Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-04-08

duOCner uOuIn, suouio nave WoiAeu ny
passage out and come to you to demand
my rights. I'm tired Of this sort of
thing. You are my debtor for keeping
mum about that secret of your birth,
and I want the matter settled up"
A grayish pallor which the rouge but
served to accentuate, settled upon the
young wife's face, as she faltered, with
a violent struggle at self-command:
what do you demand?"
"What l demanded four years ago,
come next October; and I want to have
the thing arranged here and now, for In
six months every cent of your property
Is likely to be wiped out by this war
that Is going on"
"You still seek one-half of my proper
typ
IT want my half! was the dogged re-
tort.
"It Is no longer In my power to part
with It."
why not?'
81 have son and heir"
"You have a sonv he sneered; $50 I've
been told. Well, for his sake, then, you
had better comply with my wishes"
IT refuse!
$50 be it! Bear in mind that it Is you
who have declared war. Whatever hap
pens, you are alone responsible. I'm n
desperate man, Sylphide Couramont, and
I'm sick Of your trifing."
The cutting manner in which he pro-
nounced her maiden name struck Syl-
phide more powerfully than all his moods
She was dazed, wondering what he could
mean, dreading to seek an explanation.
When she came to herself she found that
group Of ladies and gentlemen had
entered the apartment, and that Oscar
Couramont had vanished. She braced
herself, and then sped wildly out into the
brilliantly illuminated corridor.
All about her the guests of the hotel
were leaving the dining hall, laughing
and chatting gaily. Into every face she
encountered she stared, as though bereft
of her senses. She even dscended the
remaining fight of stairs to the rotunda,
only to be driven back in very shame
by the crowd of men she met.
Her only thought was that she had
lost him, lost her only hope Of salvation
Too late she became convinced that he
was desperate, as he had said, and would
do-heaven only knew what. She dared
not think.
With tagging steps, clinging to the
stair rail for support, she dragged her
weary way up to her rooms. Outside the
door she paused moment to summon I'D
glimmer Of courage and a wan mock
cry of a smile. Then she cautiously
turned the knob and opened the door.
The lights had been turned low. Little
Leon had been laid among the pillows
upon the bed, and Diana slept the sleep
OF the just and weary, In her chair be.
fore the fire. With a low wall, that
seemed wrung from bleeding heart, the
wretched woman flung herself upon her
knees beside the bed, clasped the sleep
ing child in her arms, and rained pas
sionate kisses upon his soft, faxen curls
"Oh, my boy, my boy, my boy" she
sobbed. thank heaven, you are not old
: enough to guess your mothers woev'
oh, mother in heaven, darlir mother
hear me! strengthen and comfort me!
have not listened to the tongue of evi
gossip, yet the cross is heavy to bear
, Shield me, guard me, for am alone ant
In danger Save me the love of husband
and child; it's all askv'
In the chill gray of early dawn, Dian,
came to her and TOUGHER her shoulder
Missy Sylph, Missy Sylphw cried tn,
faithful creature, get up and 60 to bed =
/ Sylphide rose slowly and painfully
> Pressing her hands upon her aching eyes
she said:
II must have slept. Diana; need n,
more. See, it's morning had bette
dress for the day."
At ten o'clock a telegram was handed
D her from her husband Eagerly sh
: opened 1t and read its CHEEKY contents:
Have heard Of a lovely residence nea
| Yonkers. Shall so to see it before re
turning to you. Love to you and kisse
. for the boy"
s Heavens, how she kissed that scrap O
, senseiess paper! To the poor, agonize,
. soul II seemed like a ray of yiyifyin,
t sunlight let In upon her dungeon keep
a FROM the moment of Its receipt sh
/. frightened up. She fancied she felt
Q strong arm encircling her and supportin,
. her.
a Diana asked permission to take littl
Leon for a stroll In the square, and va
: readily permitted to do SO. When lef
& alone, poor Sylphide went to her trunks
i drew forth their contents and made 40
/ lection OF the costume which had bee,
d most praised by her husband in the han
n py days beyond the sea. 1t was a won
derful and beautiful confection of del,
s cate violet silk and rich old ivory -tinte,
!. laces that set of her marvellous brunett
d beauty to perfection. She added a spra
Q OF lovely pink roses to her bosom. an,
the faultless toilette was complete.
,. With Just the slightest bit of coouetr
.. she glanced at her enchanting refectio
h In the mirror when all was complets
u and seated herself In the embrasurs a
window that overlooked the square =
le watch for her child and await the a,
(, rival Of her husband.
1t Suddenly she heard the door of III