Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-12-29

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last night; and you must be conscious
that, even if such were not the case,
should find it impossible to sleep now.
, must remain here"
| "Ah-well" sighed the good old man
IF you are fully determined on this, i,
must be SO; and l trust all will be well.
| He sat down by the bed, leaned his
head on his hand and fixed thoughtful
| and sorrowful glance upon the feverist
countenance turned towards him on the
pillow. Rose looked at him with hel
wild, bright, piteous gaze.
Where is LouisY she asked; where
is he? Why do they keep him from meT
Tears stood in the physicians eyes
He laid his gentle hand, with it's COO
touch, on that burning forehead.
BE quiet, my child" he said. He will
come-Louis will come"
Mono! he will not-he will not
come" she cried, with feeble grief. 81
have not seen him this long time. l
thought we were to be married. 1t was
a dream, was it not?" And again that
heart-breaking, sorrowful glance was
fixed on him. 81 don't know why am
lying here" she murmured, sadly, look
ing about her. 81 ought to be ready to
meet him when he comes. But I am so
weak-so tired 1 believe 1 have been
Journeying somewhere. Bat such a
strange journey! 1 don't thiak it ever
will end; and l am wandering all alone.
And so weary, weary, weary! All, Louis,
why don't you come and help me? You
said you loved poor Rose!
Mournful and plaintive grew those rest
less, feverish tones; fearful and troubled
the brilliant eyes; but still, though ex-
hausted by her constant rawlings, and
though her cheeks burned more hotly and
her heart throbbed with terrible violence,
and her breathing was short and painful,
there was no rest for her. Still she raved
Of Louis, and begged him to see how her
feet were torn and bleeding with the long
and weary way she came, and then she
would moan that he never would come
never, never, never!
And that wild, mournful wall might
have drawn tears from a stone; but Helen
Montauban was more than a stone.
The doctor went out, leaving Helen
Montauban there to bathe the heated
forehead Of the sick girl, and offer water
to those parched lips. And she said,
looking down upon the stricken form be-
fore her, 'She is in my power"
Alas! only too completely sol Made
inofsGlls Af0ntadb&n had gatMered
that M. Merry had but slight hope of
Roses recovery. 1t must be. No turn
ing back, or finching, or hesitating, for
that desperate nature now! That hope
must never become a stronger one! 1t
was hers to see to 1t. Pouring out the
water for which the sufferer prayed, ever
and anon, her hand involuntarily clutch
ed the tiny vial concealed in her bosom.
Yet-no! A little delay; the disease
might terminate fatally in q few days,
and spare her the work for which she
was prepared. But in case it were not
SO, then It was a poison, subtle and
sure as death itself. Few were there
who knew Of such; few-almost no tests
that could detect its presence. To Helen
Montauban had been given a knowledge
of this poison in by-gone years, and she
had guarded that knowledge like gold.
The secret, 50 long preserved, was likely
to become useful to her now.
It was midnight. All over the chateau,
there was deep and heartfelt rejoicing:
but It was subdued In it's manifestations.
for the life that had SO lately been pro-
nounced safe was only slowly and family
auttering up from the edge of the grave;
and every voice spoke in whispers, every
footstep was muff1ed. All day she had
slept, and the exhaustion produced by
her violent and protracted delirium was
so great that that slumber had hardly
seemed like the rest Of living form. For
scarce the faintest breath could be per-
ceived. or the slightest motion of that
'eebly beating heart. Yet had the ply
,ician filled the breasts of those abont |
%oo HoJ
,or certainty upon her awakening.
Then had the evil desire of Helen Mon
auban grown to an intensity that was
iendish. Watching, with her haggard
ace and cleaning eyes, beside that
ouch, she had fixed her serpent gaze up-
n the almost lifeless being who lay there,
ooking with cruel and terrible eagerness |
or the sign Of death to set itself upon |
hat young sufferers brow. Yet it came |
lot, and her eagerness grew almost into |
madness. The one way remained. She |
would make that sleep lasting one!
But there was another watcher there. |
The aged physician had taken up his post |
Llso by the couch. He, too, was waiting: |
tut it was for the angel of life-not that |
# death; and he stirred not from that |
lace. Not a morsel of food had passed |
lis lips that day. Since dawn he had
'een there. And Helen Montauban, in !
Ter fierce desperation at her own inabil-
ty to accomplish the work SO long medi- |
ated upon, was, almost insane Still he
watched there; never for an instant was
is vigilance relaxed. And the hours
'assed on and Rose awoke-safe!
CHAPTER Xxx.
1t was nearly morning when the cure
anne to the chateau to request an inter-
Jew with the marquis. He told him that
Hugh Lamonte was at the village inn
nd dying. The marquis, astonished and
fected at this sudden announcement, in
he midst Of his joy for the safety of
sose, prepared Immediately to visit him;
nd the physician, M. Merry, satisfied
hat the most favorable change had TAX
n place in his patients case, left her
! the care Of Mademoiselle Montauban
nd the countess and accompanied the
In a few moments the party arrived
t the auberge. Maurice met them with
nominous countenance.
How is he-is there any changer" ask
the cure, anxiously.
'sNone, monsieur" answered the man.
He raves still; but he talks of some gull
: deed to be atoned for-some secret to