Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-08-02
CHAPTER XXVI.
At Tamarack Hall.


blaze Of morning sunshine, Maud Lof'
tus stood, feeding the tame doe witt
sweetmeats, and absently patting II:
gentle head.
The girl wore detected air, but shs
looked uncommonly pretty in the nal
mourning which contrasted admirably
with her milky skin and lint locks
To the man on the horse she seemed
whittier than any fleece that was evei
cut.
Good morning, Miss Ioftus, ne
said, with visible confusion.
Maud nodded, How dye do, Mr.
Crawford" carelessly.
do you like that thing?" stammer-
ed Robert Crawford, the Colorado
ranchman, with a gesture toward the
pretty dun deer. by Jove! you ought
to see my Atwoods."
Miss LOTUS withdrew her fondling
hands from the doe, and replied, cold
ly:
Sheep? Pray don't talk Of those
creatures to me! But for them, Guy
would never have gone west, and there
l am sure, all our misfortunes began.
"I dare say you are right" said
Crawford, very gravely, as he swung
himself out Of the saddle; there's
some strange fatality pursuing Guy
This getting shot here, there and ev-
erywhere, seems uncommonly ODD,
you know. 1 am here to ask how the
poor fellow passed the night?"
Badly" replied Miss LOTUS. He
is Just lowering between life and death
The physicians have probed in vain
for the bullet. Oh, you have no idea,
Mr.. Crawford, with a piteous quiver
of the lips, how dreadful the sus-
pense is to mel"
The ranchman looked greatly moved
He had left cabin and corrals and At
woods for a flying visit to his Cana
dian birthplace, and the mysterious
attempt on the life Of his friend just
four-and-twenty hours previous to his
arrival in town, filled him with Won
der and perplexity. To be twice shot
within six months, and each time un-
der extraordinary circumstances, Is
certainly not a common experience.
II know, Of course, that it must be
very hard for you," he answered, SYM
pathetically. "Yes, by Jove! it must!
Any news yet of the woman?"
No"
VERY queer!" mused Crawford, as
he stroked his horses neck. who the
deuce could she have been, and what
was the motive which inspired such
deed? Haze no efforts been made to
apprehend her?"
None" replied Miss LOTUS, with an
.ominous frown. Guy forbade it. In
his first interval of consciousness he
commanded all the servants to keep
the matter a profound secret. He said
that on no condition must 1T be known
beyond the gate of the Hall; said that
1t was an accident, and that the Great
ure must not be pursued or harmed
And then he went off in the widest
delirium, and called her Esther and
declared that he was a coward and
traitor, and that she had served him
right. Yes, it is very queer Mr.. Craw-
ford" the color burning angrily in her
blonde cheek, "and mamma and I are
simply waiting here at Tamarack Hall
for explanations"
Crawfords florid face heightened.
by Jovei" he thought, "the whole
thing has a bad look for Guy!" But
loyalty to his friend compelled him to
say, with forced cheerfulness: Il am
confident that Fleetwood will explain
everything to your satisfaction, Miss
LOTUS. Surely we can trust him-we
who know his truth and honesty sc
we'll He ought to have poor old Hoxie
to nurse him now.
She was beating a little tattoo on a
pillar of the porch with sprig OF
tamarack. Her long lashes made a
golden shadow on her cheek. She
looked irritated and out Of spirits. In
deed, Maud's good nature had been Sc
verely tried in the last few days.
He has nurses enough" she an
swered, petulantly; "the servants are
all frantic about him, and mamma and
the doctor scarcely leave his side.
am sick of Tamarack Hall now.
want to go back to Quebec; but mann
ma says we must wait little and give
Guy a chance TOTO vindicate himself
AS for me-" with gloomy bitterness
81 fear l am losing faith in every
body"
DON'T" said Crawford; you dis
tress me abominably, you know!"
She opened wide her blue eyes.
Distress you?" in a mocking tone
why. you have no thought for any
thing but sheep-Guy has often told
me that. You are a rabid woman
hater too So troubles like mine car
only amuse you"
He grew as red as turkey cock.
Il beg you not to believe that" he
stammered. II have been traduced.
don't hate women-Heaven Forbid
simply fear them"
She laughed, and fastened the sprig
Of tamarack in his horses head.
That is exquisitely foolish" she
said. in a lively tone. "Good-by, Mr.
Crawford"
"Good-by." he answered, lifting his
hat II am very anxious about my
friend. l shall come often to inquire
for him."
And he rode away down the drive
turning in his saddle once, twice, tc
look back, before he reached the iror
gate He did come often, but only t.
receive, day after day. the same reptile:
to his friendly queries.
In a great square chamber of the
hall. whittier he had been carried
bleeding and unconscious. from tina
fearful meeting with Esther in the Ii
brary, Guy Fleetwood lay nearer t(
deaths black gate than he had evel
been before. Would he live? No
even his physicians could say. The
bullet of the daughter, like that of the