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

herr"
NO." replied Sherwood, sharply and
peremptorily. Il tell you she is sleep
ing and must not be disturbed"
Dorothy sighed, but made no demur
isn't it almost time for Charlie to
return?" she asked, wearily.
The day previous, a small body OF
soldiers, among whom were Lieutenant
Sherwood and Dan Horton, had been
detailed to take the deserter, Ralph
Jordan-for by that name alone was
he to be known to the majority-to
the headquarters Of General Crook, by
whom he was to be sentenced. The
court martial had found him guilty
The colonel had sternly refused to see
his son before his departure. Like
Brutus of old. he crushed back all nat
ural affection, and turned his face
only toward what he conceived to be
his duty.
1T won't be long now, little major
said Swiftwind, encouragingly, reply
ing to Dorothy's question.
"Then I'll get his breakfast, for
know he'll be hungry, and 1 can't
sleep"
AS she spoke, she went out into the
kitchen, closing the door behind her.
Then Swiftwind turned to his super
Tor.
you've been up all night" he said,
his dark face impassive and his voice
calm. "Is Mrs. Sherwood worse?"
Yes, yes" answered the surgeon,
nervously "That is-no, no. The cri-
sis has passed, l think"
1.-The crisis!" repeated Swiftwind.
rs she then so ill?" He paused and
then asked suddenly: What is the
matter with your wife, Sherwood"
Sherwood could not repress a start
at the precipitancy of the question. His
guilty conscience saw in it the dawn
ing of a suspicion, and perhaps he
was not far wrong.
"Why-nervous prostration," he re-
piled at random. Didn't tell you?"
"Then of what crisis did you speak? %
questioned the even, emotionless voice
Of the Indian.
Did say crisis?" exclaimed Sher-
wood, endeavoring to pull himself to-
gether. II spoke thoughtlessly. Two
days and nights of watching have un-
strung me-"
Let me prescribe for you"
He went to the sideboard, and pour
ed out a stiff glass Of brandy.
II can hardly understand such con-
tinued watching on your part" he said,
with his back turned to the surgeon,
who had sunk Imply down into a
chair and covered his face with his
hands. "since your wife is not serious
ly i'll. Why don't you let the young
ladies help you. 1t is nothing conta-
gious. is it?"
Sherwood leaped to his feet.
"Contagious!" he shrieked. What
do you mean?" Then, recollecting
himself, he stopped and added weakly
and incoherently: mo, no, no, of
course, not, of course not"
But it was too late. Swiftwind's $
question. which had been put with a
purpose, had had even a greater effect
than he had supposed it would. The
quick -witted Indian, although he was
far from being fully enlightened. was
now quite convinced that there was
some terrible mystery behind all this,
and he resolved to fathom it to the
bottom.
He allowed nothing of this to appear
on the surface, however. but he walk
ed over to Sherwood, whose head had
sunk upon his breast as If he were
about to collapse, and touched him
upon the shoulder.
The surgeon started, and, throwing
up his head, glanced about him in
dazed frightened way.
Here, take this"
"Eh-where?"
whats the matter with you, man.
cried Swiftwind, sharply, at the same
time striking him upon the back.
The action and the tone brought
Sherwood to himself.
What is it?" he said. Brandy?
All. that's what l want"
He seized the glass. and feverishly
drained the contents, Swiftwind all the
while watching him narrowly.
Your face is flushed. You have
been drinking before during the night.
YES. many times" acknowledged
Sherwood, feeling his nerves gradually
becoming steadier under the influence
of the copious draught of the fiery IL
quid.
Has your wife any fever?" asked
Swiftwind, in the most matter-of-fact
way.
"Fever!"
YES, I met Miss Dare coming from
her room yesterday, and"
(TO be Continued.