The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-01-30

ab luS rs IL tuey hueN mc, 1oul, oAe
man." said Gordon, and there was {
tremor in his usually even voice.
/ "What-what-is the matter with
me-" I asked. I thought Twas going
TO speak the words loudly and clearly
but my voice was but whisper.
''You lave been i'll, taat's all, saii
Doctor gillins. "Be perfectly qu;e;
now. Do not attempt to talk. Pretty
soon you may talk to General Gorio
,and learn oil about it. But Icw you
must rest"
feebly attempted to ask him what
my illness was, but he put his finger
on my lips and forbade me to speak.
Gordon shook his head warningly,
and I lay in silence, wondering what
Lad come over me to take my strength
away from rle.
4 dim recollection of horrid sig ghts
came to me-sights in which Winnie
was being injured in some way that ]
could no. understand. I seemed to
remember that ! had been away from
home, yet the room I was in was dis.
tinctly my own room at The Corals.
But my mind was too feeble to grasp
the true significance of the change.
Gordon and Tilling sat near me,
mute as statues, watching me, I
thought.
began to feel delicious drowsi
ness coming over me. I closed my
eyes and seemed to be dropping into
sweet slumber. Even then, as if the
voice came from a great distance, 7
heard Doctor Tilling say:
"He is going to sleep. That is the
best thing that could occur. 1t will
be the first natural sleep that he has
had, and will do more to restore his
strength than all my medicine. Let
him alone until he"
Consciousness endea there. I was
of.
do not know how long I slept, but
I awoke with q start. I thought I
heard some hateful voices chanting
weird, wild song to Pele. When I
awoke, the awful scenes I had been
through at Lanai came over me in
flood of terrible recollections. The
high-priests, the cruel, hateful priest
ess who pretended to believe me and
love me, and yet who had consigned
my sister to q horrible death.
1 was alone in my chamber.
Turning my head on my pillow I
noticed O small table standing near
me, and upon the table small call
bell, evidently placed there for my
use in the event of my waking when
no attendant was near-as really oc-
Cured.
The bell seemed to be within easy
reach. lifted myself upon one arm
and the effort was very great and
reached out the other to ring for some
one to come. The attempt was to9
much for me-. / reached the bell and
gave it one feeble blow; then Ilurched
forward and fell from the bed onto the
floor, knocking over the table and
sending the bell Gathering across the
room.
Instantly Gordon came rushing in.
"Myi" he exclaimed. "What did you
do?"
looked up at him from the floor,
and essayed to smile.
Gordon looked disheveled. He was
in his stocking-feet. He looked thin
and worn. 1t was as if he had spent
himself watching over my sick-bed,
and while was in my sound sleep he
had thrown himself down partly
dressed to get little rest.
He stopped down and picked me up
in his arms. I had never realized
how powerful he was. I was but
babe in his hands. He replaced me
on the bed.
"There, old fellow" no said, with q
half-glad smile on his face, ''you just
lie there and keep still. No more ac-
robatic feats and bell-ringing athletics.
You'll not be left alone again"
whats the matter with me, any
how?" I asked, my voice still little
better than a whisper.
"You have had brain-fever," he re-
piled, as he picked up the table and
placed it in another portion Of the
room and put the bell also out Of my
reach.
"Gordon, come here" I said.
He came close to ME.
"Where is she?" I asked.
A white, panied look came into his
face.
eve have never found her. We do
not know where she is, Tom. All We