Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-06-10
The Planters Daughter
OR FATE'S REVENGE
By MRS. ALICE p. CARRSTON
Author of "a Wait from the Sea" "Her Brightest Hope"
"WaYward Winnefred," etc. +

By MRS. ALICE p. CHARLESTON


ing in childish terror to her robe.
"Leon!" exclaimed Claire, pausing in
the shadow of the trees, "what is the
matterT" while Sylphide regained her
feet, as her pallid lips framed the words
AT last"
Who are you, madam" demanded
Claire. Where were you going with my
SOM"
Your son!" Kissed Sylphide, throwing
back her veil, whose thick folds stiled
her.
"She Gays she is my mamma" walled
Leon. Tell her she is not! Oh, say so,
mammal" :
Claire wavered an instant, stricken
with a sudden conviction.
His mother!" she faltered. ~ know
you now. Madam, you are Sylphide
C~ouramont."
Yes" came the defiant reply; II am
Sylphide Couramont, and his mother. But
ne repulses my caresses; he does not even
recognize me-"
Il understand your grief, madam, and
I pity you"
Indeed? l am worthy of pity, am I
not? l am wretched indeed since heaven
and earth have conspired to betray me.
l have been robbed of my name and fo12
tune, and of the man l loved. 1 have
been robbed even of the child for whose
sake l descended into the valley of the
shadow of DEATH"
What brings you here, madam? p muir.
INJURED Claire, terrified by her vehemence;
why do you seek to enter my homer"
Your home!' sneered Sylphide; "are
you going to summon your people to eject
me-? 1t is true that I have ventured to
intrude upon your home, but what single
thing have you which does not come from
me! You lay dying upon a miserable
pallet in New York; three months only
you had to live, your father and mother
were furnishing; father, mother, husband,
child, and life itself, I gave you all! And
you dare to tell me to my face that I am
in your home! Verify, madam, you are
ungrateful."
Trembling with alarm, poor Claire re-
piled:
ut is true that without your interfer-
ence should now perhaps have been in
my grave; but if you have saved my life,
confess that you did not intend to; If you
have married me to Lucian Courtlandt,
you chose me, as you have just admisted,
because you considered me condemned to
death. Now, what can l do to repay
you? am prepared for anything-but
DEATH"
Il demand nothing, wish nothing, ex-
pect nothing from you"
Then why are you here? Oh, I dread
to understand! You came expecting to
find ME dead. Well, your hope has prov
ed delusive. You need remain no longer"
Those final words appeared to contain
the venom of a deadly serpent for Syl-
phide.
II shall not depart until 1 have seen
Lucian," she said, firmly.
"Lucian" gasped Claire in dismay;
you shall not see him; I do not choose
that he shall see you. 1 am still very
weak, madam, but 1 think 1 can summon
the strength of a lioness to my aid in
defense of my happiness! Besides, you
know that he no longer loves you"
mo longer loves me" Kissed the enc
my; pray, how do you know that? How
can you judge of the empire which / have
exerted over him2 All, l do not come
unarmed; l bring with me the memory of
three years of passionate love!"
Il tell you, you shall not see Lucian!
l am his wife before the law!"
AT all events you shall give me my
child"
mo, no! Stand backw
Stay! What are you doing hereT"
The few but imperative words cut
shorS the terrific struggle of a moment,
and as the two women recoiled, little
Leon flew into his fathers arms.
Embrace your child, If you will"
Lucian Courtlandt said to Sylphide ,"but
bear in mind that he is also my son, and
he shall never leave me. Now, you need
delay your departure no longer" I
She returned his stern look with lances
of fire.
Have you not heard the news ?" she
asked, with swift intensity; slavery has
been abolished; I am free!"
But l am not free" he answered
steadily; you remember our compact
while Claire lives we are to remain stran-
gers. You have violated your oath. Fare
well-forever!"
She faced her doom as the great oak
breasts the storm; she paused an instant
irresolute, then lowered her veil and turn
ed away. Presently she stopped and
looked back to find Claire nesting in her
husbands arms.
Farewell" she breathed, "but not for
ever. We shall meet once again, Lucian
Courtlandt, once again-on the day of
~reckoning!"
CTo 10 c%ontinuedN