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

Wneu bne arose, ana all the mouse was
asleep. The heart-searching of that long
night had calmed her somewhat. Now
she was chiefly anxious to get away; to
seek forgetfulness of this sad discovery
In the immediate duty that lay before
her. In the silence of this pale, clear
morning she sat down and wrote a mes
sage of farewell, the terms of which she
had carefully, and not without some smit
ings of conscience, studied during the
long wakeful hours:
"Allt-nam-ba, Wednesday Morning.
Dear Archie-A grave duty calls
me suddenly away to the south. No
doubt you can guess what it is; and you
will understand how, in the meantime
at least, all our other plans and arrange
ments must yield to -. Probably, as
am anxious to catch the early boat at
Foyers, | may not see you to say good
bye; and 30 / send you this message.
From your affectionate YOLANDE."
She regarded this letter with much
self-humiliation. 1t was not frank. Per-
haps she had no right to write to him
50, without telling him of what had hap
pened the day before. And yet, again,
what time was there now for explana-
ton? and perhaps, as the days and the
months and the years went by, there
might never be need Of any explanation.
Her life was to be all different now.
The household began to stir. There
was a cracking Of wood in the kitchen
outside, Sandy could be heard opening
the doors of the coach house. Then Jane
put in an appearance, to finally close
her young mistress portmanteaus. And
then, everything having been got ready,
when she went downstairs to the dining
room, she was surprised to find her
father there. "Why did you get up SO
earlyr said she, in protest
"Do you think l was going to let you
leave without saying good-byeT he an
swered. you are looking a little better
this morning, Yolande-but not well, not
well. Are you sure you won't recon.
sider? Will you not wait a few days
accustom yourself to think of 1t, and
then go, If you will go, with Mr.. Short
lands?"
"Oh, no, that is all over, papa" said
she. THAT is all settled. l am going
this morning-now."
IL WAS dlulOSl III SlleuCe, dnu VIII Z
face overshadowed with gloom, that h1
saw the last prepara tions made. He fol
lowed her out to the dog cart. He him
self would fasten the rug round hel
knees, the morning being somewhat
chilly. And when they drove away ht
stood there for a long time regarding
them, until the dog cart disappeared a
the turning of the road, and Yoland'
was gone. This, then, was the end o.
that peaceful security that he had hoped
to find at Allt-nam-ba!
Yolande was not driving this morn
Ing; she had too many things to think of
But when they reached the bridge at thu
lower end of the loch, she told Sand!
to stop and took the reins.
Here is letter for Mr.. Leslie" sh.
said. you need not take it up to tn,
house; put 1t in the letter box at tn,
gate"
Then they drove on again. When the.
had climbed the hill she looked over t,
Lynn Towers, but she could not max
out any one at any of the windows
There were one or two stable lads abou
the out-houses, but otherwise no sign o
life. She was rather glad of that. l
he had waved his handkerchief to her
could she have answered that sigma
without further hypocrisy and shame
Little did he know what traitress wa
passing by. But indeed she was gradu
ally ceasing to reproach herself in thi
way, for the reason that she was ceasin
to think about herself at all. 1t was o
another that she was thinking. 1t wa
his future that concerned her. Wha
would all his after-life be like? Woul
there be some reparation? Would tim
heal that as it healed all things?
When she got to Gress she saw tha
Mrs. Bell was in the garden behind tn
house, and thither she made her way
Yolande's face was pale, but her man
ner was quite calm and firm.
"Well, here are doings" said tn
cheerful old lady. "And l was just hui
rying on to get few bit flowers for yt
Deed, ye're early this morning"
at is very kind of you, Mrs. Bell; bu
please do not trouble. You expected me
then? Mr. Melville told youW
THAT he did. And I'll Just be dc
y lighted to be of any kind of service to y
that is possible. I'll be ready to go IL
to Allt-nam-ba by midday; and II
thinking I'll take one O. the young lassie
wi me, in case there's any needcessit
for a helping hand. The other one wi
do very well to look after this place whe
both Mr.. Melville and me are away"
"But is he going-is he going away?
said Yolande, with a sudden alarm.
~ think he is; though it's no my plac
to ask" said Mrs. Bell, placidly. "Las
night saw he was putting some thing
In order In the house. And l jalouse h
stopped in the laboratory the whole nigh
through, for he never was in his bed; an
this morning l caught CLINT O. him gC
Ing out before any O. us was up. dar
say he was off to one O. the moorlan
lochs to have a last day at the trou
belize"
HE Is not here, then?" the girl e,
claimed, with dismay In her eyes. Mr.