The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1877-12-18

! WI htN w Wv '''i' WV
he added, standing upon the Il resho!d
has served you well. You just got rid
Of me in time. My aunt di'd this
morning and has left everything she
had to her nurse aal companions"
Then C got out into the street and
walked along with iaiterirg, >taggcr-
ing step. His eyes were wi'd-bis lace
lividly pale.
He went home and stood BY the body
of his aunt. There was a singular fas-
cina'ion about this dcath-scmethlng
very wonderful aud tempting in Il at
mysterious absolute rest. Suddenly he
b, came master of himself, OF the bitter
ness and despair Of the moment. lie
walked firmly to the door; but step
followed him, and, turning, he saw the
pale pclurbed face Of Miss Williams.
Then he remembered her presence in
the room, but his madness and grief
had prevented him from realizing 1t.
Just one word, Mr.. Melton saiu
she. "Of course You know that | will
not touch one cent Of this money"
1T doesn't matter now" he replied.
1T night as well be yours as any
body's"
but it is yours" she said.
oh, as f me." said Gerald. Il shall
not watt it, lie walked on through
the hall. Miss Williams followed him
s,ealthiy. lie entered his room, but
when the door shut him in, Amy re-
maincd hasrard and trembling. A grim
silence rcigned about her. She could
hear the clock tick in the dead woman $
room below. Suddenly she put both
her hands abou, the knob und opened
the door. Gerald tnrned quickly; there
was an ominous click the pistol fell a
little as it went off The blood solked
through his coat and trickled dawn
upon the floor. jest as Amy was about
sinking at his feet, Gerald pu' out his
hand to her.
"An accident, Miss Williams" he
said. "Please send Adams for The doc
tor. and then help me off with MI coat
This brought Any to herself. She
FASTENED to DO bis biddin-, dispatched
Adams. and returning again to Gerald,
s'anched the blood with strips o. pillow
case from the bed. When the doctor
came >he held the light itr him while
he proLed the wound aud extracted the
; bullet.
IAN inch or So higher" said tho
doctor, "and you would have been bu.
ried on the same day with your amt
ut was a lucky thing, then that
Miss Williams bad an errand to my
room when she did, said Gerald. ''As
she opened the door my hand fell and
the pistol went of.
"She has unconsciously saved your
iile," said the doctor Then IS Amy
left the roow. he added, Shes the fnc't
young woman know, aud would make
a capital nurse in my hospital. DO you
know what she thinks Of doing. BOW
that your aunt is @onr.''
"No," said Gerald, with grim smile /;
but | fancy she'll think OF something
livelier than that
"She has such an excellent physique
and splendid nerve" said the doctor.
but must 90, keep quiet as Jou can,
ond have Adams within call"
That night Gerald awoke with an in
toerable lhirs, his temples throbb d.
his eyes burned. Looking over at Ad-
ans. he found that he was sonnd asleep.
This, Of itself. was offensive TO Gerald.
What business had the man asleep
when he was suff ri"g? How horribly
oppressive the stiffness wrs, this semi
dark ness and loneliness . At that mo.
mcnt a porderous snore re'ounded ir"m
the thruat of the sturdy Adams. ana +,
Gerald almost lraped from his bed; it
was unendurabc. He stretched over
his sonnd arm. aud reaching pIloS,
threw it with all his might at the un
con>clous uan. but, in spite Of the
agony the movement cost him, it was a
futile one. The riilnw fell far short Of
the object, and Gerald sOnh back with il
Sroan.
But suddenly the soft touch Of wo-
mans hand fill teuderiy upon his fore
head. and the sweet tones Of u woman 5
VOICE fell soolhingly uron lis car.
1T is time i"r your medicine said
Amy, and put The cup to lis lips. Ger
aid drank as if it were nectar. Then
size arranged his pillows for him. aud
was about re,reaiing from the ro III
when he family ca,!ed fur Grins.--
Then he thought his lo1d was too high,
or perhaps rifle low evcrr move
men, caused him in'olrrable agony, but
he hated to be alone with Adams again.
Besides. he was curious about this vo-
man. She must really have OWNED
his motives. aud come 10 him to say"
his .ifc. She was again about to leave
him. but he put his hand upon her to
detan her, and found that it t'emblcd
little beneath lis touch.
" ur baud didn't trouble when you
held the lanp for the doctor" sid
Gerald. ale vars YOU for u rurs. in
lis hospital, but | told him you'd p'e'
fer something more cheerful"
why, think Id like IT," said Any
"You know | must DO something"
Il don't Sc TIE necessity" raid Ger
aid you have my aum's money, and Il