Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-06-10
CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVII.
At her wits end for a reassuring
reply, poor Claire flung her arms about
the old mans neck, and pillowed her
head upon his breast, while he, made un-
responsive by the horror which had taken
possession of him, atood cold and rigid
as a statue, offering her no support.
You must know, dear father" she
began, "that 1 loved my husband, and
l told myself that he would never love
me. The thought unseated my reason
until l fancied that cruel fate was pur-
suing me, ever crying in my ears, you
have agreed to die, and yet you still live!'
Goaded to desperation, l forgot you and
mother, and l planned the fatal %draught."
"And this man was 80 blind as to be
unable to read the direful secret in your
soul!" he cried unappeased. at was his
Indifference that has driven you to de-
spair! He has no heart! Had he him
self poured out the poison, he could not
seem more culpable in my eyes,"
"Oh, father, father!"
She was trembling now with such dire
apprehension that she was forced to cling
to him for support. Her agitation seem-
ed to exasperate Philip Burgess the
more.
Heaven be praised" he calculated,
'that 1 am neither so old nor inirm that
/ cannot hold a weapon! l will kill him,
kill the rogue or fool, whichever he may
be, who has so misused the angel whom
l intrusted to his keeping!'
Father" she said, fixing her magnetic
eyes upon his face, ''since I still live,
since l have agreed to live, believe me,
it is only because a fresh hope has found
Its way to my heart, a hope impaired
by him."
"By him!' muttered Philip Burgess,
incredulously. "What has he done that
should deserve pardon at our hands?"
During the terrible crisis of yesterday
and last night he never deserted my bed
side, even for a minute. He sent every
one away, and watched by me alone.
When l lapsed into slumber, l felt my
hand moistened by his burning tears.
When l awoke he was there by my side,
and l asked myself whether this meant
remorse. In the early gray of the morn
ing he left me, thinking that l slept, left
me with the imprint of his burning lips
upon my brow, and I asked myself
WutCHeT InlS cOulu DE love
She had spoken the truth, and her
plaintive words carried conviction with
them. The old man was touched, and the
ready tears welled from their fonts, and
FLASHED upon her bowed head.
1T may be so, my darling" he muir
INJURED; heaven grant that it is so! Come,
let us go to him together and see."
AS he cast his arm about her waist,
and laid her head gently upon his shout
der rs they enteerd the shadowy hall, out
In the garish sunlight, unseen hands
parted the hedge that fringed the lawn,
and the face of Nemesis glared through
hvid, haggard, vengeful-the fuce of Syl-
phide Couramont!
"Alive" she painted in dismayed sur
prise. THAT creature lives! So all in
vain has heaven removed the first obsta-
Gle which separates me from Lucian. l
am free-yet she lives!"
1t would have been an appalling study
to have looked into her soul then, as she
let the shubs snap back into place, gath
cred the rich draperies of her sable at
tire about her, and with a rapid step took
her way up to the villa.
As fate would have it, she crossed the
sheltered nook where Camille had taken
refuge after his alarm caused by the
vision of innocent Claire at the incur
tanned window. At Sylphide's approach
Camille sprang about, and faced her, as
though she, too, were another haunting
specter.
"Camille!" she said, herself surprised.
Mrs. Hastingsr"
HHnsht Won ,,,.st not l,nor 49, ....A
never have seen ne"
Her words were cut short by the joy
GUS cries of little Leon, who, in hot pur-
suit of a sportive t1.rier, came bounding
in among The trees. Instantly Sylphide's
eyes shot fire.
Leave me with this child" she
breathed, imperatively. go into the
avenue and wait for me. l have much
of Importance to say to you. Go, go
quick!"
AS the man only too readily obeyed
the command, she knelt with outstretched
arms, and accosted the boy, who had
abandoned his pursuit, and drawn him
self up in military array before the yelled
intruder.
"Leon-my son!" she cried, beseech-
ingly, her voice softening to a yearning
tenderness.
NO." he answered, proudly; 81 am
Lot your son; l am mammals son."
But l am your mamma, my darling"
"Oh, no, you're not! My m is
mamma Claire, my white mammal"
THAT woman again." groaned Syl-
phide. "They have robbed me even of
my child. But l will repay them! He
shall go with me. We shall see, Lucian,
whether you will not follow me then!'
She caught at the boy, who struggled
to free himself.