The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-07-31
CHAPTER XX. -
(Continued.)


aight upon her face and soft note in
her musical voice. This is only a
swoon, Bess. she will be better pres
ently-she must be better presently!
There! See! She is smiling! Alicia.
dearest, you are better now? 1t was
dreadful, but it Is all over. Rub her
hands, Bess, and We'll make her stay
conscious"
But Alicia Graham had always been
a remarkably perfect woman phySi-
cally, and even this blow upon her
head. although it left her nervous and
weak for several days, proved no
more serious. The thoughtful atten-
tions Of her friends was very delight
full to her during these days of Ian.
guor, though not one Of them guessed
the thoughts that filled every waking
hour and throbbed in her heart and
her soul. John Winthrop had saved
her; had saved her when else she
would have died, they said. saying
nothing of his condition, lest it need
lessly startle her-and what was John
Winthrop's life or death to her? And
yet John winthrop had not come to
her or sent her any message during all
those days.
She would not ask the cause; she
was too proud to crave his tenderness;
she could speak quite calmly Of the
accident, and Mr.. Winthrop's kind
ness, but she did not once ask why he
remained away. never dreaming of the
cause. How could she know that he
was lying deadly i'll but three doors
from her across the corridor? To be
sure she had asked at first with her
usual thoughtfulnesS if he We're in
;jured. but her friends turned the Ques-
tion aside, and she never guessed that
he was dying giving her back to life.
Even Mrs. Winthrop came to her
when she was not with her son; and
still no one told her. How could they
know what it meant to this proud
woman whether or not her husbands
enemy came to her? Perhaps Beatrice
guessed, but if she did she gave no
sign. She had not forgiven John Win
throp, even though he lay dying after
saving her sisters life.
How strangely quiet the house il"
Alecia said one day, lying back among
the cushions Of her lounging chair at
the window, turning her sunny head
and meeting Beatrice's eyes. 81 have
noticed it so often these last few days.
why is it, Bee? Do they think that /
am very i'll, or is there anything truly
wrong more than know?"
She leaned forward in sudden new
born excitement. reaching out her
hands to her sister. faint. quivering
smile upon her lips, her eyes striving
to search out the truth in the others
quiet face. ~. s"-is >-'""
must not excite yourself, Ale
cia," said Beatrice, quite calmly, tax
ing her sisters hands in hers and pat
ting them affectionately. "Why should
you, indeed? The heat is intense
enough, surely, to make any one quiet.
1t may be because you are in this
room, instead Of out of doors that you
notice the quiet"
Alicia turned away her head rest
lessly upon the cushions, and watch
ing the group upon the sands, and the
lifting and falling Of the breakers, a
soft sigh on her lips.
perhaps you are right, DEAR" she
said, gently. "Only if you are deceiv-
ing me in any way shall find it hard
to forgive you. Bee! Life is too short
for MISUNDERSTANDING! 1 have
learned that. lying here"
She turned back to her sister again
after a moment, new touch upon her
face. II ( s t5.,,.. Ss"''
: There is always good in life, Bee
She added, softly, a wistful look IN
her eyes, a slow, radiant smile on her
lips, 'if we take it at its best aGa'
make it better! No one is ever all bad
or all good, and looking for the mote
in another's eye one may overlook the
deadly beam in ones own"
Beatrice changed color, and then
laughed, rising as Frances entered.
and STOPPING to kiss Alecia ere She
left the room.
NO wonder philosophers choose soli-ii
tude," she said, lightly. "if it brings
such wisdom, Alecia!'
II wish that this had never hap
pened," said Beatrice, as she descend
ed the staircase on leaving Alecia'si
room. "Who knows what it may lead!
to if he should recover? Alecia has.
such strange ideas Of honor: But at
ter all there is little fear, when they
say that he can scarcely survive to-