Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-12-20
CHAPTER IT
A II s t y n


the front of the house Everything was
enveloped in flood of moonlight. The
hne grasses upon the lawn glittered like
spears of ice with the heavily falling
dew drops. The call of night bird TO
Its mate was the only sound that broke
the stiffness. The beauty of the night
touched her deeply, and the song of the
nightingale more profoundly yet. She
leaned her head against the window frame
and her slight form shook with suppress
ed sobs. The thought came that every
minutes delay would make it more diff
cult for her lover to escape from the
house. In few hours the village would
be stirring. He would be seen by some
peasant going early aield, as he left the
grounds. She must at once summon him
from his hiding place. In a few min
utes he could be gone, and she would
breathe freely again.
Advancing ON tiptoe to the door of the
chamber, she turned the handle softly and
stepped out into the passage. The house
was perfectly quiet. In the semi-dark-
ness she crept timidly up the corridor,
feeling her way with the tips of her fin
gers against the old oaken wainscoting.
AT last her foot struck against d door
mat. She tried to recolect what door
mat it was. She stopped and passed her
hand over it. 1t was an old-fashioned
rag mat of American make, such as one
sees in the houses of middle class farm
ers in New England. 1t had been her
lovers request to have such a thing at
the door of his room. 1t reminded him
of his old home across the seas 1t was
all right. This was the apartment she
wanted. She placed her fingers upon the
handle of the door, opened it little way,
and called softly:
Charles !"
To her surprise there was no answer.
She opened the door wider yet, and went
in. The moonlight, shining in through
the window streamed over the carpet and
made every portion of the chamber plain
ly visible. She glanced quickly around.
To her intense astonishment the room
was empty. Trembling with fear and ex-
citement she again issued forth, and stood
once more in the corridor. At the very
moment that she did so, pistol shot
reverberated loudly through the chateau.
And then from all parts of the house Its
inmates rushed hurriedly.
1t was a rror-stricken assemblage of
men and women, aroused in the dead OF
the night by that sharp, ominous appall-
ing sound. In the supreme quiet of the
chateau the pistol shot had rung out with
terrible distinctness. Though terrified
H. al, 4ot rtoi in
knowledge that some dreadful tragedy
had taken place, Harriet Weldon did not
hesitate a moment. Dashing along the
corridor she flung aside the heavy drap-
cries which separated Nine. Roupells
sleeping apartment from her sitting room,
and bravely entered.
Face to face, NJ. Chabot and her lover
were standing. On the floor between
them, lying at full length, her face turn
ed upward, ghastly in the dim light OF the
solitary candle. lay Nine. Roupell. From
a bullet wound in her forehead, little
blood was slowly oozing on to the floor
and mating with its crimson flood the
gray, waving and carefully combed hair.
The room seemed suddenly TO fill with
people, all looking through kind of mist.
A CHASTITY, unwholesome pallor was on
each face. The ordinary proprieties OF
life were set at naught. The conven-
tionalities of dress were forgotten. Emily
was bending over the PROSTATE woman,
her fine features pale as death, but set
as IN marble and showing no trace OF
tears or womanly weakness. She seemed
the only collected one in the room; all
the rest stood gasping and staring, help-
less, bewildered. frightened group. Emily
evinced no surprise at seeing Van Llth
there so unexpectedly, as everyone else
did. With much presence of mind, she at
once turned her attention to the sufferer,
to see what could be done for her She
gave orders clearly and rapidly, and with
a marvellous self-command.
Lift her up and place her on the bed.
Keep her head raised. This pillow So
Bring me water, quickly
She bathed the cold. inanimate face;
she folded her handkerchief up into
wad and placed it over the fatal spot.
She bound over it as tightly as possible
a long bandage torn from the white Gov
erlet. Then she turned to Jean, the
coachman, who, hearing the disturbance
from the adjoining stables, had rushed
into the house accompanied by the gar
dener.
Take the fastest horse you have and
ride to the village. Send DR.. Croizet
up here; and then keep right straight on
into Paris. Here, take this with you
She turned to the writing table and
hastily penned the following note:
please come to us Immediately, and
bring with you the best surgeon you can
find. Aunt Ruth has been shot fear
fatally. Come at once, l beg of you, or
you may be too late.
EMILY WELDON"
She folded the note and addressed 1t to
"Dr. Paul Mason,
Rue de Reverdy, No "a"
"How long will it take you to deliver
that?" she asked, as she handed 1t to
tha roo Gilman