Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-04-15
CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VII.
The last sad parting was over, and the
poor young mother lay, more dead than
alive, upon her bed at the hotel. Lucian
had gone to take little Leon to his moth
er, and only the faithful Diana was left.
AS the hours sped on and night drew
near, the comatose state into which Syl-
phide had fallen, when they dragged her
child from her arms by main force, had
deepened rather than lessened, and the
mulatto woman became more and more
anxious in her lonely vigil.
At last when the twilight actually set
in, she became so apprehensve for the
safety of her mistress that she rang the
bell and ordered the nearest physician
summoned. He came at once-an elder
" man, with an air of importance and
respect about him. Diana waited with
bated breath while he raised the eyelids
Of his patient, and made a thorough ex-
animation. Turning to the woman at
last, he said:
This lady has undergone some violent
mental shock. Can you give me any Of
the facts Of the case?" he asked.
"No, sir; am not at liberty to speak.
Indeed, 1 do not know the facts myself.
All that 1 can say is that she has been
separated from her child"
"Ah! Well, my good woman, If you
are the lady's attendant, I must warn
you that she Is in a most critical condi-
ton. This syncope may last for hours,
even for days, and it is of the utmost i'm
portance that she be kept extremely
quiet. For the immediate present there
Ia NJ dam ~ Aist,rhtp0 hnr.
1 should advise that she be removed at
once to some place where she can be
made comfortable, to some place where,
when she revives, she will not recognize
her surroundings"
And with these words he took his hat
and departed, leaving Diana alone, in a
state Of dread and anxiety. What could
she do by herself and unassisted? Where
should she, a complete stranger in a
great city, take her mistress?
There was nothing to be done but to
patiently await the return of Lucian
Oourtlandt, If, indeed, he came at all that
night he returned, however, about ten
o'clock, and Ave minutes later he was in
possession Of the Doctors commands.
he said nothing, though the expression
Of his haggard face spoke volumes of the
inward agony he suffered. Leaving Di-
ana In charge Of the still unconscious
| sufferer, In less than an hour he return
| ed with the information that a carriage
was in waiting, and place prepared for
the reception Of his wife.
| Diana raised Sylphide as though she
had been mere child, wrapped her in a
rich fur-lined cloak, and placed her In her
husbands arms. He carried her down
to the waiting carriage, and in half an
hour a new scene surrounded them. Spa
cious and elegant rooms had been Sc
| cured In a quiet neighborhood, and had
she been In her own home, Sylphide
Courtlandt could not have been made
more comfortable. AS she watched that
night by the couch of her unconscious
mistress, Diana experienced certain re-
lief at the thought that all had been
done that could.
In the gray Of the following morning
Lucian Courtlandt entered the silent
chamber and paused beside the bed
whereon lay that beautiful form with
| its blank white face. He was haggard
and pallid, almost beyond recognition
and Diana sat there, watching him, won.
dering in silence what awful secret could
be pending between them. At last the
painful silence was broken. It was Lu-
clan Courtlandt who spoke.
| DIANA" he said, In a low, harsh
tone, 81 am obliged to start for the South
this morning. / am going to Louisiana
but 1 shall return at the earliest posi-
BILE moment. If, In the meantime" he
hestated, and for the first time nverted
his fixed gaze from that marble-like face
''if, In the meantime, any change for the
worse should occur in Mrs. Courtlandt
you will at once telegraph me; here is
an address which will always reach me. u
He handed the watcher slip of paper
and with long, last, lingering glance at
Sylphide, which Diana dared not inter.
rupt, he quilted the room as silently as
he had entered 1t.
After this, long days and nights of
anxious watching elapsed; and so the first
week passed. The genial May weather
had come, and Mt last, one balmy even
ing ten days to the hour since she had
entered that unknown land, Sylphide re-
turned to herself, revived, sat up and
looked about her.
| "Lucan has not returnedv'
| Her first words were breathed as gent
ly as the zephyr that stirred the muslin
curtains at the half-open windows.
| "No, missy, not yet" replied Diana.
| Sylphide smiled wanly, and lying back
among her pillows, she murmured:
| "Wake me as soon as he comes; he
will have news for me-"
| And she lapsed into gentle, healthful
slumber, the first that she had known fol
many long day; and Diana slept also
in her. chair, thankful prayer upon he1
lips and gratitude in her heart, little
| guessing that had her beautiful mistress
passed away In the merciful unconscious.