Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-10-11
CHAPTER XI.
The Human Spider.


The Human Spider.
Five O'Clock, and all is WE'LL"
post No. 2, five o'clock, and all is
WE'LL"
And so the cry passed down the line,
growing fainter and fainter in the dis
tance.
A pale, pearly gray light was chas-
ing away the gloomy shadows Of night,
and already there had appeared in the
eastern horizon a rosy tinge, which
was gradually growing more and more
intense in coloring.
But early as it was, there were lights
shining from the windows Of the
living room at the surgeons quarters,
lights which had been burning all
night.
Florence Sherwood was very Ill in
deed. and although Dorothy had beg
ged to be allowed to nurse her sister,
the doctor had absolutely refused her
permission. and, in fact, had forbade
her even to enter the room.
But the poor little major was too
worried to think Of going to bed and
she had staid up all night in the hall,
listening with beating heart to every
sound from her sisters room above.
At last, overcome by its long vigil,
tired nature gave way, and, with her
head resting upon the table, Dorothy
,,+N cln
Just after o'clock was called she
was aroused by the entrance Of Swift
wind, who had come for some medicine
needed for one Of the patients in the
hospital.
She started up with suppressed
scream Of Florence! Florence!"
The door Of her sisters room opened
and Sherwood came out and advanced
to the top of the stairs to discover the
occasion of the outcry.
AS he saw the little major, he rapidly
descended, but she. not yet fully
awake, recoiled from him, with look
of absolute terror upon her face.
DON'T" she cried, putting out her
hands as If to ward him off. keep
away! Don't come near met
Sherwood paused in angry astonish-
ment, but Swiftwind came forward
and took her hands.
What's the trouble, Miss Dorothy"
asked the Indian.
She shuddered and clung to him as
If for protection.
"Swiftwind. don't leave me! oh! it
was horrible!"
What was it?" he asked, beginning
to be a little alarmed.
"A dream!"
At this lame and essentially feminine
explanation of so much distress, neith-
er man could refrain from laughing.
WAS that alp" asked Swiftwind.
Come here, little major" added
Sherwood, land tell me all about it."
But again she shrank from him
win quite as much repulsion as before.
no, no. not now-not to you!"
viii you tell it to me?" inquired
Swiftwind. reassuringly patting the
little hands he held.
Yes"
At this Sherwood frowned darkly.
What ails the girl?" he exclaimed,
angrily and impatiently. WAS / one
of the people of your dream?
1T was a spider"
"A spider?"
h1y
low, stricken tones, and her eyes
dilated with horror as if she saw again
was she was relating. "a great black
spider. as large as q turtle, with a
smooth, damp head that kept bobbing
up and down. Florence was lying
asleep. looking so white and still, l
thought. she was dead. Then came this
great black thing slowly, slowly, down
from the ceiling, with its long arms
twining and writhing like a lot of SER
pents. Slowly 1t descended, swinging
round and round, and as it settled
down upon Florence's breast, entwin-
ing her in its hundred arms, 1t raised
its smooth, shiny head and looked up.
And" slowly extending her hand to-
ward Sherwood. almost as If denounc-
ing him. "oh, it was your facet
Then she turned. and. with a gasp
ing sob, hid her face on Swiftwind's
shoulder, as if to shut out both the
vision and the reality.
While Dorothy had been relating her
dream. Sherwood had turned paler and
paler. and now as his eyes met the
keen, scrutinizing look of the Indian,
he Shivered as if suddenly stricken by
the palsy.
Still, he made desperate effort at
self control, and forced himself to say:
This comes from your not getting
proper rest. Why did you not go to
bed as told you last night?"
Dorothy raised her head and drew
away from Swiftwind. She was grad
ually becoming composed, more alive
to the reality of things. and was just
a little ashamed at having allowed a
dream, horrible though 1t was to
take such a hold upon her.
II couldn't" she said. 81 was anx-
ious about poor Florence"
you had better go to your room
Florence is sleeping quietly now"