The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-07-02
ION The Way
To The Opera.

There had been n long silence be-
tween the man and girl in the car
riage. IL suddenly struck him that she
had scarcely spoken save in monosyl-
bles since she accepted his offer OF
marriage.
He scanned her h~alf-avclted face
more closely. OF course, the din of
the street was not favorable to con-
versation, but why was she 30 excess
sively pale? Was il merely the cold
gleam of the electric lights2 Again
he looked at her, and hesitated; and
then laid his hand gently on her arm.
Mildredl-"
A childish scream OF terror from the
street broke in, followed by deeper
voices and the vague rush OF a gath
ering crowd. Mildred Allerton came
out of her abstraction with a start.
What was that? What has hap
pened?" she exclaimed.
Hayden threw up the window and
leaned out. The carriage had stopped.
Two or three people were carrying
something TO the pavement, something
helpless and inert, like a dead weight.
What's the matter2" he asked.
1Oh w u oNSi " - So''S
body SAID roughly.
Z" 1t wasn't my fault, sir" put in the
coachman. The little girl run right
in front of us, am he after her. We
were On them before | could pull up"
Miss Allerton gathered her wraps
about her.
Will you open the door," she
said to her companion.
My dear Mlldrcd," he protested,
81 do think hat all that is necessary
Thanks. 1 would rather go my
SELF" And she laid her hand on the
door.
Seeing that she was determined, he
unwillingly helped her out. The
crowd turned to stare at her.
Z" Was the little girl hurt, too2" she
asked.
"No, miss, she amt, only him. He
pulled her right out from under the
hosses' hOofs atore, they hit him.
That's HIM over there with the doctor,
see?"
Miss Allerton hesitated, then went
on, Hayden following in irritatcd 81
lence. A white flower fell from her
dress, showing crimson as soon as 1T
touched the pavement.
Come away" said Hayden, stop
ping short IN angry protest. 81 re-
fuse to countenance tins folly"
She paid no attention, but advanced
toward the two figures under the cleo
trio light, one lying motionless, the
looked down into the white upturned
face, her w grew almost as pale and
her clasped hands trembled. But
with n quick breath she regaincd her
self-control.
81 hope he is not badly hurt2" she
said.
"He is dying"-the brusque old
doctor checked himself. Women were
liable to scream or faint. "That is,
unless" He gave her a quick APP
praising look. "Do you know him2''
"Yes." She came closer. 81 was
in the carriage. And L saw = the
hlood"-with n shudder.
"Only q little cut" hastily inter
posed the doctor, fearful of her break
ing down. It's his head Pm afraid
of. Nothing rouses him."
May l try2" She knelt down be.
side him.
"H'm! Cant do any harm, l sup
pose," CHANGING around for the am.
bulance that had been summoned.
She laid her hand softly on the mans
forehead and looked INTO his wide
open, unseeing eyes. "Carrickl" she
pleaded. ooh, Carrick, don't you
know mc-Mlldred?"
The doctor, watching, gave a start.
a 4 hnltnua hn lnna hnDu, Ia,
said, pointing to a flicker of the rigid
eyelids. "Speak to him again"
Mildredl' Hayden came %hurrying
up, too impatient TO wait longer. Al
the sight of the PROSTATE figure a look
of hatred dashed from his eyes.
Mildred" he said again, imper-
atively, " this is no place for YOU"
Leave her alone" sharply interrupt
ed the doctor. "The mans in adeath
stupor. If she a rouse him, let her.
Hayden scOwled, but said no more.
The doctor turned his back and bent
over his patient again.
Those few seconds had wrought a
wonderful change. The strained eyes
had grown soft as they gazed up at
the girls face lowering above him like
a vision out of n cloud of light The
time was not long past when that face
had mean heaven upon earth to him.
Then it had become a torment, the
very thought of which was agony.
Now again it symbolized love and hope
and happiness-all the sweet pos
sibiliues of life. And now-he was
dying.
The bitterness OF it pierced even
through his dull apathy. His lips
moved. "Dyingl" They could just
guees at his meaning. Then his eyes
closed.
"Young lady, excuse my b~luntness,"
said the old doctor, but if you have
once been lovers, Let him fancy it is
80 still. Speak to himl Rouse him.
It's hls n chance"
She leaned over HIM again, her
hands clasping his closer.
{" You are not dying" she cried,
"yon will live, Carrick, for my sake;
rememberl"
HIS eyes Enclosed again and n quiv-
er almost like the ghost of a smile
passed over his iips.
"There's the a~mbulance!" The
doctor sprang up with q sharp breath
of relief. simultaneously appeared a
belated policeman who busted himself
with ordering back the crowd. The
doctor turned to Mildred Allerton. In
spite of his familiarity with such crises,