Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-06-03
CHAPTER XVI.

While we have been absorbed in the
events recorded In the preceding chapters,
the fate of our deplorable Civil War has
been decided, and the glorious day of sal
walton for the slaves has dawned; the
martyr President has issued his immor-
tai proclamation declaring freedom In
the States and parts of States then In
rebellion, and there is not a foot that
presses the soil Of our great republic
whose owner need ever again hide his
head as he frames that humiliating
query: Am I not a man and a brother?'
The glad news had found Sylphide
Couramont out in her ~seclusion in the
great city; she received it calmly, tri-
umphantly; indeed, the tidings of the
death OF her cousin, Oscar Couramont,
shot down while skirmishing as a gueril-
la, apparently afforded her more joy; but
the receipt of her hireling's telegram up
on the same memorable day filled her
with a wild, savage delight that she was
powerless to control.
She paced her room, knotting her fin
gers In her long black tresses, emitting
sharp cries and brief laughs that would
have impressed an observer with the be-
lief that she had taken leave of her
senses.
Then she abruptly smote the bell upon
her table a ringing peal. To the faithful
Diana, who promptly answered the sum-
mons in person, she said:
Pack up two or three of my hand
honest costumes, lay put my travelling
dress, and order a cab to be at the door
at five o'clock this afternoon"
Are you going away?"
Yes, for a few days"
Where, Miss SylphT
"To Newport"
.
In the foggy dawn of the following
DAY, Camille, the serving man, fitted
like a shadow down Bellevue avenue and
skulked in at the gates Of the Courtlandt
villa. With a swift, fearful glance at
the closed blinds Of the house. he plunp-
ed IN amongst some shrubbery and so
MADE his way to the stables, cautiously
raised an unlocked window at the back
OF the building and vanished.
His unnecessary display of stealth was
ample evidence of the guilty frame of
mind under which he labored, since Mt
that early hour no one was astir, and had
he possessed the fortitude to glance
ABOUT him he would have perceived that
ms path was clear Of any prying eve.
But the wicked flee when no man nursu-
eth, and Camille was flying before the
scourge of a craven conscience. With
Lucian Courtlandt's frantic cries for boIn
ringing In his ears, he had left the villa
on the preceding day, unperceived in
the general excitement attendant upon
poor Claire's fall. ~
once safely In the stable, he quietly
closed the window, and heaving a deen
sigh of relief, flung himself into rho
nay, hoping to secure the advantage of
an hours sleep.
VAN hope! If he closed his lids over
MS burning eyes, they would av wide
staring open as If worked by irresisti.
Die springs over which he had no con.
troi. No sleep for him. and be could
only lie there-listening and WAITING for
ne ne knew not what. Presently the voice
" " lne ccachman, as he called to rouse
,ne sleeping groom, sent every drop of
mis- cowardly blood to his heart. LEAVING
MS limbs frozen and inert.
LOUIS passed; a lance of the risen
sun mashed in at a cob-webbed w;ndon
ABOVE him, and rested warmly upon tbs
ueao clover tops and sere timothy beods
winch formed his couch. At last a ho,,
rang and the coachman and groom left
tne stable for the villa kitchen to breat.
Iast. by this means Camille was mode
aware that 1t must be ten o'clock or af.
his suspense became ~unbearable: tho
neat OF the hay stined him, and with =
sroan ne crawled to the edge of his am.
bush and sprans lightly down mon .ho
foor. Two minutes In the bane1. sne
where the brushes and water ssrvo JO ~
MAKE MIN ~presentable, and then he tin.
toeu 70 the omen etahIo 49, "p.