Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Lincoln County leader. (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 22, 1905)
I POLANDE BY WILLIAM BLACK CHAPTER XIV. Thi pale, clear glow of the dawn wag leiuug uu iu ujguer slopes 01 we mils wucu wjb aivw, ituu an uhs nouse was asleep. The heart-searching of that long sight had calmed her somewhat Now he was chiefly anxious to get away; to aeek fcrgetfulness 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 th 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 .t. Probably, as I am anxious to catch the early boat at Foyers, I may not see you to say good bye; and so I send you this message. From your affectionate YOLANDE." She regarded this letter with much .self-humiliation. It was not frank. Per sians she had no richt to write to him so, without telling him of what had hap pened the day before. And yet, again, what time was there now for explana tion? 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 crackling 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 lather there. "Why did you get up so early r said she, In protest "Do you think I was going to let yon leave without saying good-bye?" he an swered. "You are looking a little better this morning, Yolande but not well, not well. Are you sure you won't reoon aider? Will you not wait a few days, accustom yourself to thlpk of It and then go, if you will go, with Mr. Short' lands?" "Oh, no, that Is all over, papa," said she. "That is all settled. I am going mis morning now. It was almost in silence, and with a face overshadowed with gloom, that he saw the last preparations made. He fol lowed her out to the dog cart He. him self would fasten the rug round her knees, the morning being somewhat chilly. And when they drove away he stood there for a long time regarding them, until the dog cart disappeared at the turning of the road, and Yolande was gone. This, then, was the end of that peaceful security that he had hoped to find at Allt-nam-ba! Yolande was not driving this moru Ing; she had too many things to think of. But when they reached the bridge at the lower end of the loch, she told Sandy to stop and took the reins. "Here is a letter for Mr. Leslie," she said. "You need not take it up to the house; put It in the letter box at the gate. Then they drove on again. When they had climbed the hill she looked over to Lynn Towers, but she could not make out any one at any of the windows, There were one or two stable lads about , the out-houses, but otherwise no sign of life. She was rather glad of that. If he had waved his handkerchief to her, . could she have answered that signal without further hypocrisy and shame? Little did he know what traitress was passing by. Hut indeed she was gradu ally ceasing to reproach herself, in this -way, for the reason that she was ceasing to think about herself at all. It was of another that she was thinking. It was his future that concerned her. What -would all his after-life be like? Would there be some reparation? Would time heal that as it healed all things? When she got to Gress she saw thnt Mrs. Bell was in the garden behind the house, and thither she made her way. Yolande's face was pale, but her man ner was quite calm and firm. "Well, here are cjoings!" said th cheerful old lady. "And I was Just hur rying on to get a few bit flowers for ye. 'Deed, ye're early this morning." "It is very kind of you, Mrs. Bell; but please do not trouble. You expected me, then? Mr. Melville told you?" "That he did. And I'll just be de x lighted to be of any kind of service to ye that is possible. I'll be ready to go up to Allt-nam-ba by niiililay; and . I'm "thinking I'll take one o' the young lassies -wl' me, in case there's any needcessity for a helping hand. The other one will do very well to look after this place when "both Mr. Melville and me are away." "But is he going Is he going away?" said Yolande, with a sudden alarm. "I think he Is; though It's no my place to ask," said Mrs. Bell, placidly. "Last sight I saw he was putting some things in order In the house. And I jalouse he stopped in the laboratory the whole night through, for he never was In his bed; and this morning I caught a glint o' him go ing out before any o' us was up. I dare say he was off to one o' the moorland lochs to have a last day at the trout belike." "He Is not here, then?" the girl ex claimed, with dismay in her eyes. "Mrs. Bell, I must see him! Indeed, I cannot 80 until I have seen him."" She looked at her watch. Well, she had nearly half an hour to spare, and she was