Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-11-10

miss Winterbourne is still here.
then?" he said quickly, and indeed with
some appearance of anxiety in the pale,
handsome face.
Yes, sir"
"Will you be good enough to ask her if
l can see her for a moment?" he said,
at length. "She knows that | meant to
call on her."
''Please, sir, Miss Winterbourne told
me to say that She was very sorry, but
that she cannot see you. Her mother is
i'll, SIR" said Jane. Il think she is very
i'll, sir, but l would not say SO to my
young mistress, SIR"
"Of course not-of course not" he
said, absently; and then lie suddenly ask
ed, Has Miss Winterbourne sent for
her fatherr'
81 think not, sir. l think she is wait
ing to hear what the doctor says"
"Who is the doctor?"
She gave him both the name and nd
dress.
He sent her a message-some half hour
thereafter. ii was merely this:
Dear Yolande-I am deeply grieved
to have intruded upon you at such time.
Forgive me. / hope to hear better news;
but do not you trouble; L have made ar
rangements 80 that l shall know
j. NJ"
And Yolande put that note with others
for in truth she had carefully preserv-
ed every scrap of writing that he had
ever sent her; and it was with wistful
kind of satisfaction that at least he had
gone away her friend.
The doctor did not arrive till nearly
three o'clock, and she awaited his yer.
dict with an anxiety amounting to dis
tress. But he would say nothing def
mite. The fever had increased, certain
ly; but that was to be expected She re-
ported to him-as minutely as her agi-
tation allowed-how his directions had
been carried out in the interval, and he
approved. Then he begged her not to
be unduly alarmed, for this fever " as
the common attendant on the catching
of a sudden chill; and with similar vague
words Of reinsurance he left. But the
| moment he had gone she sat down and
| wrote to her father.
MIR. Winterbourne came down next
morning-rather guessing that the mat
ter was more serious than the girl had
| represented-and went straight to the
house. He sent for Jane and got it ar
| ranged that, while she took Yolande's
| place in the sick room for a few minutes,
Iolande should come downstairs and sec
| him in the ground floor parlor, which
was unoccupied. 1t is to be remembered
| that he had not seen his daughter since
she left the Highlands.
When Yolande came into the room
his eyes lighted up with gadness; but
the minute they were dimmed with tears
and the hands that took hers were
trembling-and he could hardly speak.
Child, child" said he, in a second or
so, how you are changed. You are
not well, Yolande; have you been ill?"
| oh, no, papa, am perfectly we'll"
AS she desired, he went and saw the
doctor, who spoke more plainly to him
than he had done to the girl of the posi-
BILE danger of such an attack, but also
said that nothing could be definitely pre-
dicted as yet. 1t was a question of the
strength Of the constitution. Mr.. Win
terbourne told him frankly who he was,
what his position was, and the whole sad
story; and the doctor perfectly agreed
with Yolande that it was most unadyisa-
BILE to risk the agitation likely to be pro-
duced If the poor woman were to be
confronted with her husband.
AS the days passed the fever seemed
to abate somewhat, but an alarming
prostration supervened. At length the
doctor said, on one occasion when Mr..
WlptprhOnrpn hoI 1aJ 1.
news:
Il think, Mr.. Winterbourne, if you
have no objection, | should like to have
consultation on this case. l am afraid
there is some complication"
Il hope you will have the best skill
that London can Afford" said Mr.. Win
terbourne, anxiously; for although the
doctor rather avoided looking him in the
face, the sound Of this phrase was omin-
| Gus.
But all the skill in London or any,
where else could not have saved this poor
victim from the fatal consequences of n
few moments thoughtlessness. The
wasted and enfeebled constitution had
| succumbed. But her brain remained
clear; as long as she could hold Yo-
| lahues hand, or even see the girl walk
ing about the room or seated in a chair.
she was content.
Il don't mind dying now," she said, or
rather whispered, on one occasion. "I
have seen you and know you; you have
been with me for awhile. 1t was like
an angel that you came to me; it was an
angel who sent you to me. am ready to
go now."
Mother, you must not talk like that!"
the girl exclaimed why, the nonsense
of it! How long, then, do you expect
me to be kept waiting for you, before
we can start for Bordighera together?'
1--WE shall never be at Bordighera TO-
gether," the mother said, absently-
never! never! But you may be, Yo-
lande; and | hope you will be happy
there, and always, for you deserve to
be. All, yes, you will be happy! Surely,
it cannot be otherwise-you, so beautiful
ond On pnbla- bao rtal ~