Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-11
CHAPTER X.

thrown into CONSERVATION. Ruth met me
with a pale, tear-stained face.
81 left by the first train after the tele-
gram reached me. Is he alive YETI"
Eyes; barely alive. OH it is so sud-
den-so terribly sudden, Mr.. MAXWELL"
''My poor childv taking the trembling
hands in my own. "And LOisY
PAINTED at first. But after few mo-
ments she was the same calm Lois that
she has always been. l don't know if
they will let you see him. DR.. Hayward
has set his face, like flint, against even
so much as whisper in the room. Col.
McRhea is there; has not left him mo-
ment since it happened. Lois is there,
too. Nobody is left to attend to things but
Lesley-and me; and l don't know how
Oh, 1t is dreadful!"
"Where is Mrs. HeywardY
''She comes over twice a day. I don't
know how we couldmanage at all without
her"
ppm going in to see Bob now" but her
startled face stopped me. ''What a
frightened bird it isw l exclaimed, TAX
ing her hand in mind again. "You need
not feel afraid, Ruthie. l shall make no
scene. If you cannottrustme, come with
lie to the door,
81 can trust you fully" her quivering
lips bringing into my mind memories of
the days when LOIS chung to me with just
such dependence. "But I'd like to 20
anyhow. l haven't dared even SO much
as to peep into the ROOM"
1t certainly would have required daring
in this young and trembling girl to look
in alone upon the scene which met our
eyes as | opened the door.
n darkened room; low couch, over
which McRhea, on the one side and Lois on
the other, were bending; pale, bandaged
face, and an incessant moaning.
They looked up as 1 entered; but there
was no surprise on the face of either.
They knew ! would come quickly.
With noiseless footsteps 1 stole to the
foot of the bed and looked long and earn
estly into the wounded mans face. But
no answering look moved the fixed and
CLASSY eyes.
There was nothing to be done but to
watch and wait; meanwhile Obeying both
the spirit and letter of DR.. Heyward's
law.
HWill it give you too much pain to tell
me how it happenedp' l asked Lois, when
we were standing in the dusk waiting for
DIR. Hayward.
There isn't much to tell" she an
swered, YEARLY. might before last he
came In just before tea looking if anything
more care-wOrn and desperate than ever.
For a short time after he came | was too
busy to go to him. You know, many
household duties fall to me now, and L
cannot always leave my work when
like. But as soon as / had arranged the
tea-table | went to him on the front
porch. and to my surprise | found DIN
there also. After / joined them, Robert
tried to appear more cheerful. and even
went so far as to make an effort to re-
store the old-time table-talk. After tea
he did not join us in the sitting-rOOm,
saying he preferred to sit on the porch.
do not know when he went to his room.
just before ten O'Clock we heard the pis-
toll shot. In his pocket we found a tele-
gram from a Savannah broker notifying
him of his losses in cotton"
She had spoken with great effort. Final
ly her voice failed altogether, and she
leaned her head YEARLY against the gate
The sound of wheels broke the painful
silence, and DIR. Hayward drove up rapid
ly.
A curt question, but full of intensest
anxiety, as the old man took Lois hand
and looked intently into her face.
81 am afraid to say how l think he is
doing, DOCTOR"
"No return of consciousness yet?V
"Absolutely nOne."
"Fever?'' he asked, somewhat more
CURLY, leading the way to the house.
81 think there is somewhat less fever"
Lois answered, dOubtfully.
"That's encouraging. My wife wanted
to come again Tonight, but told her mo-
most emphatically. McRhea, Maxwell
and l are to watch by Bob's bed tonight.
Even you are to be banished. If / am
not greatly mistaken, tonight is the
crisis"
''But, DOCTOR" Lois began, earnestly.
ekIlOnft frOulaIn mn with GhItf
tor" he exclaimed, petulantly. Il know
what you women mean when you begin
that way, and l won't have it. You and
my wife belong to the meekly, obstinate
species of the feminine genus. There are
some grapes under my buggy seat. Go,
get them. Bob will want them by this
time tomorrow"
He patted her cheek affectionately, al
though he resolutely refused to yield to
her wishes.
ut is a comfort to have yOq here" he
said, as Lois turned away. II can look to
you for calm judgment, at least. And
that's been quality sadly needed here, l
can tell YOU"
AS he ceased, we stopped before the
door of Roberts room.
''Has Ruth given you my orders about
this rOOmT'
''Yes.v
1udb Is well. OOI1b III bu6us
The doctor made his examination in ST.
lence, maintaining throughout that absO-
lutely eXpressiOnless face which physi-
clans seem to adopt by common con-
sent.
Finally he left the room, reckoning me
to follow.
$50 into town for more ice. We must
use it freely tonight. The fever has
abated considerably. He is better. l
am beginning to think there's a chance
for his life.''
'But that horrible stare, doctOr?"
"Brain, my friend. No wound in that.
That is always the way. Everyone of you
have seized upon the most palpable eff
fects of the main cause, and j can't open
the eyes of one of you to the true state OF
the case"
did not stop to explain to the irascible
but kindly old man that he had not so far
attempted to open my eyes to anything.
/ formed my own conclusions as to the
state of the patient from his few disjoint-
ed sentences, and made up my mind
that Bob,s recovery was not to be des.
paired of.
At the gate Lois stopped me.
''What did DIR. Hayward say?'
'Bob is better. There is chance fol
him. Keep up brave heart yet little
while longer, dear Lois"