Ion the contrary, they seek to per-
suade you to depart in peace, that's all.
Now, what do you demand, to so abroad
and settle down quietly? Please name
the amount"
What are you paid for your inso-
lence?''
'Much less than the trouble of coming
here has cost me-"
She accepted the insult in silence, and
began to pace up and down the room to
calm her agitation. Suddenly she paused
behind her tormentor, and said in voice
low with intensity:
"You may return to Lucian Courtlandt
and tell him that unless he comes to me
within an hour I shall be dead! There
lies my will. You are at liberty to ex-
anime it."
Gresham rose, and leisurely opened the
roll of paper on the table.
"Humph!" he sneered after a cursory
glance, women are adopts at letter writ
ing, but they require a lawyer to draw
up their wills. ! would advise you to
burn that"
Tomorrow my death will be public
gossip" she said, stonily.
"I'll stake a hundred on the chances
The last straw had been applied. Syl-
phide Couramont was livid with rage. In
voluntarily she assumed the attitude of
tigress about to spring
"Gresham!" she painted. do you dare
to take my hfe?" she cried.
"Most certainly l do"
why should l not kill myself?'
Because that would afford three or
four persons of my acquaintance too
much satisfaction" came the imperturba
bic reply: "once more let us return to
reason; .Mill you accept two hundred and
fifty thousand dollars to go abroad, never