determined to Btay till the last minute If It were needful. But there was no figure coming along the road, no living thing visible on these vacant hill sides, nor a sign of life along the wide moorland of the village. She was grate ful for Mrs. Bell's talking; it lessened the overstrain of the suspense somehow; she had to force herself to listen In a measure. "Perhaps be Is not roinz awav " said Yolande. And then she added, suddenly, and with her face grown a deadly white: Mrs. Bell, that is Mr. Melville com ing down the hill. I wish to speak a word or two to him by himself." Oh, yea, yes; why not?" said Mrs. Bell, cheerfully. "I'm just going indoors to put a bit string round the flowers for ye. And there's a wee bit basket, too. ye maun take; I made a few sweets, and comfits, and such things for ye last night, that'll help to amuse ye on the journey." She did not hear; she was regarding him as he approached. His features were as pale as her own; his lips were thin and white. When he came to her he stood before her with his eyes cast down like one guilty. The pallor of his face was frightful. 'I I could not go away without a word of good-by." Here she stopped, fearful that her self-possession would desert her. Her hands were tightly clinched, and uncon sciously she was nervously fingering her engagement ring. "I do not see why the truth should not be said between us it Is the last time. I did not know, you did not know; It was all a misfortune; but I ought to have known I ought to have guarded myself; It Is I who am to blame. Well, if I have to suffer, it is no matter, it Is you that I am sorry for ' "Yolande, I cannot have you talk like that!" he exclaimed. "One moment," she said and strange ly enough her French accent seemed more marked In her speech, perhaps be cause Bhe was not thinking of any ac cent. "One moment. When I am gone away, do not think that I regret having met you and known you. It has been a misfortune for you; for me, no. It has been an honor to me that you were my friend, and an education also; you have shown me what this one or that one may be In the world! I had not known It be fore; you made me expect better things. It was you who showed me what I should do. Do not think that I shall forget what I owe you; whatever happens, I will try to think of what you would ex pect of me, and that will be my ambi tion. I wished to say this to you before I went away," said she, and her fingers were trembling somewhat despite her enforced calmness. "And also that that, If one cannot retrieve the past, if one has the misfortune to bring suffering on " "Yolande, Yolande," said he earnestly, and he looked up and looked into her eyes, "do not speak of it do not think of it any more! Put it behind you. You are no longer a girl; you are a woman; you have a woman's duties before you, Whatever is past, let that be over and gone. If any one is to blame, it has not been you. Look before you; forget what is behind. Do you know that it is not a light matter you have undertak en l He was firmer than she was; he re garded her calmly, though still his face was of a ghastly paleness, bhe hesitat ed for a moment or two; then she glanc ed around. "I wish you to to give me a flower," she said, "that I may take it with me. "No," he said at once. "No. Forgot everything that has happened here, ex cept the duty you owe to others. "That I have deserved," she said, in a low voice. "Good-by." She held out her hand, lie took It and held it, and there was a great compas sion in his eyes. To her they seemed glorified eyes, the eyes of a saint, full of a sad and yearning pity. "Y'olande," said he, and the tones of his voice seemed to reach her very heart, "I have faith in you, I shall hear of you. Be worthy of yourself. Now, God bless you and good-by." , "Adieu adieu!" she murmured; and then, white-faced and all trembling, but still dry-eyed and erect, she got through the house somehow, and out to the front, where Mrs. Bell was awaiting her by the side of the dog cart When she had driven away, Mrs. Bell remained for a minute or two looking af ter the departing vehicle and perhaps rather regretfully, too, for Bhe bad taken a great liking to this bright young Eng lish lady who had come into these wilds; but presently she was recalled from her reveries or-regrets by the calling of Mr. Melville. She went Into the house at once. "Now, Mrs. Bell," said he, and he seemed In an unusual hurry; "do you think one of the girls could hunt out for me the waterproof coat that has the strap attached to It for slinging over the shoulders? And