Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-10-11

great anu WOTlu ElShinS ihuSh Aoi
Helen was his legitimate wife, and
with Florence gone, he could CLAIM
her! Surely the love she had onc'
evinced for him had not burned t.
ashes, and If there was the least tin!
spark left there, the flame of his owl
passion could rekindle it.
His reflections were interrupted b!
the voice of Dorothy, who, at th'
head of the stairs called down to him
Sidney, Florence Is in terrible
state Of nervousness and wants t.
know if you will give her the NOR
phine now"
He sprang to his feet, and cried 81
excitedly that it amazed and frighten'
ed the little major:
"Ah, the morphine! No! no! no."
1t was the last protest of fast van
ishing conscience.
why" said Dorothy, hesitatingly
at a loss to account for his extraor-
binary perturbation, what ails you
Sidney? Do, please. She says she
can't sleep without it."
Cant sleep, eh?" repeated Sherwood
laughing nervously. Indeed! Well
yes. then. No! no! Well, well, very
well-yes. Send her here"
Dorothy turned to go, with a puzzled
look on her fair young face, but paus-
ed abruptly as he called to her:
q n
ment his senses asserting themselves
and casting an anchor to windward
for any possible future complications
you labeled those bottles this morn
ing?"
Yes" replied Dorothy. confidently
Didn't you look them over?' And
then she laughed lightly. 'If any one
gets dose of castor oil instead, OF
peppermint. charge it to me-"
Send Florence here!"
The little major vanished to obey his
mandate. She was entirely unsuspi-
cious. Poor child, why should she
have had any suspicious?
Sherwood covered his face with his
hands. awaiting he scarcely knew
what. Circumstances must be his
guide. And yet in that he deceived
himself, for his mind, distorted, dis
eased though it was, was already
made up.
He was aroused by light touch
upon his arm, and raised his head to
see his wife standing by his side.
The poor girls heart was aching
until she thought and even hoped ii
would stop beating.
And yet, ever since her marriage she
had striven with all her strength to be
a good wife, and, in spite Of all, she
would until the end.
Are you angry with me, Sidney?
she asked, timidly.
"Angry?" he answered, and his voice
sounded to him far away. "Why?"
Becsuse-because I plead for poor
Wallace"
The look upon her face, and the
piteous tone in her voice, would have
touched any one who was not so pos
sessed by one idea as was the person
addressed. But, in the condition he
was, Sherwood was not in the least
affected.
"Well. own," he said, slowly and
haltingly, that it did shock me to see
my wife in the arms Of another man."
The color rose with a rush into
Florences pale cheeks. She felt that
he had a right to blame her.
We've were such friends, you
know" she said. lamely.
Nothing more?"
She realized what he was insinuat-
ing. but. knowing that he had a right
TO complain. passed 1t over.
you are my husband. Sidney, and
I have always been true to YOU"
Yes. yes. of course" was the wea-
w, Indifferent response.
And you will give me the morphine
now?" she asked, partly because she
really craved the drug. and partly be-
cause she longed to drop the subject
under discussion.
But the effect upon Sherwood of this
request was electrical. He started
from his chair with a wild, hunted
look in his eyes.
mo! no! no." he cried, eXcitedly
And then, forcing himself to calmness
added as quietly as he could: "Try-
try and sleep tonight without it. To-
morrow you shall have some"
Il have tried, Sidney" protested
Florence. plaintively, for the last three
nights. Give me enough so that may
sleep tonight without dreaming"
sleep without dreaming!" re-
peated Sherwood. mechanically, his
eyes fixed on vacancy, and yet out OF
that vacancy growing a vision of the
future.
Yes. won't you get it for me?
Yes, in a moment. Wait! watt"
He was resolved what to do, and yet
he longed to put off the decisive mo-
ment.
"Oh, l know you are tired out" said
Florence, laying her hand upon his
shoulder pityingiy, almost caressingly
fer she felt she owed him reparatior
for what had occurred. Let me get
it. Can't II"
Sherwood raised his head, his eyes
cleaning with a dull light.
DO you think you cOuld?' he asked
each word falling from his lips with
manifest effort.
Let me see. I've seen you do it sc
often. Where's the needle? In the
cabinet?"
And she moved toward the desk.
Yes" replied Sherwood, speaking
as one in dream. You are sure you
understand"
"Oh. yes, let me show you"
Already she had the needle in hel
hand. and was searching among the
phials for the morphine.
(Which bottle is it. Sidney"
Isn't it labeled?" he forced him.
self to say, following in a sort OF
ghastly fascination her every move
ment