Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-10-04

perceptible softening, for after all
whether male or female, human nature
is about the same, Colonel Gray low
ed his son very dearly"
But" spoke Helen, with a catch IL
her voice, 'ff found guilty will he real.
ly be executed"
Again Horton paused before speak
ing. But, somehow, there was some
thing about this woman that forbade
him to say to her anything but the
truth.
Hardly" he replied, at last. ut will
more likely be the pyramids"
1.-The pyramids?" repeated Helen
with a puzzled contraction Of her lev
ell orows, not understanding in the
least.
Have you noticed the pile Of can
non balls beside the big guns beneath
the flag staff?" asked Horton, hating
and yet feeling impelled to give the
information for which she asked.
"Yes," she replied, wonderingly.
"They are stacked in the shape of
pyramids. Say, a prisoner is convicted
of desertion. A ball and chain Is at
tached to his foot, and he is placed be-
fore a pyramid Of those huge cannon
balls. One by one he Is required to
carry them to a spot but a few yards
distant and form another pyramid.
Then, one by one. he carries them back
to the original spot and rebuilds tn -.
Then, back and forth, back and forth,
hour after hour, day after day. living
on bread and water and speaking not
a word the sun and the storm beating
down upon his head while a guard
stands ready to shoot at his head"
Helen stopped short as IL paralyzed
by the picture these words conjured
up. It reminded her of the tortures OF
the middle ages, of which she had
read in history.
"Oh, horrible!" she murmured. be-
meath her breath.
"Horrible!" repeated Horton, his
voice vibrating with emotion, for once
or twice he had been unfortunate
enough to see this punishment inflicted.
Horrible indeed! Why, Miss Dare, I've
heard them on the third day cry out
for the guard to shoot them, on the
fourth tear at their chains and flesh In
wild frenzy, and on the fifth led back
to their cells stark raving mad. Hor-
rible! Death would be preferable a
thousand times!"
Helen looked at him curiously. Wo-
man like. for woman is almost always
more interested in personalities than
she is in generalities, she was more
struck by the excitement under which
he spoke than by the words he uttered.
You say soldiers should not feel"
she said, giving him a keen, swift
glance, "and yet there is pity in your
face"
Horton blushed as II he had been
accused of something shameful.
"A soldier is only human, after all, )"
he said, as If he were excusing HIM
self, land, being human. he must feel"
Helen made no reply, but much as
she had liked him before. she had new
err liked him half. so we'll as she did
now.
BY this time they had reached the
steps Of the surgeons quarters.
For some unexplained reason Helen
did not ask her escort to enter, but
she extended her hand to him, which
he took, and, after a moments hesita-
ton, raised respectfully to his lips.
Helen, gathering her draperies about
her, ascended the steps, and. without
a backward glance. vanished within.
But Horton did not go. He lighted
q cigar, and sat down upon the piazza,
to leave the shrine within
which his divinity was enthroned.
When Helen entered the hall she
found DR.. Sherwood seated there,
busted with a certain number Of vials
he had upon his desk.
He started up as she came in and
advanced toward her with a look
which no one but she could call upon
his face.
NELL"
She bowed coldly and was about to
pass him by on her way up stairs, but
he stopped her with a passionate ges-
ture.
Just q moment, Nell!"
She paused and turned toward him.
But there was something aggressive
In her manner which chilled him to the
bone. If he had not been so blinded
by his passion he would have known
then and there that there was no hope
for him either now or in the future.
But he could not see this, and he went
on pleadingly:
Il want to speak to you"
Your wife Is waiting for me-" re-
piled Helen, with icy hauteur; "you
must be brief"
He struck his hands together In the
intensity Of his ardor.
why do you treat me so distantly?"
81 am forced to accept your hospi-
ta lity" Sha anSwered and her every