The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-11-13

"Send for a doctor-oh, some one pray
20 for a doctor, or he will bleed to
deathw
But George Claris hardly concealed
the fact that that event would give
him satisfaction rather than annoy
ance; he did not dare to interfere,
however, when Nell gave orders to one
of the men who had crowded in, to go
to Stream for doctor.
"Who did it?' somebody, not the
landlord, presently asked.
Clifford was by this time hardly con-
scious. He had been laid on the sofa.
while Nell herself, keeping enough
presence Of mind to be Of use and to
SEE what the danger was, held her own
fingers to the wound to check the flow
of blood.
She heard the question and an
swcred it.
ut was Jem Stickels. lie struck
him through the glass"
This reply led to further investiga-
tions, and Jem was quickly discoV-
cred and brought into the room where
his victim lay. Unconscious though
he was, having been stunned severely,
Jem, Of course, got no pity from Nell.
And when some Of the men suggested
carrying him to the cottage where ne
lodged, which was within stones
throw of the inn, Nell made no sugges-
ton that he should remain where he
was, being unaffectedly glad to have
him taken out Of her sight.
Buxom Meg exchanged many nod
and wink and grin with the customers
from the bar, inspired by the utter alb
sorption Nell showed in her lover and
his danger.
"All my fault-my fault" the girl
kept murmuring, as she hung over
Clifford, watching his face, which had
grown pale, with straining eyes, and
listening anxiously to the breathing,
which told her that he was alive.
Then Meg became abruptly con-
scious that there was something in
this simple grief, this maidenly affec-
ton, too sacred for the gaze of the
rough, though sympathetic, group.
And she bundled them all, with large,
wide-sweeping gestures as of a gigan-
tic hen, back into the bar. And Nell
and her lover and her uncle were left
together.
George Claris, though he. too, was
somewhat touched, was uneasy and
suspicious.
"What was he doing down here"
he began. inquisitorially, when they
were left alone. "And what was he
up to that made Jem Stickels knife
him? No good, I'll be bound" grum-
bled he.
"Ie loves me. uncle. He has asked
me, weeks ago, to be his wife, but l
hadn't even promised; no, not a word.
but when he came to-day"
"Ah, what made him come tO-dayF
Nell hesitated, and then confessed,
in q low voice:
II sent for him."
George Claris mumbled his dissatis-
faction.
And what made Jem Stickels knife
him? Come, now, should have
thought you were above having any
thing to do with a. chap like him.
But I've seen him loafing about more'n
usual lately"
1T was not fault, of course" said
Nell, simply. "And of course he had
no right to-to-"
"To be jealous? So should ha'
thought. Still, he was jealous, eh"
II suppose so."
There was a short silence; then
George Ciaris spoke again:
"Well, lass, it's no use talking to
women, cause they've got their own
way O. doing things, whatever you say
to 'em. But you've brew'd yourself a
peck O. trouble between them two
chaps, and neither me nor anybody
but yourself can help you out OF it.
An mind, won't say I'll have this
chap turned out Of the house, though
I've a good mind to. But If the doc
tor says he's to be laid up here, III not
have you hangin' round. You'll just
60 away sharp to my sister in London.
DO you hear? I'll have him properly
nursed, that III promise, but it'll not
be by you. Do you hear"
Nell assented meekly. AS long as
Clifford was not made to suffer she
felt that there was nothing for it but
to submit.
Uncle and niece exchanged no more
words until the arrival of the doctor,
when George Claris told his niece to
put on her hat and to go to Miss Bos-
tails, where she was to remain until he
sent her luggage to her there, when
she was to start without delay Tor
London.
To be Continued.