Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-04-18
MAY MoRELAND.
CHAPTER VI.
BY NJ. A. RIED.

ksA "a Il up
IN and caught the girls tremb-
JG9l ling hands in her own.
"Be quiet a moment, Elsie, tell me
who is out there"
Cdr. Jordan has gone and some
one else. Oh! Miss May, come, do
come. Mother sent me for YOU"
1t required but few moments for
May to have her horse saddled, and
in short time she and Elsie alighted
at the cottage. They found Mrs.
Stanley in faint and DIR. Jordon
bending over Bernard, who lay upon
the lounge, with blood on the pillows,
on the floor, and his clothing stained
with the crimson dye. AS May came
to his side, DR.. Jordan looked up at
her.
"There is no sign of life, Miss
Moreland, / think he is dead"
May stood a moment gazing on the
white, white face; she laid her soft,
warm hand on the high, broad fore
head and felt the dews of death there ;
then she turned away and went to
Mrs. Stanley. She and Elsie succeed
ed in restoring the sorrow-stricken
mother to consciousness and led her
from the room. Then May came
back to where Bernard lay.
"Miss Moreland," said DIR. Jordon,
cone of us must ride back to town for
assistance; will you go or stay here?'
81 will stay here" she said, and he
left her. When he was gone May
stopped over Bernard, and pushed
back the damp locks from his fore
head. ooh! Bernard, my friend.'
1t was all she said. No tear fell upon
the face which had so often brighten
ed at her coming. None could have
told she suffered, save by the firm sci
lips and the light gone out of the
midnight eyes. go Bernard, Ber
nard my friend !" Twice she said it
passing her slender fingers caressingly
through the mass of waving hair
then, hearing footsteps, she turned
and sat down away from the body O
her friend. DIR. JOrdon and Others
came in and she turned and left thu
room.
Mrs. Stanley passed from one faint
ing fit to another, and May, finding
her services indispensable, remained
with them.
Toward midnight an indescribabl,
feeling Of restlessness took possession
of May. Something she could no
understand, warned her to go home
AT length unable to bear it an,
longer, she told DIR. Jordon.
Nothing but excitement" hesaid
ego and lie down, you need rest"
She went at once and lay down
How long she lay there she knew
not, if she slept she could not tell
She was only conscious Of starting
quickly up, and seeing Robert stand
ing at her side. She spoke to him
but he turned quickly and passe,
through the door into the room wher
the dead man lay. She sprang
her feet, and in an instant opened tn
door and stood within the room.
DIR. Jordon looked up inquiringl
at her presence, another gentlema
opened his sleepy blue eyes and SUI
veyed her indifferently; while ar
other folded the paper he had bee
reading and seemed to await he
commands.
"Where is Robert, DR.. JOrdon ?"
"Robert! He is at home, l SUI
pose, l saw HMM town this evening.
"This is no time for testing, sir.
saw Robert enter this room Il minut
ago, through this door"
"MIiss Moreland has been dream
ing" said the sleepy-eyed gentleman
while DR.. Jordon looked at May ;
ifhe thought her slightly crazed.
81 have not been dreaming, 81
DR.. Jordon, l want my horse"
"Your horse? at this time ofnigh
where are you going"
"Home, Immediately. D0n'tstan