The Iola register., 1901-04-26

Two squares away as tnt HylnB We
hicle passed him.
DR.. Brosnar was rescued from
bad complication by his especial treas
! ure, joe the driver.
"Go and bring your mother" he said,
| quickly, as he lifted the unconscious
| Somers from the carriage in front of
his Office. Don't lose one second!
Keep your mouth shut" Joe was out
of hearing before the doctor reached
his operating-room. The doctors as
sistant, half dressed, appeared quick
| ". Somers was stretched upon
table, and his wound critically exam
ined. The bullet had entered over and
| behind the right ear, and the side of
his head was clotted with blood. A
second wound an inch farther back
| became visible as the blood was washed
away, but probe carefully inserted
in the forward wound came out of
the other, touching the skull in pass
ing. There was no particle of brain
matter in the blood.
"Syncope from concussion," said
Brodnar. "Watch him carefully until
I return and do not permit him to
speak" The sound of wheels approach
ing caused him to descend the steps
three at time. He pressed back the
aged negro woman who was dismount-
ing,
ITO the same place, Joe! Hurry"
he said, and the door closed.
The woman so hastily secured was
none other than the "mammy" who
| l. &c l. 81 20 81
since infancy. She had been encour-
aged to absent herself for the night.
Trained under the old regime, with
sense of proprie torship in her old mis-
tress and daughter, with a deep and
.mpregnable pride in the family, she
needed no cautioning. Nevertheless
DR.. Brodnar said as they entered sd
lenty the deserted yard:
There has been an accident, man.
my. Ask no questions and answer
none. Permit nobody TO see your
young mistress. Do you understandf'
DE chile amt hut, young marstert"
mo. A friend was. Her mind has
been affected deeply hV her fathers
condition and this shock has upset her.
You must know nothing more of it,"
Frances sat as he had left her, in
the armch AIR. She offered no resistan ce
when they laid her Upon the bed and
administered an opiate. The stains OF
blood were carefully removed from
heg hands, and her wrapper changed
and Dr.. BrodHar prepared to depart
for the day was now breaking He re-
mombered the pistol. and was search
ing the floor for il, when the reaction
set in and Frances began to cry bit
; terly. Obeying his silent motion, nam
my passed into the dresSing-room and
he took the girls hand.
''The whole blame rests upon me-"
he said, gently. Keep quiet; will
see you through" And then cry burst
from him: What a fool what a fooll
And to think that Dick Somers-l" AT
,, sound of this name the girls grief be
came almost uncomfortable.
"He loved me-" she said, brokeniy
"And il has cost him his lifel"
Loved you'll Neverl If he had aimed
better, could forgive him." She wa'
silent.
"If he had aimed betterl"-then she
sat up with almost frantic energy.
"Yes. The wound is not fatal
Frances, Frances-back, my child
"Take me to him must. must &c
to him"
"You are simply mad!"
"He is my husband-I love hml
love himl"
Brodner groaned and turned away
his head. Suddenly the girl shivereC
and drew back, her gaze set fearfully
on something behind him.
"Close the window" she whispered
IN a changed voice, they may return.
"Why-what-whn do you mean p
He was upon his feet, strange ligh
in his face.
at came from that window" sh
whispered fearfully; 'some one fire.
through the Stats"
God in Heaven!" he cried, 81 thanl
> you! Dick! Dick! forgive mel" II
= plunged out into the gray dawn AM
;, left the girl amazed and terrified.
k CHAPTER III.
d Richmond at the time these event
+ were occurring was in tumult of eX
o citement The quarrel between tn
north and south in congress had lon
:, since reached the acute stage, an
S preparations were forming for tina
t titanic struggle which was to shak
S America for four long years. Sout,
n Carolina had led Off, followed by Ais
I bama, Mississippi, Florida. Georgif
S Louisiana and Texas. The capital Q
the confederacy was in the far soutf
A and while no one expected that Rich
:, mond was to become the center of pc
e litical intrigue. it had been easily fore
e seen that Virginia, being a slave stat,
y would join her southern sisters, an
|, that II war followed she would furnis
d tho battle ground by reason OF her gee
graphical position. Few people be
r lieVed in a serious conflict to come, bu
n there were some who foretold blood
=" struggle, and these we're among tn
r powerful, who gave time and directio
e to public sentiment.
e There was much discussion in stat
Il n