Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-08-16
A DESERT CLAIM.
By MARY E. sTIOKNEY.
roopyrishA 1874 By J. B. Lppincott company.l

tCopyrighA 1so& by J. B. Lippincott Company.l
CHAPTER VIII
How long she had been asleep she
could not at first guess, when she found
herself starting up in terror, with a
feeling that she had been rudely awak-
ened; that something was amiss. She
fancied there had been, or had she but
dSeamed it, that sound as of pistol shots?
Had the boys come home from the
dance, and was Jim
She sat up in the hammock, listening
breathlessly, her hands involuntarily
pressed against her beating heart The
moon was now high in the sky, and
sibilant whisperings sounded among the
trees as the breeze bent the yielding
branches hither and thither. The vine
leaves rustled softly in the murmurous
silence. and the dark wings Of moth
stirred gently pendulous spray of the
wild cucumber bloom. Edith, shivering
a little, for the night had grown colder,
presently assured that her fears had
been but the outcome Of q troubled
dream. was stealing softly to her room
when her steps were arrested by far.
off sound as of something falling, crack.
ing and breaking as it fell. And then
Of sudden she became conscious Of an
oppressive smell Of smoke, which had
been In her nostrils all the time. Firel
That was.it. The wind had risen, and
was it the barns?
She almost few around the corner Of
the house, looking up the hill, but all
seemed still as the dead in that fair
landscape Of gray and silver. She fan
cied that she heard sound Of horses
feet in the distance, but she could
scarce feel sure Of that as she listened
more intently, and in any event what
could that signifyf When might one not
hear such sounds at z ranch? She al
most laughed aloud now in reaction
from the unreasoning panic which had
possessed her. Never had she seen moon
light more glorious She could almost
distinguish the colors of the many flow
ers that starred the turf as she strolled
up the hill little way to look at the
remains Of the bonfire. Dense clouds OF
smoke were still curling up from the
coulee, and now and then a burnt out
branch fell to the bottom. This natural
ly explained the noises which had awak-
ened her. The cracking sounds might
well strike as pistol shots upon dream
er's ears.
She was turning to retrace her steps
when she stopped short, startled anew
by certain something which seemed
like the figure Of man standing mo-
tionless by the corral gate. She was no
coward, and she jumped at once to the
conclusion that the boys had come home
and had been unsaddling their horses.
This explained the sound of horses feet
to which she had listened. But while
now broad awake she was not fright
ened, she had no wish to meet any of
them here, feeling how singular her
conduct must appear to any one who
might encounter her wandering forth
alone at such an hour of the night
And so she stood still, biting her under
lip vexedly, while she studied the mo-
tionless blot against the gate, uncertain
whether her nerves were playing her
false again or not There was but mo-
ment Of doubt before her questioning
scrutiny was answered by an abrupt
movement on the part Of that other
figure, which had evidently been turned
in observation upon her. She drew back,
catching her breath sharply, to see that
it was Paul Brown hurrying toward her
with long, swinging stride.
"Miss Ellery-is it really your" he
gasped increduously as he came up to
her. II started to go up to the barn,
fancying that heard some sort Of a
noise not quite regular, when l happen
ed to catch sight Of you. Perhaps it
was you I heard going by the bunk
house, but could not be sure when
first saw you that it was not ghost.
"Only ghosts have any business
abroad at such an hour Of the night,
have theyr" she said, her tone icily re-
sentful, (which being the case think
I would better 90 in at once"
Zone moment, please, Miss Ellery,"
he urged, peremptorily barring the way,
although his tone was gentle, even i'm
ploring "Tell me how have offended
you"
Offended me-you?" she calculated,
her glance an insult.
IF you could imagine what it is to
me-" he went on hurriedly in choked
voice. II had been so proud and happy
for moment to think that we were al
most friends, and them
II cannot imagine what reason you
can assume" she frigidly interrupted,
Ito seem to call me to account. Will
you allow me to pass, please?"
"Oh, if you put it like that beg
pardon for detaining you, Miss Ellery,"
he said, standing aside with exaggerat-
ed courtesy. "Allow me to wish you
good night
She had taken half a dozen steps
when she halted, looking back uncer-
tainly. "Have the boys come back from
the dance YETI" she irrelevantly asked
him.
"No. They won't be back before
morning probably. They generally make
q NIGHT of IL when thev ce1ahrata in this