Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-11-22
THE FARM IN THE HILLS.
A TALE OF MYSTERY.
By FLORENCE WARDEN.
Copyright, 1899, by Florence Warden.
CHAPTER vi.

The farmer scarcely waited to close
the door Of the room before question
ing the doctor.
"Will she get over 1t. sir? Will she
get over it? It's no use deceiving me,
sir. | know she's very Ill. But-will
my dear get over it? Or will she-will
She
His voice faltered and died away.
Great drops Of sweat stood upon his
forehead. He clutched the doctors
arm in grip OF iron.
"We must always hope for the best, "
began the doctor.
But ut these doubtful words the
farmer spurned him with so much vio-
lence that it was only by quick move
ment that Mason escaped being flung
down the stairs on the tiles Of the out
house below.
81 beg pardon. beg pardon. sir," )"
cried the farmer, contrite Immediately,
as he held out n beseeching hand to-
ward the guest he had moment be-
fore treated so roughly. But If you
knew how feel, what 1t would mean
to me Tiff my girl-my bonny girl
was to die"- Again his voice shook
SO much that It was almost inaudible
you'd forgive me-"
He was trembling so much that he
staggered and held on by the rough
stair rail for support. Mason. who
had gone down two or three steps,
looked up with warm pity into his
drawn and Quivering face.
Indeed" said the doctor, 81 am tell
ing you the truth when say you have
no need to give up hope Your daugh-
ter Is very Ill. there is no denying that.
But she is young. She has fine ply
sique, and we may well hope to pull
her through"
What do you call the fever. sir, that
she's got?'
Pneumonia"
"Ah! That comes Of cold, don't tt"
"Yes."
That's got by being out in all
weathers, looking after the live stock
when was i'll myself. Poor Gwyn!
My poor little Gwyn! If you knew
what she was like. sir; what sun
sine she is about the place, why you
wouldn't be surprised ar my taking
on so"
do you leave her alone up there"
asked Mason.
'No. sir. was up with her myself
all night, and her granny's been with
her all day. till Gwyn herself sent her
down stairs to get my tea for me. And
tonight it's her brothers turn, only
he's afraid, the blockhead!
'I'll do the watching tonight But
should like you to tell her who am;
that I'm doctor and that there's moth
ing to be alarmed about. She seems to
be afraid Of me-"
"Why. yes, sir; noticed 1t myself.
I'll speak to her. And thank you kind
ly, sir. for your offer. won't refuse,
for you'll know what to do for the
best. for sure. and you wouldn't let her
die, young thing like that, If you
could help it. sir; that know"
"Of course not. But you have more
to hope from her youth and strength
than from anything I or any one else
can do"
"And now come, sir, and have bite
Of something yourself. You must be
starved, after all these hours in the
cold. Come, sir; come, and you're
heartily welcome to the best we've
got"
Transformed into the most attentive
Of hosts to the guest who was ready to
try to save his daughter. the farmer
drew Mason into the kitchen. where
another figure, that OF a thlchset'
heavy looking lad Of IL or II. now COM
pleted the strange party.
He was sitting covering over the hre
in his rough shepherds dress. ana
when told by his father to lay the table
for supper, he rose clumsily, pulled his
hair by way Of salutation to the guest
and shambled awkwardly toward the
dresser in obedience.
This gentleman" said the farmer,
introducing Mason, "is doctor, and
he's promised to sit up with your Sis
ter, Tom. So you can make yourself
easy. you can go to bed yourself ana
snore yourself hoarse."
Gom raised his head at this intelli-
gence, and it was evident that he was
much relieved In his mind by 1t. He
saluted again and quickened his pace
as he laid the cloth on the table.
The old grandmother meanwhile sat
by the fire In exactly the same position
as when Mason had first entered the
house. And she watched the stranger
in exactly the same way as before,
moving her eyes, but not her head. and
looking, now that he was less dazzled
by the lights and able to take better
view Of her, more like witch than
ever.
The farmer, whose sense Of hospital
ity had grown keen with his gratitude
to the doctor. now insisted on his COM
inc up stairs again to his own room'
taking off his overcoat and his wet
boots and putting on a pair OF carpe'
slippers belonging to the farmer him
self.
This bedroom. which was over the
kitchen, contained two beds. like the
other, and was furnished In the same
plain and solid manner. An absence oi
the few small pictures and ornaments
which had relieved the severity or thv
back room was the chief point or DIS
tinction of the apartment occupied by
the farmer and his son. Everywhere
there was the same exquisite cleanli
ness: everywhere the same prevalence