Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-08-23
A DESERT CLAIM.
By MARY &. sTIOKNEY.
rcopyriehA tseA BY J. B. Appinoott company.l
CHAPTER K.

to open gates, with haunting idea that
they had somehow become miraculously
multiplied; that never before had there
been 80 many, but not until she drew
rein at the door did it occur to her that
she had been riding at speed which
was unmerciful on that hot morning.
The poor horse was painting painfully,
the hair on neck and rump furrowed
with moisture.
Mrs. Campbell exclaimed loudly when
she came to the door, her calico gown
pinned up with a reckless display of a
petticoat of the same material somewhat
dingier in hue, q mopcloth in her hand
explaining the occupation from which
she had been called For the lands
sake aliveI" she exoitedly cried, when
Edith had breathlessly explained her er-
rand. "Ain't the man got eyes in his
head? Seems like he can't know little
bit to go and get bit by a rattler-a
man grown. OF course I'll 90 right over,
though land knows what good it'll do.
All creation can't do anything but pour
whisky down his throat and trust in the
Lord"
"But the boys-will one Of them go
for doctor?' interrupted Edith i'm
patiently. 1--WE will pay them literally
for the trouble if they can get somebody
here in time"
"Why, now, one Of the boys would
70 and not ask nickel for it either,
for that matter, though goodness
Knows herself abruptly as
she saw the expression on her visitor g
face. "Oh, we'll, if you feel to want the
doctor, you want him, I pose, but the
boys they've both gone after load of
wood, and Josiah he started this morn
In to ride fence. The stock has been
breakin out again lately, and"-
"Then I must 60 myself, Mrs. Camp
BELL" infexible resolution on the girl g
pale face. "Wil you tell Mrs Ellery,
please?"
'Tell her what? That you've gone
where?" gasped the astonished woman,
nervelessly dropping the mop.
'Tel her that I have gone to Cheyenne
for the DOCTOR" called back the other
steadily, not turning in her saddle.
"But you never can! It's nigh on to 30
miles, and you don't know the wayr'
cried the good woman in excited expos
tulation. "And 1t won't be no manner Of
use, Miss Ellery. You can't get doctor
here in time to do anything, even if there
was anything to be done" " But Edith
was riding on around the turn in the
road as if she had been deaf
There was q stretch Of some three
miles Of bad sandy road, up hill all the
way. She was calmer now, feeling an
inexpressible relief in having definite
work laid out before her, even though
she was not little troubled in respect
to the way, as to which she had only a
general idea to guide her. Nelsine had
happened once when they were driving
to point out at the fork in the road at
the top of the hill which of the two
branching away from each other was
the one leading to Cheyenne Beyond
this she was sure of nothing, while she
was fully aware that to 60 astray on
that bewildering sea of plains would be
only too easy. And to 60 astray now,
when there was so little time to sparel
She shut her teeth sharply Oh her quiv-
ering under lip, choking back a sob.
Edith Ellery could not have been call
ed religious woman Although dec
orous attendant at church services,
with certain appreciation of the @s-
thetic beauty Of the liturgy Of the church
she called her own, her heart had never
been reused to its depths But there are
times when the most apathetic soul
must awake in instructive clinging to
that innate faith in a merciful, listen
ing God without which men might
we'll 90 mad In her heart sinking de-
spair, almost unconsciously the girl
raised her tear wet eyes, praying as she
never had prayed before in all the calm
security Of her happy life.
Over and over again she murmured
her one impassioned plea, finding strange
comfort in the unreasoning repetition,
and in the exalted mood that came upon
her it seemed like direct answer to her
cry, the idea which flashed upon her as
she faced the dividing point in the
roads. Itwas the one to the right which
led to Cheyenne, but now she remem-
bered that she could turn to the left and
60 to Hereford City instead, where. she
could telegraph for doctor, giving her
self the advantage of q road she had
travelled before, as we'll as saving no lit
tie valuable time She almost laughed
aloud in hysterical relief as the idea oc-
CURED to her. "Only 80 miles to Here
ford City. Only 80 miles! Surely we
can make that in time to save himp'
As compared with the greater distance
she had anticipated it seemed as moth
ing.
But it was a day Of dry, almost tropio-
al heat A film of hot air quivered over
the baking earth, and the cattle stood
still, staring with eyes Of helpless ap-
peal, now bending to the curling, fuzzy
grasses that seemed shriveling to ashes
beneath the sun S fierce fires Edith was
conscious of a weary effort, in noting
each smallest object along the way, in
resolutely keeping her thoughts from
turning backward Mrs Campbell's g
words were always ringing in her ears,
"All creation can't do anything but
trust in the Lor6- And ever, as in a