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

ChAHIEh vi.
Had a thunderbolt fallen out Of the
clear heaven, Sylphide could not have
been more amazed. For a moment or
two she stared blankly at the rigid face
before her, striving vainly to fathom
her intense surprise. At last speech re-
turned to her, and advancing a step, she
said:
IT beg your pardon, must have mis-
understood you. You seem to have left
my interest In the boy out Of the ques-
ton, madam"
II said advisedly-my sons child"
came the rigid response. Materially you
are his mother, suppose, but SO, un-
fortunately, any claims you may lay
upon him will be vastly to his detriment,
I must persist in calling him my sons
child and entirely ignore you in the mat
ter"
Madam
Had the naughty old lady possessed
the merest taint of cowardice In her
heart she must have been appalled, by the
silent exhibition of desperate, quivering
wrath that was presented to her view.
Feeling that the ominous silence that
ensusd was valuable time lost, Mrs.
Courtlandt said:
II am not in the least surprised at
your display Of impotent rage at finding
yourself bafled at last; 1 anticipated 1t
and have come prepared to parry it."
"Stop-where you are! Can you be SO
obtuse as not to learn that you are both
insulting a wife and outraging a moth
er?"
And can you be 80 witless as to fat
ter yourself that, sooner or later, your
destiny would not find you out and hunt
you DOWN.
my destiny, madam! What do you
mean?"
THAT tainted blood flows in your
veins, that you are slave, that you
have juggled my son into believing that
he was marrying his equal in station, and
have borne him an innocent child to a
heritage of woe!'
She rose as she spoke, and, SIS If crush
ed by this avalanche of horror, Sylphide
reooiled to a sofa and sank upon 1t, cov-
ering her face with her hands. Making
the most Of the advantage she had gain
cd, Mrs. Courtlandt continued:
| Il do not blame you for wishing to
marry and be 4 mother, indeed, feel
some pity for you, but can never for
give you for having trapped q free-born,
reputable family in your scheme"
She paused, and, without raising her
head, poor Sylphide murmured:
"Who told you of this thingT'
| 81 know not. received an anony-
nous communication this morning. stat
Ing the facts and inclosing proofs that
your father, Col. Couramont, married a
slave girl in Louisiana, and that you are
the offspring of that union. Whether
your father had married this half-breed
In good faith, or whether he had been
tricked, as my son has been, the papers
do not show, and know not"
Have you those proofs with you?'
Sylphide demanded, in tone out of
which all courage, all hope had depart
ed.
mo; they are at home, but shall be
at your disposal whenever you desire to
examine them"
Sylphide shook her head sadly and
clasped her hands in her lap with a ges.
ture of pitiful eloquence.
"Well," she faltered, brokenly, what
do you propose to do?"
Adopt Leon"
A spasm of intensest agony passed
over Sylphide's pallid face, but she com
manded herself, even granting that he,
indomitable spirit were not utterly
crushed.
And must part with my child?"
For his sake, yes"
And what Is to become of meP"
You can live like an honorable won,.
an, as no doubt you are, barring YOU,
culpable deception of my son."
And am l to be forever separated
from my boyT
"since you oblige me to say it." she
answered, firmly, "yes-forever."
And never see him againY
Mrs. Courtlandt hesitated. Perhap,
her mothers heart was troubled by the
piteous appeal.
Cro be continued.)