I suppose she could pack me some bit of cold meat or some thing of the kind, and half a loaf, In a little parcel." ' "Dear me, sir, I will do that mysel'; but where are ye going, sir, if I may ask?" The fact that It was so unusual for Jack Melville to take any precautions of this kind even when ha was sta ug for a long day's fishing on ioms distant moorland loch that Mrs. Bell Instantly jumped to the conclusion that he was bent on some very desperate excursion. "Where am I going?" he said. "Why, across the hills to Kingussie, to catch the night train to London." CHAPTER XV. The train roared and jangled through the long Mack night; and always before 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 a 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 a shock of fear overcame her a sudden sense of helplessness and affright. She was so strangely situated; she was drawing near the great, dread city; she knew not what lay before her; and she felt so much alone. Despite herself, tears began to trickle down her face, and her lips were tremulous. This new day seemed terri ble, and she was helpless and aluue. "Dear me, miss," said Jane, happening to wake up at this moment, "what is the matter?" "It is nothing," her young mistress said. "I I have scarcely slept at all these two nights, and I feel rather weak and and not very well. It 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. Yolande had resolved, among other things, that, while she would implicitly obey Mr. Melville's instructions nbout making that appeal to her mother entire ly unaided and unaccompanied, she might also prudently follow her father s 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 coln's 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, a shrewd, thin face, and humorous, good-natured smile. "Take a seat. Miss Winterbourne," said he. "Very lucky you came now. In another ten minutes I should have beeu off to seek you." "But how did you know?" "Oh, we lawyers are supposed to know everything," he answered, good-natured ly. "And I may tell you that I know of the business that has brought you to London; and that we shall be most hap py to give you all the assistance in our power. "But how can you know?" the girl said, bewildered. "It was Only the day before yesterday I decided to go; and it was only this morning I reached London, Did my papa write to you, then, without telling me? "My dear young lady, If I 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 we know everything. And let me tell you that the step you are taking, though it Is a bold one, deserves to be successful; perhaps it will be successful because it Uon for lv, tue d9 of the bHb. griHld jury ls flfter him." Washing Is a bold one. I hope so. 'But you must , . . . . c be prepared for a shock. Your mother h?U8?, the Preference showing ton Star. has been ill." "Ah!" said Y'olande but no more. She held her hands clasped. "I say she has been ill," said this el derly suave person, who seemed to re gard the girl with a very kindly interest "Now she is better. Three weeks ago my clerk found her unable to sign the receipt that he usually brings away with him; and I was about to write to your father, when I thought I would wait a day or two and see; and fortunately, she got a little better. However, you must be prepared to find her looking ill; and and well, I was going to say she might be incapable of recognizing you; but I forgot In the meantime we shall be pleased to be of every assistance to you In our power, ln fact, we have been instructed to consider you as under our protection. As for your personal safety, that need not alarm you. Your friends may be anxious about you, no doubt; but the very worst that can happen will be a little Impertinence. You won't mind that. I shall have a policeman In plain clothes standing by; if your mnid should consider it necessary, she can easily summon him to you. ' She will be inside; he outside; so you have nothing to fear." "Then you know all how it has been arranged!" she exclaimed. "Why, yes; It is our business here to know everything," said he, laughing, "though we are not allowed sometimes to say how we came by the information. Now what else can we do for you? Let me see. If your poor mother will go with you, you might wish to take her to some quiet seaside place, perhaps, for ber health?" "Oh, yes; I wish to take her away from Loudon at once!" Yolande said, eag erly. "Well, a client of ours has Just left some lodgings at Worthing In fact, we have recommended them,' on one or two occasions, and we have been told that