Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-01-04
CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.
1t had been Sir Henry! Enderby
had no doubt of that as he entered the
sick room. But he kept revolving in
his mind the new mystery. If Sir
Henry had seen David Lloyd nearly
six months ago, why had he kept ST.
lence on the subject and prevented the
law from taking its course?
Had 1t been out Of human desire
to save the miserable man from the
fate that would be inevitable once his
whereabouts and identity with the out
laWed man Gerard were discovered?
The dying man lay on his pillow
with closed eyes, looking so CHASTITY
that for moment fear took Enderby
that he was dead. Jasmine, seeing the
thought in his face. clutched his arm.
HE is only sleeping; he has moved
since l was I'M" she whispered, in an
anguished whisper.
Enderby felt his pulse; then nodded.
"Yes, he is sleeping; we can do
nothing" he said. "We must wait till
Doctor Bunthorne comes. He will not
be long. l shall stay with you till he
comes"
"Oh, no, you have other things to
do" exclaimed the girl. 1T is too
good Of you, but you must not do it.
l shall be all right alone"
The pitifulness of the position of the
poor child utterly alone in this great
city, friendless, forlorn, with the dy-
ing father whom she loved, who was
only, perhaps, to leave her legacy
of shame, struck upon Enderby's heart
again with strange force.
II shall not leave you, my poor little
child" he said, and instinctively his
hand sought hers and closed upon it.
Hers was cold and trembling; his
strong, warm, and full Of human SYM
pathy.
Jasmine's eyes rose to his face; but
he did not see the look. If he had,
perhaps it would have startled him
little. He did not know how, in the
midst Of an agony OF sorrow and
dread, the girls heart thrilled at his
touch as it had never thrilled in her
life before
They sat down together, Jasmine
with her eyes on her fathers face, and
set themselves to watch and wait. En-
derby thought Doctor Bunthorne would
arrive soon, and had made up his mind
to wait until the doctor came. But the
time passed, and he did not come; and
still David Lloyd slept on.
Enderby had an engagement with the
solicitor in his case at 4 o'clock, but
he felt he could not leave Jasmine
alone even if he broke 1t.
Suddenly, to the startled surprise of
both his watchers, the sick man opened
his eyes wide and fixed them upon
Enderby's face. There was conscious
ness In them, notwithstanding the
shadow that was ever creeping higher
and higher, and deepening and darken-
ing upon his face-such full conscious
ness that Enderby was startled.
"Mr. Fnderby," said the weak voice.
It was only whisper, and Enderby
h@d to bend his head to catch it. 1T
is you, is 1t not?"
1T is I, Mr.. Lloyd" said the young
man, while Jasmine, with hands tight
ly clasped on her breast. as if to keep
down its wild heaving, stood close to
her fathers pillow.
"Is there anything I can do for you?'
Eyes, yes" he muttered family, IL
I have been wandering in my mind, 1
think, I imagined strange things; but
now all is clear, even the fact that l
am dying, and my child, my little
Jasmine, is left alone to face poverty, !
perhaps shame. Oh, if had
but done that which I knew was right
for me to do! But now I am weak
I have not strength"
perhaps We can give you some
thing that will revive your strength a
little," said Enderby.
He motioned to Jasmine to bring
him a glass, and, dropping a little OF
the brandy into it. diluted it with wa
ter, and held 1t to the sick mans lips.
Lloyd was able to swallow it. and a
moment after faint glow Of color
came into his cheeks brightness into
his eyes. When he spoke his voice
had acquired new strength.
Eyes, that has given me new life."
He looked at Enderby eagerly. "You
are a barrister, Mr.. Enderby, and you
have been very kind to my poor girl.
There is no one in this city whom l |
ian entrust with my story but you. l |
shall tell it you, and leave it in your
hands to make what use Of it you |
leem right, for my child's sake"
"You have declaration to make? / |
shall take it down in writing, and you
will be able to sign it," exclaimed
1nderby.
He whispered to Jasmine, and in a
'ew minutes she had brought paper
md ink and set on little table by
lin.
Then she went to her fathers side,
md supported him in her arms as he
'poke-low. and sometimes pausing a
ong time for breath. but still dis
inctly enough.