The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-05-09


CONTINUED.
It was Mrs. Hamilton, who coming
INTO the drawing-room few minutes
later, found her daughter fallen In
heap upon the floor, her hands
,lenched as If in maddening pain and
her poor, distraught, tortured face
pallid as if stamped with the seal OF
leath.
At first the shocked and horrifed
mother could not even call for help;
but as soon as her voice returned, the
whole household was in q state of the
widest confusion; and it was not un-
iii Doctor Macdonald arrived and as
sured her that Mary was not dead,
although sunk in a prolonged and
dangerous swoon, that Mrs. Hamilton
,ould put on the outward semblance
Of calmness. At length, the poor girl
seturned to consciousness, and the
long-drawn sighs and pitiful means
that then escaped her lips were harder
still to bear than the silence which had
preceded them.
With instructive precaution, the
Door mother had dismissed every one
from the room, except the physician,
st the first sign of returning con-
sciousness on the part of the child.
''No one except those who love her
--and Doctor Mao does love Polly
shall hear what she may say, poor
darling, if she ever speaks again!'
Something like this was the un-
formulated thought of Mrs. Hanlilton's
mind, and although she acted upon it,
she was hardly aware Of her own wis
dom in doing 30. But Mary did not
seem disposed to speak, only gazing
pitifully at her mother and at the doc
tor when she had sufficiently recovered
to recognize them. Then her eyes
filed with tears, which slowly rolled
down her pallid face, while strangling
gasps and sighs broke from her lips.
Mrs. Hamilton would have clasped
her daughter in her arms, and would
have held her head to her heart as
when o little child-for when had
Polly ever known a grief that she
could not sooth and hush and kiss
away-and it was maddening now that
she could not 80 much as put in words
her sympathy and sorrow. But Doctor
Macdonald checked her with an i'm
perative look, and placing his finger
on his lips indicated that the tears
which were now being forced from
Polly's eyes, and the sobs and sighs
that were shaking her slight form
would do more to carry off the first
weight of her sorrow than anything
that could be put into words.
"Let her weep" he whispered, per-
sently. Words will only stop the
flow of tears-let her weep. The
grief that dissolves in tears will never
break the heart"
Mrs. Hamilton could only reply by
frantic but helpless wringing of her
hands. Why should any one speak
of Polly's heart breaking? What cruel
grief had been cast on her innocent,
sweet child to cause such tears? Oh,
it was surely unjust Of heaven to tor
ture any one so good and kind and
gentle! Her dear little Polly, who
had never caused a moments pain or
sorrow to any living thing!
Meantime Polly wept silently, Bit
terly and with fearful sinking of the
heart-a terrible despair-as she told
herself over and over again the words
which had caused her anguish; but as
her tears increased, and as her sobs
grew more convulsive. and then slowly
calmed and finally ceased, the first,
awful burning pain of her grief passed
away, and she thought suddenly, and
with strange frantic hopefulness:
'There must be some mistake-I
did not quite understand, I know
am sure it cannot be 80 dreadful as
have thought"
Then suddenly sitting up, she said:
"Mamma, where is Rita? Won't
you send her to me? I must speak
with her! AM quite well now, quite
well-it was nothing but q shock, and
haven't quite understood--but I
must see Rita, and then, mamma dear,
afterward-I will tell You all about it. I"
''But, Polly
Doctor Macdonald quickly made q
sign to Mrs. Hamilton, and then said
to Polly:
"You shall do just as you please,
my dear. A nice, confidential talk
with your young friend will do you all
the good in the world; and if you will
promise to take certain bitter drink
that I will send you-very bitter, but
very toning and quieting for the nerves
II think I will say goodbye, for the
present."
He had taken Mary's hand while he
spoke and held his finger on her pulse
for just one minute, and then, gently
patting her cheek, he turned away,
and Mrs. Hamilton, promisingto send
Dolores Immediately, followed Doctor
Macdonald from the room.
This kind-hearted physician had
seen the inside workings of too many
households to ask any questions when
he saw signs OF sudden and terrible
mental and nervous trouble; but he
was certainly amazed to find them here; !;
for Mrs. Hamilton had already told
him all she knew of the condition of
her daughter, and that she had left her
in state of perfect health, to receive
visit from her fance, only half an
hour before the time she found her
utterly collapsed and unconscious on
the floor.
CTS there any danger, doctor?" she
asked. Don't deceive me. Is it her
heart? Is it some unknown malady