they gave satisfaction." "Will you give me the address, If you please?" He wrote the address on a card, and gave it to her. (To be continued.) Llttle minds are tamed and subdued by Bilsfortune, but great minds rise above It Irving CIRCUS WITHOUT A PARADE? Not for the Country Town, Says Show man Cites an tauip e. "The circus managers may cut out the street parade In the big cities," tia id a man who has bud experience with all sorts of shows, according ti the Cleveland Plain Dealer, "but the one day and one night stands will never turn out as well If they dou't IM.t enmaf lilixr tliin'it It, nup-ula is What makes the neonle In the rouii- ' try leave their plows lu the fie.d. , 'This Idea of cutting out the panid- reminds me of the Indians on the up- per Missouri river and the steamboats ' that used to carry the calliope. "I suppose you've heard a calliope, I never knew, honestly, why a white man should staud still when he heard one, especially If he could find the woods. But there wag something In It for the Indian. I have always had an idea that the man who conceived a steam calliope wns an Indian. "When the tipper Missouri river steamboats put ou the calliope the In- dlnns camped on the hills to hear the Infernal machine. The experiment proved a failure to the boatmen. Un less a man wns forced to make 4 land ing he would wait for a steamer that had no steam music. After one season the calliope was sent to the Junk shop. "Then the Indians rose. I was buy' J Ing mules for the government In the towns along the river and met Indians every day. They had a notion that because I was In bnslness for the gov- ernment I could make rnln or dry weather. One old buck who lived back of Omaha came to me and said thnt If the palefaces who hnd made toots on the river did not toot ngain he would fill up the Big Muddy with snags and stop navigation. "Ile further threatened that his tribe of young warriors would shoot she had two half-sisters; but I guess flint arrow-heads into the hulls of Bhe didn't know that I studied frac boats which did not toot. He said thnt tlons." Washington Life. his Bquaws depended upon the cal- Hope-he did not call It a calllope-to soothe their papooses. Unless the gov- ernment made the steamboats toot the Indians would burn the grasses on the prairie ana stop catue irom grazing and start a forest fire. About thnt time the Indians were sent farther West and nothing happened. "The country towns, however, will do something to the circus that doesn't put up a parade." BUYING UP THE BUYERS, Evil Growing; Common In the Busi ness Circles of Germany. Bribing employes who act as buy ers for mercantile houses or who ln the capacity of salesmen or sales women attend to customers ln retail shops, especially ln the department . tt-ix.j ..I... tt i i i stores, says umieu ouues consul ueu eral Guenther. Frankfort Is an abuse which has grown in Germany for con,e 01,11 1 enRnKed tor "le Clar some years and has caused many com- ence? Mrs- Dresser Oh. yes, but she plaints ln business circles. It has be- wouldn't do! She had nothing but blue come so serious that the Chambers of Besses to wear, and bine you know is Commerce and other mercantile on'y for Slrl ba,)le8- riuk'8 tor boy bodies have considered it necessary to I'bllndelphla Press, discuss measures for belief. "Are you going to Europe this snm- The commercial traveler or repre- nier?" "I don't know," answered Mrs. sentative of the manufacturer who Cumrox; "going to Europe Isn't what wishes to sell to the retail dealers, It used to be, you know. When a man will, in many cases, pay employes of travels now a lot of people turn up tho lntter commissions In enns ilern. mem io mo uuBiumeis m me simps weeiioRtess Mamma, snau i invite and keeping the goods of other firms Lucy Llttnay to my party? Mamma out of view. Some of the large re- Certalnfy. She Is the minister g daugu toll firms employ men or women to ter. "Do ministers daughters get In purchase supplies; others, when order- vlted everywhere?" "Always." "They Ing, consult their salespeople as to has lots of fun, I s'pose? I wish my making selections. pnpa was a minister' Btead of a mlser- Thls practice of bribing extends to able sinner." other branches of business. A case Mrg- Highhorse Of course, I am has Just been decided by the Supreme pnrtculnP nbout the family my son Court of Appeals at Cologne, where nmrnles lnto. is tllere any taint lu the technical manager of a cnr-bulld- lug concern was discharged by the company which hnd employed him be cause he accepted a commission from a firm for which he