Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-04-01
CHAPTER w.


-Four years have elapsed since the
events narrated in the preceding chap
ter, and the fight Of Courtlandt and his
bride has ceased to excite comment and
gossip long since.
Already the year 1862 Is pregnant
with its greatest day, Sept. %, when the
martyr President issued his immortal
proclamation declaring the freedom Of
all slaves in the States and parts of
States then In rebellion.
Since that memorable night of dark
ness and storm, in October. 1858, the
face Of the mistress Of Rosemont has
never once been seen upon her hereditary
estate. Having been left In competent
hands, the plantation has yielded Its ac
customed income, all of which has been
transmitted through the bankers at No
bile to Lucian Courtlandt in whatever
part of the world he chanced to be.
For year the young lawyer and his
beautiful wife Travelled from place to
place In the Old World, following the
fashionable season from London to St.
Petersburg, returning along the shores
of the romantic Mediterranean.
1t had been a term of unalloyed delight
to Sylphde, and when, at the close of the
year, lovely baby boy came to join
their party at Nice, the young wife trem-
bled at her happiness. The horror of
her wedding night with its appalling rev.
elation now seemed so far away that she
often wondered whether it had been re-
ality indeed, and not the delirium of n
fevered dream. In the peace and Joy of
her maternity she persuaded herself that
cruel Fate had forgotten her and that
henceforth she was destined to live In
the auspicious light of favoring Fortune.
Oscar Couramont had given no sign
of life; perhaps he had repented; perhaps
he was dead. Sylphide could afford now
to wish him no evil, since his baleful
shadow had not crossed her sun-lit path.
OF course an explanation of her In
sensible cordition when found in her
chamber at Rosemont on that fatal night
was inevitable; she owed it to her hus.
band, and she gave it him according As
she thought best.
You see, | scarcely know how il was. -
she murmured rs she lay in his arms
| upon her recovery to consciousness. "but
when | entered my own room for the last
time and glanced about me upon the ia.
miliar objects, it seemed as IL father
came back to ME from the grave. his face
wan and pallid, his two eyes burning like
Goals of fire. | was terrified, and. fall
ing upon my knees, besought him tc
tell me in what had offended him, but
he only shook his head and slowly van
ished; and then ! shrieked and fell faint
ing"
Lucian Courtlandt smiled a trine un
easily rs he replied:
Il don't believe In visions myseIf
yours, however must have been some
what out Of the ordinary run of unlaIf
ghosts. Were you aware that your air,
visitor wore muddy boots and we
hatT
"Luclan"
1T is fact The print Of his I'M
has left an indelible stain upon Won,
sofa, and the muslin drapery of your toI
let table Is s"'led and torn"
With ready tact, Sylphide glanced nm
terror stricken into her husbands face
Then burglars must have entered m,
room while We were at churchvr al,
cried.
DO you have burglars In this part q
the country, Sylphidef" asked CourtIand
with an amused smile.
"Well-if not actual burglars" va,
the Innocent reply, 'thieves at least. anl
plenty Of them"