The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-02-21
CHAPTER XXI

ETHEL'S FLIGHT.
The darkness, as have said had come
on early, in consequence of the dense
clouds and falling rain.
It was after eight when Ethel left the
Hall, and then it was so dark under the
shading trees that she could not see a
step before her.
Unaccustomed to be abroad alone at SO
late an hour, her heart beat fast and
tears coursed over her white cheeks,
brought there by her fears as well as the
acute pain in her arm.
Once away from the house and beyond
the reach Of Sir Reginald's wrath, she
paused to consider whittier she should
20, and what she should do.
As she paused one thing seemed plain.
She could do nothing until physician
attended to her wounded arm.
In order to have this accomplished it
was evident that she must seek Dr. Ell
fenstein at his home.
She shrank from doing this.
Remembrances of their mutual ex-
periences of the evening before caused
her heart to f1utter at the very thought.
He might think it bold and unmaid-
enly thus to push herself into his pres
ence. .74'' 3d. 49,"
Still it could not be helped. Her arm
could not be raised, and on that arm she
depended now for her daily bread.
Bitterly she upbraided herself for
her strange neglect in reference to that
knife. +,
Oh, that she had been more careful,
and less easily unnerved.
| Che npnbt m h ouo oyporfnd nOypmpnfS
inside the room, where wild animal was
kept, and therefore counted it silly to
have been so overcome as to forget her
duty at the first sound she had heard.
Regrets, however, were useless; she
must hurry on.
How dark it was, and how difficult to
keep in the path!
The rain beat upon her in torrents, and
it seemed weary way before she passed
the porter's lodge.
Once in the road beyond, she could see
lights in windows Of dwelling houses far
down the road. :.
The first of them she knew was where
DIR. Elfenstein lived, and hope revived
once more, and she pressed on, thinking
soon to be there.
But the road seemed very rough. Great
ruts had been made in the earth, softened
by the long rain, and these caused her to
trip and fall twice.
Both times it had Jared her arm, and
drawn forth tears of anguish.
Wiping them away, she struggled to
her feet and persevered.
At last the gate was reached and
opened with difficulty; then again dizzy
feeling came over her, and just as her
feet stepped on the porch she fell for
ward in long, death-like swoon.
DR.. Elfenstein had gone out into the
country, after bis call at the -baronet's
to visit a rather critical case, and did
not return until quite late. AS he passed
the porter's lodge one of the servants be-
longing to the Hall stepped out, and
hailing him, bade him to drive there at
once, as his master was in terrible dis
treSS.
Without waiting for a second bidding
he turned into the grounds and had just
entered Sir Reginald's room when Ethel
glided past it in her fight from the
house.
1t was with surprise and intense won-
der that the physician saw the change o
few hours had wrought in his patient.
|
ter had produced the effects now mani
tested was perfectly apparent, and that
the good work of the past few weeks had
been entirely destroyed in some tit Of
passion was too obvious to be denied.
At once he saw that Sir Reginald was
in a worse condition than he had found
him in the first visit he had made after
the fall.
sWhat has done this?" he asked oi
Lady Constance. "What excitement has
he undergone since left him doing vel
at this afternoon?"
aNo one knows. Miss Nevergail came
/ to his room about Z. We then hearc
him speaking in furiously angry way
and after awhile his bell rang loud pea
for assistance. On reaching him, he wa
alone, suffering as you see him now"
sWhere was Miss Nevergail.
@She must have returned to her room
She has been sick all day." was th'
reply.
ayes; ! know" returned the Doctor.
Not until the clock struck ten coul'
DR.. Elfenstein leave the Hall, and thel
he was anticipating for the baronet
slecplesS night.
He himself felt tired, and greatly un
nerved. The strange events OF tn
night before could hardly yet be though
of calmly. All day he had deeply re
,, gretted no following up and learning tn
cause of their mutual fight; but when
ever he had thought OF it, EthePs plead
ing tones and shaddering form ha
pleaded an eloquent excuse.
i How pleasant was the remembrance
y her dependence on him m cn0se tefrlbi
moments!
Once or twice he found himself lonf
ing to be thus able 10 protect her q
= the remainder of his life: but then b
had been obliged to thrust the yearnin
from his heart, and remember that hi
stern duty lay in rougher channel, an
u that love could not be his guide, at leas
d for years to come.
d So thinking, he had reached his home
: given his horse to the man in WAITING
and then turned to enter his door,