Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-03-25
CHAPTER l.

folk who lived within ear-shot of the
bells of the little village of Vernon, were
amazed at the sudden changing that al
ruptly burst forth from the ivy-veiled
tower of the old church and sent ita
reverberating echoes far over rice field,
plantation and grove. All the greater
was the amazement of those who bark
ened to the merry peals, since only the
day before those self-same brazen throats
had raised their voices in dolcful knell
for a departed SOUL
M Nevertheless, in spite of the stormy
wind that ragged and the fitful gust of
rain that beat upon their faces, women
caught up their shawls and men their
hats, and ran with their children into
the village to find the place all agog, and
,Tsyery step Fastening towards the church.
The sunset hour was at hand, and all
along the lower horizon, fiery CLEANS,
blood-red, shone through the riffs In the
driving clouds. There was mute inquiry
upon every face, while mystery brooded
over all.
The twinkling candles upon the altar,
together with the eloquent perfume of
y massed roses and jasmines, lying in great
heaps within the chancel, attracted more
than half the multitude within the sa-
cred edifice; those who remained without
looked up and down the road, and asked
each other what joyous event was about
to take place in such uncanny weather.
N AT last the bells abruptly ceased, the
deep tones of the organ began to surge
and swell upon the bated silence, the
clock struck six. simultaneously the
rapid beat of horses hoofs and the roll
of carriage wheels smote the air and
from the direction of the magnolia-crest-
ed heights, a barouche was deserted
swiftly approaching the church. A cry
was raised among the bystanders as the
Rosemont livery was recognized, and
heads were Sraned to catch the first
glimpse of the occupants, while a shud-
der of horror passed through every heart,
as it was recalled that only the day be-
fore the same equpage had stood before
the church to bear away to her lonely
home the only and beautiful daughter of
the lamented Colonel Couramont.
The respected gentleman had met an
untimely death by accident while hunt
ing, and the scent of the flowers that
clustered about his bier had scarcely
evaporated from the dim aisles of the
old church ere these fresh blossoms were
brought in to form a festal decoration.
But the carriage was closed against
the stress of weather and no glimpse of
those within was afforded until it drew
up beneath the porch, and the aged sex
ton stepped forward to open the door:
whereupon, to the speechless amazement
of the beholders, there alighted a hand
some, stately young gentleman in full
evening dress, who in turn assisted
lady swathed in mourning to alight. At
sight of her, every hat was removed for
one and all recognized at a glance the
beautiful Sylphde Couramont sole heir
ess and mistress of Rosemont.
She was attired in a trailing costume
of black tulle relieved by an enormous
bouquet de corsage of snowy jasmines
that We'd with the ghastly pallor that
overspread her faultless neck and ex-
quisite face; while in her jet-black hair
clustered more of the spectral flowers,
shaded by veil of inky gauze. Had it
not been for the flashing eyes and the
triumphant curve of the naughty lip, one
would have said that these were the trap
pings of the grave she wore-and she,
the wrath of her former self
The man at her side was flushed and
nervous. Though a stranger at Vernon,
from New York, who had been passing
few weeks at Rosemont, and had been
the companion of Colonel Couramont
when he met his fate. They remem-
bered that it was he who had ridden
over the country day after day with
Sylphide, and had been the one to sup
port her when she tainted beside her
fathers coffin in the church; hut not one
nf bno
ed that he was so soon to become the hus-
band of the mistress of Rosemont, nor
would they have believed had ,they been
told how this extraordinary alliance had
been brought about.
The wedding ceremony began and con.
tinued until the solemn words were pro-
nounced, "1f any one present sees Just
cause why this man and woman should
not be joined together in holy wedlock
let him stand forth and speak, or for
ever afterward hold his peacew
Thereupon ensued a breathless pause.
A nervous shver passed over the bride
and with n hunted look in her great
dilated eyes. she turned and stared at
the assembly. No one rose; no one
breathed. although outside the church il
was evident that struggle of some sort
was taking place, for voices were raised
one in particular-and through the
open doors the swaying to and fro Of the
dense mass Of humanity was visible.
Sylphide Couramont almost staggered,
yet clung to her lovers arm with a des-
perate attempt to be mistress over her
self. Fixing her burning eyes upon the
priest, she murmured:
mo, no! There is no one to speak. 4
am III. Proceedv
And then the deep toned benediction
hrouoht thts ,-.t-s a 49,