procured orders. The manager claimed that such gifts, that is, percentages pam mm in money, were customary nnd worked no injury to his employers, but the court held that the action constituted a gross brench of trust and that the manager was In duty bound to study the Interest of his employers and not to be Influenced by selfish considera tions. The lower court decided ngnlnst the manager and the Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed the decision. Wealth of iho Philippines. had been studying the war news, "If In the Philippines, ns In nil Its other I were to marry again I would marry land deals, the United States made a a Russian." "What's the trouble good bargain. The census of the Phil- now?" Inquired the husband tremulous ipplues shows thai the forests In the ly. "When you came home last night Islunds, ln which there nre 747 vorie- you left your hat and umbrella on the ties of woods, are worth about $3,000,- dining room table, your collar and 000,000, or double those of the States of necktie were under the chair and your Oregon and Washington, which are es- watch this morning Is run down. A peclally strong ln thnt particular asset Husslau can nt least retire ln good or Then there are great deposits of coal, u,,r( Iron and lead, and there are many In- i Mr I j sI)pose you find your dleatlons of gold and silver, all of ,ln,1(,lter very much Improved by her which represent a wealth of several tw0 yetirs- Htay at college? Mrs. billions more. The Philippines cost ns lYoudmotlier Ln, yes! Mary Ellza $20,000,000, in the lump sum which wo 1)(,tll , H C,rivoroti8 render now, and paid to Spoln. Possibly the mllltaiy Hlm freqmM1tiy Impoverishes music, and naval expenditures on account of 1(lt H,1(J n,.t bit Btlu.k UpHU0- the lslanfls cost us f 100,000,000 or um,nimo,m to everybody, nn' she never 5.-00,000,000. But even if these llgurea ivere quadrupled we would still be raluers ln that speculation ln a mone tary sense. J I T "Is U t6 that Batons are II y?n ,r lucolue?" "Worse l"a" l"u ' re "V1U5 ueyouu lutlr "'u oniyn ure. "The automobile bus not accomplish- mut'" 1" actual business," said the utilitarian. "Oh, yes, It bus. It has helped accident Insurance a great deal." Washington Star, "This meat," protested the bonrdor, "lg overdone." "Not exactly, It ain't," replied the waitress; "it's done over, This Is the same meat you had yes- terday." Philadelphia Tress. Flatbroke I' m Borrv T nn n't nn v nt bill now-you'U have to wait awhile. And I'd like a suit this spring, too. Tailor You'll get It. I'm going to start one to-morrow. Cleveland Leader. Tired Mother (to restless child) Now you set still. I've drug you ten miles to enjoy this entertainment and elinll I ti. tm r t A- II C"J"' 11 11 1 "ve lo 1 1111 ryTlin,r out of 'our uead!-Kansus City Independent, "You cnn always tell nn English- man," begnn the Britisher, boasttully. "But It would only be a waste of crcau, mternijjti.J the Yuakce, "lio- cause he thinks he knows it all." Philadelphia Ledger, "Bessie, haw many sisters has your new playmate " "She has one, mam- ma. She tried to fool me by savlnir Typewriter Agent-Pnrdon me, sir. Dut may t a8k w,mt ,s the of your typewrlter? Merchant (enthusl- astlcallyl ItIKht up to date. Elbow B,eeve8 ,nce In8ertIon 8nlrt.wnl8t uni . thnt 8ort of tIlIno.w Yri, Weekly. "What kind of a looking man Is that c,hnP bt,leton you Just mentioned? I dn belleve 1 h,,ve met him." "Well, 11 ou 8ee ,two Im' 0,r ln corn,r nny wutrie iiiiu uim ui infill UIOKH UOreu lO death, the other one Is Gabbleton." Puck. "What conclusion did your literary and debating society reach last night?" "Oh," answered Miss Cayenne, "the conclusion wns as usual chicken salad, Ice cream, and 'Good-night; had a perfectly lovely time.' " Washlng- . oiur. Mr. Dresser Didn't that new nurse Hie r noses &ua Wonder wnet ner n your blood, such as lunacy, for ln- gtnuce Mr Newrox No, madam, and there's not going to be either! I told my daughter If she married your son I'd cut her off without a cent. De- troft Frpe press Mrs. Mudge I do odmlre the women you draw, Mr. Penlnk. They lire so beautiful and so rollncd! Tell me, who Is your model? Mrs. Mndge rises In Mrs. Penlnk's opinion. Penlnk Oh, my wife always sits for me. Mrs. Mudge (with great surprise) You don't say so! Well, I think you're one of the cleverest men I .know1 Mrs. Penlnk's opinion of Mrs. Mudge falls below zero. Punch. I "My dear," said a patient wife who k (.alu.r wnt. for i,r ta d,.ei8. she Just runs In nom de plmi'e, nn' you know that makes onu feel tt, eoai fortuble. Llpplncott's.