Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-10-22

| Don't listen to him." interrupted
Helen. frantically. HE Is mad-in-
sane!"
: To do her justice, terrible though II
was to her to have Horton know the
truth, she was thinking more Of the
shame it would bring upon the inno-
cent woman lying i'll above.
Let her call me insane" went on
Sherwood in CHASTITY, ghoulish glee
But let her look me in the face and
deny it If she can. tell you"
mo! no." cried Helen, graspine
his arm, and almost kneeling to him
in her agony. Think Of that poor
creature up yonder. Mr.. Horton" ap-
pealing to the scout, who had been
Listening in amazement, but whose
confidence in her was absolutely un-
shaken, "Mr. Horton, do not let him
say it,"
Can he prevent me?" sneered Sher-
wood. "Why, d 1t. man, she's
lmy-"
Don't say It, Sherwood" interrupt
lea horton III u NolCe VI thuhuSi'
Don't, for your life!"
AS he spoke, he drew his revolver.
But Sherwood paid no attention. A
hundred revolvers would not have
stopped him then.
"She is my wife!" he shrieked.
Horizons arm dropped nervously to
his side. Some instinct told him that
the man was speaking the truth. But,
true hearted fellow that he was he
held Helen blameless. He knew that
she was more sinned against than sin
ming. And then 1t came over him like
blast Of icy air that she could never
be his.
Helen stood with downcast eyes,
both hands pressed to her throbbing
breast
| Horton looked at her and his heart
ached for her Her sorrow was great
er than his. Advancing toward her, he
took one of her hands with the gent
lest courtesy, and conducting her to
the stairs, watched her until she had
ascended and disappeared into her own
room.
| He was about to turn away, when
he saw Swiftwind appear from Mrs.
Sherwood's apartment. The Indian
placed his finger on his lips and mo-
toned toward the door,
Horton understood and obeyed. At
all events no harm could come to Hell
en- while Swiftwind was there.
He crossed the room, without a glance
at Sherwood, who had thrown himself
back in a chair laughing and numb
ling to himself, and passed out into
the open air, more wretched and un-
happy than he had ever been in his life
before.
| Swiftwind advanced to the top Of the
landing and paused there a moment,
looking down upon the solitary figure
in the room below.
Then, suddenly, the hysterical laugh
ter died away.
| Sherwood sat motionless for mo-
ment, his senses gradually returning to
him. He had had his revenge. but
there were other things to think of.
Florence! He had forgotten her, and
he must save her. Save her! That
refrain had been ringing in his ears
for hours. 1t must be done. The hour
for action had come-indeed, perhaps,
had passed But he must do all that
he could.
| He started from his chair, and hur-
r1ied toward the stairs. Then he re-
coiled as he saw Swiftwind with set,
stern face confronting him.
In the Indians hand was slender
instrument, which he purposely held
conspicuously before him.
Sherwood saw It, and shudderingly
drew back, knowing what it meant.
"What-what is that?" he gasped.
Swiftwind, who felt not the slight
est emotion Of pity, thrust the needle
before his eyes.
Look"
"Ah! Well?" calculated Sherwood,
feeling that his hour had come, but
determined to fight to the last gasp.
The shock sobered him, and he was
now almost himself, were it not for
those hideous pains which racked
every limb. His brain, however, was
clear. abnormally clear.
And, look!" said Swiftwind, hold
ing up the bottle marked morphine
but containing something much more
deadly, as they both knew.
MY God"
1t was the cry of a doomed man.
Your wife is dying" said Swiftwind
He spoke with the utmost calmness
and yet there was in his voice the final
decision of the judge pronouncing
sentence
mo! no." cried Sherwood, in agony
I'VE will save her!"
"She has been poisoned by the
germs of a frightful disease" said
Swiftwind, in the same quiet, denun-
ciatory manner.
"She did it herself" cried Sherwood
seeking like a rat in a trap. for any
mode of exit "She will tell you So"
"She has already told me So"
"Then why do you accuse me-?
Strengthening himself up with a last
effort at bravado.
Il have not accused you"
You have! l see it in your face
your eye! Don't speak, for it is 9
} cursed lie."
1T is the damning truth! I warn
ed you that these labels had beer
! changed, yet you said nothing as youl
wife filled the needle. Then, with de-
liberate murder in your heart yor
thrust the pestlence Of death into hei
quivering flesh. Fiend! Wife-slay'
er! If she dies, 1 will call down upor
your head a terrible retribution!"
His measured. half-hissed sentence:
| fell like the stroke Of a whip lash
: warning and threatening in every sterr
intOnatiOn.
/ The effect upon Sherwood was cleo
trical. Wild with horror, the gallow: