Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-05-13


speaking. and Mrs. Burgess had entered
with radiant face, bearing several
sheets of manuscript in her hands. So
great was her excitement that she did
not heed the presence of the doctor, and
Fastening to her husband, she held the
manuscript before his eyes with treIn-
bling hands.
Look" she cried; "at last know the
secret which is killing our poor Claire
l have discovered the name of the man
she loves! Read these pages; they were
written by her last night"
Philip Burgess seized the proffered
sheets and ran his eye over their tear
blurred surface. Suddenly a name ar
rested his attention; he uttered an mar
ticulate cry, flung the manuscript upon
the table and grasped the doctor by both
hands
"Gresham!" he cried, joyfully, 81 ac-
cept! 1t is no longer question of ac-
quirng fortune at the price of my hon
or, at the cost of my name, but of saw
ing my daughters life"'
Claire herself was silent auditor of
the triumphant exclamations. She had
reached the open door and paused upon
the threshold, hearing her fathers words.
In the next moment she deserted her pre-
cious manuscript the secret of her life,
lying exposed upon the table, and with a
wailing cry of dismay she staggered for
ward and flung herself upon her mothers
breast.
''Oh, mother, motherw she sobbed,
burning flush mounting her pallid brow,
what have you donep'
pardon me, my child" replied Mrs.
Burgess soothingly, as she caressed the
dropping golden head; 'but l could not
see you suffer and remain in ignorance
of the cause another day."
"Well done, wife!' exclaimed Philip
Burgess; "had you not acted thus
promptly, should have rejected the hap
piness of Claire's life-for now she will
liven
MY life-my happinessw gasped the
young girl, raising her head and glancing
in dismay at her father; "oh, father, you
have not read the secret of my foolish
passion!' And when he nodded to her
with an assuring smile, she added, in de-
spair: 1T is a relic of our past happy
life which | have not had the strength
to combat against. Instead of forgetting
this man whom l met by chance in that
brilliant world now closed to us forever,
l have been so foolish as to cherish his
image in my heart"
"And justly, Claire" replied the old
gentleman; ARE you not worthy to bear
the proudest name in the land?"
"Ah, but if you knew his name" sob
bed the girl
II know it, and he will be here short
ly."
"He-here" gasped Claire, recoiling a
few steps and standing alone.
"4es-Lucian Courtlandt. He comes
to demand your hand in marriage
Completely overcome, Claire tottered
to the nearest chair and sank into it, and
1t Is doubtful If she heard Martha open
the door and announce:
"A lady and gentleman to see you!"
A moment later Lucian Courtlandt ap-
peared upon the threshold with his
naughty mother leaning upon his arm.
The young man was pallid but COM
posed, while Mrs. Courtlandt's stern fea-
lures were wreathed in smiles. A few
words of welcome were exchanged be-
tween Philip Burgess and his wife and
Mrs. Courtlandt, Claire meanwhile sit
ting there with dropping head, apparent
~ uHConsClOuS Oh ner surroundings.
Presently, however, the words of Mrs
Courtlandt penetrated her dulled hearing.
"Old friends" remarked that lady,
with atfable condescension, 81 have the
honor of demanding the hand of your
daughter Claire for my son Lucianw
At these words, Claire struggled to
her feet and threw herself into her moth
er's arms.
Poor child!" thought Lucian Court
landt, "how beautiful she ISL
Miss Burgess" said Mrs. Courtlandt.
gently are you willing to be my daugh-
ter?"
Poor Claire murmured some inarticu-
late words, and her head sank lower upon
her mothers breast.
Then Lucian advanced and took one
of the pendent, snowy hands.
Claire he murmured, will you be
my wife?"
But there was no reply; joy had de-
prived the happy victim of all sense, and
she lay unconscious in her mothers arns.
CHAPTER MI.
Two shor: weeks had made a startling
change in the circumstances of the Bur
CESS family. The lovely residence In
the neighborhood of Yonkers." which Lu-
c'an Courtlandt had teegraphed Sylphide
he mad gone to see during those brief
L.