The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-02-13
Copyright. by RonERT BoSsEs's soSs.l
CHAPTER XXEL
CONTINUED.

10 know it, and keeping it from you
only aggravates the distress. Your
good old uncle is dead"
dead! Uncle Tom dead? 1t caa.
not be possible!"
''It is not only possible, but pain
full fact. The day You were brought
here raving about Winnie aud the lava
and the priests, Uncls Tom gava way
nnder the shock. He tried to do what
he could for you, but was compelled
to take to his bed. The next morn.
ing, as his attendant went to rouse
him, he was found dead. lie had
passed quietly away in the night.
"Dead" 1 murmured, as lay bacs
on my pillow and sighed weariiy..
"sYinnie dead, Uncle Tom dead, aud
that hateful pr;estess alive! 1 must
get well soon, Tillius. I'll tear that
she-wolf from her hiding-place and
slay her. All, what q cruel wretca
she is!'
Again there was peculiar look ez.
changed between Tilling and Gordon.
"But your words regarding this
priestess were very different while yo1
were raving," said Gordon, watching
me intently, and evidently moved
greatly. In my own grief I almost
forgot that he, loving my sister as he
had told me he did, must have felt the
loss poignantly. "You were continu.
ally calling her beautiful kaumai,
sad telling her that you loved her.
Iraised my hand deprecatiagly.
"Don't tell me any more, Gordon.
Let the bright vision that once en-.
thralled me sink behind the clold oi
hate that followed. Yes, had begun
to love her. All, Gordon, you could
not blame me if you had seen her one
day as saw her, melted to tears,
womanly woman instead OF heartless
priestess. Yes, loved her, Gordon.
But when I saw that horrible sight
that awful-ah, can't bear to repeat
it!-the love I felt for Kaumai turned
to hate, and the former passion only
intensified that hate. I must Kill
her!"
We were ell silent few moments.
A ha!f.choked sob camo from Gordon.
He looked away across the valley at
the distant mountains, md dashed q
tear from his eye. In his agitation he
rose from his chair and tralnped back
~ad forth on the porch. This was
slways Gordon's way when under ex.
Sitement.
81 think the time has como for an
explanation OF how you got hold OF
me-" I said. ''It is all so inexplica.
BILE. I fell on the rocks. I knew
that. But from that moment until
the day I woke with you aud Tillins
standing over me. I do not remember
O thing. It Is all a blank. do not
even know how long ago it was.
Gordon sat down again, and re.
covered his composure by an evident
effort OF the will.
seThere is go much to be said-sG
muoh to explain-c!i around that we
hardly know how to begin" he said.
"You do not even ask how long ago
your uncle died, or if he is buried?"
'Time seems to be o thing that is
beyond me-" replied. Until 1
know how long have been here sick,
I cannot form any conception OF
time"
"Ycu have been iast two weeks in
your bed," said Doctor Tilling.
"Then, of course, Uncle Tom is
buried. You attended to it properly.
did You not?"
eyes," said Gordon. sadly. eve
did all we could. You know you are
his sole heir and master of The Cora!s,
now"
Never mind that,"I said. "My
inheritance is not of so much moment
as my revenge" -
"When you arc sufficiently strong"
put in Doctor Tillins, who had been
quietly watching me. while he smoked
a cigar, there are sundry papers and
documents that must be attended to.
Berkton hos the will and few other
papers"
''Berkton cau be trasted," said;
";hey will keep. I want to hear how
Gordon found me, md what ho3 be.
C, ne of hin, the day he sent for me-"
Gordon d:ew nearer to me, and the
elaak of his sword seemed like music,
80 dear was this soldier to nae in my
Affections.
"You remember the letter I wrote
you, to meet me s.. Seacamp's hosel?'
he asked.
eyes, perfectly"
NI chancal to nyarhear a conYersa.