Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-06-17

opened upon a wide, dark piazza, that
almost o%verhung the sidewalk.
AS the night settled upon the city, she
had ordered a lamp, had closed the
blinds, and thrown herself upon the
lounge-to wait. Still attired in he
lnky draperies that she had worn dur
Ing the day, the utter ghastliness of her
countenance shown out with yet more
startling effect by contrast with her sur
~roundings.
She had dispatched her appeal to Luz
clan Courtlandt, and was awaiting it's
results with such patience as she could
command; but as the dreary minutes
grew to hours she rose impatiently and,
taking a silver-mounted revolver from a
satchel, laid it beside a roll of papers up
on the table that supported the lighted
lamp.
~ can have everything in readiness. at
least" she murmured. "Lucian shall
have no reason to doubt my resolution.
Ii his heart preserves no flutter of the
past, if all memory of our love Is eff
faced, still the lines I have sent him con-
tain sufficient grief and despair, sufa-
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 stifed word.
""You!"
YES, l." replied Gresham, coolly. en-
tering, and carefully closing the blinds
behind him. "We decided that 1 should
do as we'll"
HE refuses to see me? Why? she
gasped, feebly.
why? You know perfectly we'll"
1T Is because he loves that other
woman, now, is 1t not2" she cried, bit
terly. us that keeping his oath with me?
Was that what you promised me, 'Gresh-
ann You, swore 10 me that she had
scarcely three months to live"
With maddening deliberation, Gresh-
am drew up a chair and seated himself
opposite his agonized subject.
Madam" he began, calmly, I'VE doc
tors have neither friends nor enemies;
we deal impartially with the whole world.
1t is our business to. save our patients.
Let us look at it seriously. In a moment
OF ambition o cherished the hope of
becoming Mrs. Lucian Courtlandt; to-
day, you understand, this. hope Is for
ever crushed. Now, your wisest course
is to leave the interests of your child
in the hands Of her to whom you have
conided them, and let them rest in
peace"
And what remains to me in this bar
gainT"
First, the satisfaction of having done
your duty"
"And thenT' 4
Then the conditions that you may be
pleased to impose, which 1 can promise
will be accepted in advance by Mr..
Oourtlandt."
"The only condition that I shall see fit
ito make" she Kissed through her set
teeth, sis the unconditional surrender of
my child"
ut seems to me that your maternal
love smacks Of selfshness."
"YOu have no right to Judge me, hay
ing played the traitor! Oh, you may
spare me the infection of any moral stric-
lures" she sneered; "if you have been
sent to me as an ambassador, be content
to fulfill your mission"
very well, then. What do you de-
mandT"
HAS Lucian Courtlandt determined
never to see me again."
Il have already answered that cues
ton. The reproaches contained in your
letter, your menace that you would kill
yourself, have only served to make me
smile. Oh, I'm a horrible fellow! l even
went so far, in order to reassure those
who might be startled by your threats,
as to say that your religious %scruples
sweet a life. All, but I'm a sorry ras-
call"
Goaded by his merciless r%aillery, 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 he
yond endurance!"
"On the contrary, they seek to per-
suade you to depart in peace, that's all.
Now, what do you demand, to go 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 VI and down the room to
calm her agitation. Suddenly she paused
behind her tormentor, and said In a voice
low with intensity:
"You may return TO Lucian C~ourtlandt
and tell him that unless he comes to me
within an hour l shall be dead! There
lies my will. You are at liberty to ex-
anime It."
Gresham rose, and l~eisurely opened the
roll of paper on the table.
"Humph" he sneered after 4 cursory