Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-09-17

gaSping Tor Dreatn, Sne waited loI HE
answer
1t seemed to her an interminablt
length of time before that answer
came. Sherwood had drawn some
slips Of paper toward him and was
preparing to write a prescription.
"Only a slight skirmish," he said;
nobody hurt" He paused an instant
and then added carelessly: jackson
says the new private, Jordan, desert
ed at the first fire."
White as ashes Florence's head
dropped upon the back Of the chair
her eyes half closed, and shuddering
moan broke from her pallid lips.
At the sound, Sherwood turned, and
alarmed at her appearance, rose has
tily and came toward her.
What Is it?" he asked, taking both
| her hands in his.
His touch seemed to restore the half
fainting woman to consciousness. She
opened her eyes and looked at him,
and, like a flash, it came to her that
both for her own sake and that OF
another, on no account must she be-
tray herself
Nothing" she answered, family
"Only a pain here in my heart. Won't
you give me the morphine. Sidney?"
1t was pitiful the pleading in that
last request Oh, how she longed for
90
knew the drug would bring. Thinking
only Of physical pain, Sherwood pitied
her and finally agreed to do as she
wished, provided that she would
promise to lie down at once. Other
wise, he said, the morphine would
have a contrary effect.
Florence gave the required promise,
and her husband, reassured as he saw
slight color again tingeing her pale
cheeks, returned to his desk to pre-
pare the hypodermic syringe.
by the way, Florence" he said. af-
ter a moment, speaking with his back
toward her, "in regard to the attack
on the coach this afternoon, was there
anything in the incident that remind
ed you Of our first meeting?"
"Why, yes" she answered, just lit
tie surprised at the question, ut was
during such an occurrence that you
rescued me from the Indians"
mo other similarity that you can
recall?"
mo. How? I don't understand"
But her heart was beginning to beat
again in that heavy, suffocating man
ner. Why had he brought up that day,
of all others the most terrible in all
her life. and for reasons which the
doctor was far from appreciating or
even suspecting?
ITO be sure" went on Sherwood still
busy with the syringe and drug a'
not noticing her agitation, ut is some
time ago. Don't you remember?'
NO" replied Florence, nervously.
why, what questions! What do you
mean?"
The doctor turned with the bottle In
his hand, and as her troubled eyes
sought his face she was somewhat re-
assured. His expression was so calm
and placid that surely he could have no
ulterior motive in bringing up this
subject. And such indeed was the
fact. 1t was purely chance, and a re-
semblance to the events of that day
that had caused the doctor to revert
to their first meeting.
Have l aroused your curiosity" he
said, laughing. Let me refresh your
memory. When"
But Florence interrupted him few
erishly.
mo, no." she exclaimed. "T remem-
ber 1t all. We, Dorothy and !, were
coming to join uncle-Colonel Gray.
The coach was attacked by the In
dians. One of them seized me just as
you dashed up with the cavalry and
put them to flight. Isn't that all?"
Not exactly" replied Sherwood. He
was glad to see her apparently inter-
ested in these "reminiscences, hoping
that it would take her mind off her
self and what he supposed was her
bodily pain. GAS I leaped from my
horse to your rescue. a young man was
clinging to a rear wheel. A shot from
my revolver, and you were free. AS
lifted you fainting in my arms l
turned just in time to see that tremb-
ling wretch spring upon my horse
and gallop away. Have you forgotten
that?"
mo" Florence forced herself to say,
although she was shivering like an
aspen Forgotten it! Had not that
scene been present with her, both
sleeping and waking, ever since!
"The next day my horse trotted into
camp minus his rider" went on Sher-
wood. "The boys said the reds had
got after him. l thought so too until
recently" Florence started and asked
herself in an agony Of terror what
was coming next. "Now, am not so
sure OF it."
Not sure Of It? Why?"
do you remember his face?"
"Why should II" she replied, her
voice sounding to her far away, and
the things in the room beginning to
swim about her.
ITO be sure" assented Sherwood,
entirely unconscious Of the effect pro-
duced by his words. And why should
IL? But 1 do. And it's my positive
belief that he's the same rascal that
deserted this afternoon-Private Jor-
dan"
Florence started to her feet with 4
gasping cry.
NO! MOI" she exclaimed with the
utmost vehemence, her faintness pass
ing from her as she saw the possible
danger if her husband should men,
ton this to others. you are mis-
| taken!"
Sherwood looked at her in amaze
ment. wondering what could be the
cause of such excitement but never
theless feeling only a faint curiosity
| I'm regard to II.