Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-06-25
CHAPTER XIV.

J. At the sound Of the cry which proceeded
from her grand. fathers room, aid the loud
ringing of the bell which followed it, Ellinor
sprang from her bed, ap1 scarcely waiting to
wrap her dressing-gown around her, hastened,
in great alarm, to find out the cause Of the
disturbance.
She found the old gentlman lying with his
head and one arm hanging over the side of
the bed, quite insensible. A small table near
him was overturned, his Bible and candle
stick thrown upon the floor, and box in
which he was accustomed to keep his money
and private papers, which usually stood on a
shelf just at the head of the bed, had disap-
peared. These details, in the first moment of
terror, were scarcely apparent to Ellinor, who'
in an agony of grief, bent over her grand
fathers apparently lifeless form, calling him
by every endearing name, and striving IN
vain, by words and caresses, to evoke some
sign of consciousness.
The whole household was speedily aroused,
and one or two old family servants, who slept
on the ground-Aoor, came to their young
mistress aid. Tom, the Colonels special
attendant, lent all his efforts to restore his
master, while Cato, the butler, hurried Oft to
despatch a swift messenger for the doctor,
and gather rcinforcements from the negro
quarters, in case Of need
After what seemed an age of anxious wait
ing, DR.. Norwood arrived. He was greeted
by swarm of fexcited negroes, grouped around
the front steps, all eager to impart the news.
doctor thar's thief ben here and stole
ole massa's strong box and half murdered
him"
"You fool, how you know he half murdered
him? He done steal massa's money for true,
Doctor; but we didn't hear no gun fire, and
he's got off, Cato says"
"Cato says he come in troo de window, he
spec."
"But the front door was bust open."
"Get out ofthe way, all ofyou! A pack OF
nonsense! l must find out the truth of the
matter, muttered the doctor, as ne bent his
steps, full of anxiety, toward his old friends
apartment. Eliuor met him at the door.
"Oh, Doctor Norwood, thank God you are
come !!
"My dear, what's all this hear about
thieves and murder? What has happened% p
asked the doctor, taking her cold hands in his.
81 can hardly tell you. Grand-fathers
money is gone, and the servants say the house
was broken into; but oh! Doctor, he's quite
insensible, and nothing will rouse him. Do
you think they really have hurt him in any
way?"
The doctor followed her to the bedside,
and bending over the patient, examined him
carefully, before answering.
mo injury has been inflicted upon him.
he said presently, raising his head again.
"But the shock, whatever it was, was too
much for him. lie has had Il stroke.
"of paralysisi"
Eyes"
Elliuor wrung her hands. "Will he re-
cover? Oh, Doctor, it will not prove fatal,
will it
81 trust not. My dear, you must not give
way. 1 know you are sensible girl, and can
be relied on to assist me in my endeavors to
restore him. You must be calm"
Ellinor wiped away her flowing tears, and,
with strong effort, succeeded in mastering
her weakness. She was always ready to act
on an emergency, and this the sensible doctor
knew, when he appealed to her reason and
her capabilities. She was soon buslly en-
gagged in preparing and applying. the neces'
sary resforatives, under his direction. For
some hours, however, all efforts were trultless !;
and the doctors face became gravcr and more
anxious, as the night wore on, and still no
signs of returning consciousness appeared.
"Did he complain at all yesterday?" he
asked.
Ellinor first replied in the negative; but
she afterward recollected that he had telt a
little unwell before retiring for the night.
"To tell the truth, l have thought him
looking shaken and infrm for some weeks
past" said the doctor. II should not have
wondered at this occurrence, even if nothing
unusual had taken place. AS it is, am not
at all surprised.'
Toward sunrise, their uuremtting efforts
were at length crowned by a glimmer of sue
cess. Col Hollingwood opened his eyes, and
fixed them with look of recognition on his
grand ddaughter's face.
"Speak to him, Ellinor," said the doctor.
Ellinor knelt beside the bed, and putting
her face close to him, said gently-"1 hope
you arc better, now, dear Grandy." But he
only closed his eyes again, without attempting
to reply.
"Never mind" said DIR. Norwood, cheer
fully. awe must not expect too much all at
once but be satisfied with one good sign at
time. l cannot do any thing more for him
at present. We must give the means we have
used time to work. think he will gradually
come round"
."Do you really think %" said Ellinor;
cor do you say that only to comfort me-?
"Don't you know me better than to ask
such a question, Miss? l always tell the
honest truth, as thought you were aware
OF course" he added more seriously, "it is
more than | can undertake, to tell you that l
think he will entirely recover With his age
and failing constitution, that could not be
expectcd but there is a possibility of par
tial rccovery-nay, a Likelihood, l truly think
and in that case he may be spared to you for
some time longer. Meantime my dear, keep