Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-03-18

and now, as though l were upon my
death-bed your mother was pure and
good in the sight of heaven, in my sight,
her husband, and beseech you SO to love
her that she may watch over you and
bring you home to her bosom in Gods
own time"
One brief month later Francois Coura-
mont lay speechless upon his death-bed,
and it was only in the moments of dis
solution, when he lay in his daughters
arms, that his parting breath framed the
words:
'Remember-your mother"
No need to utter the warning. To her
dying day Sylphide never forgot his
words. They sank deep into her very
with apprehension and dismay.
Thus matters stood at 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 insensible 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, he-well, 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
woman of boundless pride; that he was
struggling along to win fame in the pro-
fession 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 affluence abroad.
in Paris, where people knew not tn at she
had once queened it in her native land.
Sylphide 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 at his command, provided
she were at his side to witness his epiov-
ment of them.
Unconsciously the fattering prospect
exerted its influence upon Lucian. Freely
he gave himself up to the charm of his
surroundings, and he awoke at 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. Sylphide 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 Sylphide was
beautiful, nobly born and fabulously
wealthy. Consequently the way was
paved for the scene that ensued upon the
death of the colonel.
Ihey brought the unfortunate gentle
man home to Rosemont on a litter made
OF fragrant fir boughs, Lucian going be-
lore the sad cortege to prepare Sylphide
for the catastrophe.
She bore 1t bravely for the sufferers
sake while the breath of life yet trem-
bled upon his lips, but when the spirit
fed her grief knew no bounds, and, with
passionate wall she threw herself
across the nanmate form, crying:
u am alone in the world! Who will
care for me now?"
1t was Lucian Courtlandt 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.
tui guardian if she would permit it. And
from that moment Sylphide Couramont
cluhg to the man she loved with the des
perate tenacity of drowning creature.
With feverish haste she made the or.
rangements for her marriage even wbile
her dead father lay in the house. She
pretended that she could not bear to re.
MAN at Rosemont moment longer than
was necessary, that she would leave II
the instant her fathers body had been
assigned to earth and her marriage had
been consummated.
Never once did she mention the mama
OF Oscar Couramont to Lucian. She
dreaded even to think of him, and count
eu only upon his absence in New Orleans
to break all ties and f,y before ba rn'
turned. Ae ie
nut evil news rides fast while good
news waits, as we have seen. and though
syiphide had succeeded in safely becom.
ing the wife of Courtlandt the very sight
Oh her cousin in the hour of her security
ana triumph filled her with a nameless
terror and alarm.
In spite of her husbands assort;o,s
to the contrary, her quick ear detectod
the sounds of horses hoofs behind tSo,,,
IN .ne darkness of the rainy night as they
returned from church.
upon their arrival at Rosemont, far
from dispelling her fears. the cbeerr 80