Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-09-27
CHAPTER VI
Surprise after Surprise.

CHAPTER VI
Surprise after Surprise.
1t was about an hour later, shortly
after Sherwood had composed himself
sufficiently to return home, when the
family at the doctors quarters were
lhonored by a visit from the colonel OF
the regiment.
The colonel was apt to drop in at
almost any time Of the day or even
ing, to see his girls" as he delighted
to call them.
A splendid looking old man was Col
onel Gray. with his white, though still
plentiful hair, his heavy, snowy NOUS
tache and his erect, military figure.
| His appearance was greeted by a
shout Of joy from Dorothy, who ran to
him and kissed him warmly. Florence
followed with a more sedate greeting.
The poor girl was suffering tortures.
Wallace was still concealed In the
store room. She had had no opportu-
nifty as yet OF giving him chance to
escape, nor, indeed, did she know
where he would be safe after leaving
there. It was q terrible strain upon
her In her already weak and nervous
condition, and there were moments
when she felt that she could not en-
dure It for another instant.
The other occupants Of the room
were Helen Dare, her handsome head
with its masses Of auburn hair bent
over bit of embroidery, Charlie Sher-
wood, who was pretty certain to be
somewhere near Dorothy when he was
off duty, and the surgeon himself,
who was apparently writing prescrip-
tions at his desk.
The little major looked up at the col
onels face for a moment, and then ex-
claimed impulsively, for Dorothy, fault
or virtue though it might be, always
spoke what was in her mind:
Whats up? Your face Is shining
with happiness"
The colonel, with one arm around
each of the sisters, answered joyously,
with sort Of abandon which those
who knew him best had never seen
him exhibit before: ...
Happiness! Why, I've got it on tap
for the whole world to drink"
What is 1t, uncle?" asked Florence,
feeling that 1t behooved her to speak.
and yet having only the faintest inter-
est in what his answer might be.
The coloners handsome, ruddy face
was simply beaming. beaming with a
Joy which had been a stranger to him
for many year.
What Is it, my girls?" he exclaim-
ed, gladness in every intonation. ITS
the delight of an old mans heart, a
bright fountain that springs up in the
parched desert, and makes the flowers
of love bloom with the tenderest MEM
ories." Then he drew letter from his
pocket, and went on in a voice which
quivered with emotion: 1--WE heard
from my boy Wallace"
Florence drew away, exerting every
bit of strength that there was in her
to keep herself in subsection. She sank
into a chair on the opposite side of
the table from Helen Dare, and, pick
ing up a bit Of work, bent her head
over it, trying to hide the expression
of her face, and her needle going in
and out mechanically.
where is your son, colonel?" asked
Charlie Sherwood.
"An officer in Gibbons command"
replied the colonel with pride he took
no pains to conceal.
"Gibbon knew him in the east, met
him at Gallatin's four weeks ago; he
had enlisted under Crook"
"Why didn't he come to you. uncle?"
asked Dorothy, who was still nesting
close to him, to the great envy OF
certain young man who was gazing
at her with his whole soul in his eyes.
He was asked that very question"
replied Colonel Gray, smiling, land
what do you think he said?"
| WHAT"
Wanted to earn his straps first"
And then the colonel laughed In pure
delight and pride. BLOOD will tell.
This" holding the letter aloft, ''is the
first word I've heard from him for a
long. long time. Ha! ha! ha! God
bless him!"
There was something susplciously
like tears in the old mans eyes. and
all that heard him would undoubtedly
have been deeply affected had not the
majority of them been too greatly con-
cerned with their own affairs.
But Charlie was not one Of these,
and he asked with genuine interest:
| What Is he like, colonel?"
| "Blcss you, have not set eyes on
him ,nce his dear mother died, and
In put him at school. I'll apply at once
for his transfer, and hereafter father
and son will fight their battles side by
side"
He Withdrew his arm from Dorothy
and crossed over to the doctor. Prob
ably he felt that he was exhibiting a
little too much of his inward senti-
ments.
We'll Sherwood, how are you?" he
said And then, as he caught sight
Of the doctors face, he exclaimed, in
voluntarily: why. what Is the mat
ter with you, man? You look all
knocked out"
do I, colonel?" asked Sherwood
looking up and attempting to smile
an attempt which he felt himself was
a ghastly failure and nothing like the
reality. I'm worried over some of our
patients" He felt that some sort OF
an explanation was essential Then
lowering his voice, so that the others
could not hear, he added: "That Indian
woman has the yellow fever"
Colonel Gray started back, aghast
This was news which indeed was
enough to stagger him.
1.-The devil." he muttered, beneath
his breath yellow Jack in Mon
tana?"
"A sporadic case" Sherwood hasten
ed to say. Very unusual, but fact