Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-07-24

"Remem ber--your mother!'

| "Remember-your motherv'
No need to utter the warning. To her
dying day Sylphide never forgot his
words. They sank deep into her very
soul, filling her, at first, with awe; later,
with apprehension and dismay.
Thus matters stood ut the period of
Lucian Courtlandt's arrival at Rosemont.
From the moment that her eyes rested
upon his frank, handsome face Sylphide
| Couramont's fate was sealed. She loved
him, body and soul, with that fierce in
tensity which she had persuaded herself
she inherited from her dead mother.
| And he? Could he be insensibe to the
admiration of those lovely eyes, to the
love that spoke in every eloquent gesture,
every attitude? He was fattered and
fascinated; but he came of cooler, patri-
clan blood, and had seen considerable of
the world in the social circles of New
| York. Fair women were no novelty to
him, and, as he had seen none more fair
than Sylphide Couramont, and had met
few so wealthy, newell, he let events
take their course. Be it said in his favor
that he made no secret of his condition
| in life.
| He acknowledged that he was the
| scion of one of the most aristocratic fam
lilies of the North; that his mother was
Il woman of boundless pride; that he was
struggling along to win fame in the pro-
fcssion of the law upon scanty income,
leaving to his widowed mother the rem
nants of once ample fortune, that she
might live in ease and afiluence abroad,
! in Paris, where people knew not that she
had once queened it in her native land.
Syphidc Couramont asked no greater
boon of heaven than to be able to place
unlimited wealth at the feet of the man
she loved, to tell him that he need strug-
! gle no longer that the delights of the
world were ut his command, provided
she were at his side to witness his enjoy
ment of them.
Unconsciously the nattcrng prospect
excrted its influence upon Lucian. Freely
he gave himself up to the charm of his
surroundings, and he awoke ut last to
the realization of the fact that he could
not in honor, leave the hospitable roof
that had sheltered him for one happy
month, as he entered it.
This knowledge did not wear upon
him especially, nor cause him any sleep
less nights. Sylphde was charming,
would be an ornament to his home and
after such complete relaxation from gall
ing duty the hum-drum existence of the
past seemed far away and unpleasant to
think Of Besides, he was free, could
dispose of himself as he chose, provided
he suited the naughty tastes of his am
bilious mather; and he made his mind
easy on that score, since Sylphde was
beautiful, nobly born and fabulously
wealthy. Consequently the way was
paved for the scene that ensued upon the
death of the colonel.
They brought the unfortunate gentle
man home to Rosemont on a litter made
of fragrant fir boughs, Lucian going be
fore the sad cortegc to prepare Sylphide
for the catastrophe.
She bore it bravey for the sufferers
sake while the breath of life yet trem-
bled upon his lips, but when the spirit
fled her grief knew no bounds, and, with
a passionate wall she threw herself
across the inanimate form, crying:
Il am alone in the world Who will
care for me now!'
1t was Lucian Courtandt who raised
her in his arms comforted her. and, ac-
tuated by sudden thrill of pity, assured
her that henceforth he would be her faith
full guardian if she would permit it. And
from that moment Sylphde Couramont
clung to the man she loved with the des-
With feverish haste she made the ar
engagements for her marriage even while
her dead father lay in the house. She
pretended that she could not bear to re-
main ut Rosemont moment longer than
was necessary, that she would leave it
the instant her fathers body had been
assigned to earth and her marriage had
| been consummatcd.
Never once did she mention the name
of Oscar Couramont to Lucian. She
dreaded even to think of him, and count
cd only upon his absence in New Orleans
to break all ties and fly before he re-
! turned.
But evil news rides fast while good
news waits, as we have seen, and though
Sylphida had succeeded in safely becom-
! ing the wife of Courtlandt the very sight
of her cousin in the hour of her security
and triumph filled her with q namelesS
| terror and alarm.
| In spite of her husbands assertions
| to the contrary. her quick ear detected
| the sounds of horses hoofs behind them
! in the darkness of the rainy night as they
! returned from church.
Jrpon their arrival at Rosemont, far
| from dispelling her fears, the CHEEKY ra-
dance of the lighted rooms increased her
! impatience to escape-she knew not
what. She was only conscious that Os-
ear Couramont might enter the house,
unannounced, at any moment: and above
all things, she would not see him that
night
Therefore, leaving Lucian below, she
sped up to her room, like a hunted thing,
to change her apparel and prepare for
! wedding journey that far more resem-
| blde the hasty flight of n fugitive.
! CHAPTER III.
| Tie sight of that familiar chamber, so
! closely connected with all that pertaned
| to- her luxurious girhood, brought her
| to the first full pause that she had expe-
] riancnd in The last three DAYS of feyerish