Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-09-22
CHAPTER XY.

Tic lOuB night, anu Always DtlOTb
Yolande's shut but sleepless eyes rose
vision after vision of that which she was
leaving forever behind-her girlhood So
quiet and beautiful, so rich in affection
and kindness, that appeared to her now;
she could scarce believe that it was her.
self she saw in those recurrent scenes, so
glad and joyous and light-hearted. That
was all over. Already it seemed far
away.
Toward morning she slept little, but
not much; however, ON the first. occasion
of her opening her eyes, she found that
! the gray light Of the new day was
around her. For an instant shock Of
fear overcame her-a sudden sense of
helplessness and alright She was so
strangely situated; she was drawing near
the great, dread city; she knew not what
lay before her; and she felt 30 much
alone. Despite herself, tears began to
trickle down her face, and her lips were
tremulous. This new day seemed terri
Bile, and she was helpless-and alone.
Dear me, MISS" said Jane happening
to wake up at this moment, what is the
matterY"
st is nothing" her young mistress
said. IL have scarcely slept at all
these two nights, and | feel rather weak
and-and-not very well. 1t is no mat.
ter"
But the tears fell faster now; and this
sense Of weakness and helplessness com
pletely overpowered her. She fairly
broke down.
Yoande had resolved, among other
things, that, while she would implicitly
obey Mr.. Melville's instructions about
making that appeal to her mother entire
ly unaided and unaccompanied, she might
also prudently follow her fathers advice
and get such help as was necessary, with
regard to preliminary arrangements, from
his solicitors; more especially as she had
met one of those gentlemen two or three
times, and so far was on friendly terms
with him. Accordingly, one of the first
things she did was to get into a cab,
accompanied by her maid and drive to
the offices of Lawrence Lang in Lin
coins Inn Fields. She asked for Mr..
Lang; and by and by was shown into
that gentlemban's room. He was a tall,
elderly person, with white hair, shrewd,
thin face, and humorous, good-natured
smile.
Take seat, Miss Winterbourne,"
said he. Every lucky you came now. In
another ten minutes l should have been
off to seek you"
"But how did you know"
"Oh, we lawyers are supposed to know
everything" he answered, good-natured'
ly. And l may tell you that know Of
the business that has brought you t.
London; and that we shall be most hap.
py to give you all the assistance in our
power"
But how can you know?" the CIR
said, bewildered. ''It was only the day
before yesterday 1 decided to go; and il
was only this morning reached London
|, Did my papa write to you, then, without
telling meY'
"My dear young lady, if were to an
swer your questions, you would no long
er believe in the omniscience of. law
!, yers" he said, with his grave smile
"No, no; you must assume that W,
know everything. And let me tell yot
: that the step you are taking, though i
is bold one, deserves to be successful
perhaps it will be successful because i
is bold one. l hope so. But you mus
be prepared for a shock. Your mothe
has been ill.,"
"Ah" said Yolande-but no more
She held her hands clasped.
! 81 say she has been ill.," said this ell
derly suave person, who seemed to re
gard the girl with a very kindly interest
"Now she is better. Three weeks ag
, my clerk found her unable to sign th
receipt that he usually brings away will
him; and l was about to write to you
father, when l thought l would wait
; day or two and see; and fortunately, sh
> got little better. However, you mus
be prepared to find her looking ILL an,
-and-well, l was going to say sh
might be incapable of recognizing you
, but forgot. In the meantime we shal
be pleased to be of every assistance t
you In our power in fact, we have bee
instructed to consider you as under ou
protection. AS for your personal safety
{ that need not alarm you. Your friend
may be anxious about you, no doubt
{ but the very worst that can happen vii
be little impertinence. You won't min
{ that. 1 shall have a policeman in plai
4 clothes standing by: if your maid shoul
consider it necessary, she can easil
| summon him to you. She will be inside
t he outside; so you have nothing to fear
4 "Then you know all how it has bee
:. arranged" she exclaimed.
e "Why, yes; it is our business here t
know everything" said he, laughing
! Though we are not allowed sometimes t
: say how we came by the information
$ Now what else can we do for you? lie
a me see. If your poor mother will g
: with you, you might wish to take her t
(; some quiet seaside place, perhaps, 70
r her health?'
. "Oh, yes; I wish to take her ava
t from London at once!" Yolande said. eal
erly.
q "Well a client of ours has Just lef
! some lodgings at Worthing-in fact, W
+ have recommended them, on one or tw
|