Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-08-04


filled the corners, but the driftwood
on the hearth sent up great flashes of
mingled lilac and crimson, and now and
then cloud of soaring sparks. With
out being told, Hume knew that night
had now fallen, and the fog was still
thick. More than an hour had passed
since his own rescue. Whittier had
Rose difted in that time? Or, perhaps,
the boat had filled and gone down with
the unfortunate girl. Search would be
useless. He groaned aloud. A step
crossed the floor. He looked up and
saw Andy Gaff leaning above him. Did
the poor fellow dimly perceive that
something strange had happened? His
face seemed to Hume less vacant than
usual The eyes wore the look Of some
suffering dumb animal For the first
time Hume noticed that Andy Gaff's
features were regular and we'll cut.
she is lost, Andy" he cried, wildly;
lost, and 1 am to blame for it am
her murderer! Can you understand"
BY this time she is drowned-she is
dead"
Andy put on an intense listening ex-
preston, but remained silent
why don't you strangle me, as lie
here?" groaned Hume, in his misery
and remorse. you are stronger than
You might easily do it. Rose is lost,
l tell you-you will never see her
again."
NO" he whispered, hoarsely. "Tm
the one that's lost. 1 can't find my
head; where's my head?"
Hume rose on one elbow. The yell
faces, and a third party might have
thought that the man with all his fac
ulties looked quite as wild as he who
had none.
Cant you tell me how this evil
came upon you, Andy?" said Hume, his
professional curiosity once more arous-
ed TRY to give me hint Of the
truth. and l may be able to help you
who knows?"
Some chord of Andy's well-nigh ex-
tinct memory seemed suddenly to vi
brate.
Il can tell you something" he NUT
tered, with an unfamiliar ring in his
voice. 1T hurts here-it presses
here!" grasping his head in the old
distressed way. And don't call me by
that name-Im not Andy, and I will
not mend the nets any more. Why"
with a sudden, sharp cry-"why do
they keep me in this place, mending
rets?"
A feeble consciousness flickered in
his face.
IF not Andy, what shall call you?"
asked Hume.
"T can't remember My head is gone,
I tell you. Find it for mel" appealing
to the other with vehemence.
II wish to Heaven could" mutter-
ed Hume.
Then suddenly all the light went out
from Andy Gaff's FACET grew stolid
and empty once more. He shuffied to
seat in the chimney corner, and sat
down there mechanically, resting his
head on his hands.
BY the light Of the fire Hume lay
and watched him, finding thus mo-
mentary distraction from his own
fears. The unfortunate man was
young, and, under normal conditions,
his face might have been called hand
some. His hands were remarkably
smooth and we'll shaped, and this fact
seemed odd to Hume, because all the
men of Cape Desolation bore in those
members the honest but unlovely
marks of hard labor.
Since he had relapsed into his usual
insensibility, Hume could only lie
there on the floor and study him in ST.
lence. Presently Martha Bray looked
into the room.
will you take cup Of tea, sir?' she
said to Hume. I've made some pow
erful strong. Lord only knows where
the boats are, for it's as black as pitch
outside, and you can cut the fog with
knife. Sure's you're born, sir, that
poor girl will never see land again"
With this bit of consolation she put
| her arm around Hume, and kindly
helped him to take possession of an
armchair. The garments that remain
ed upon him were soaked in sea water,
and Martha, observing this state of af-
fairs, brought some warm, dry cloth
ing belonging to Caleb Hillyer and
retired, while the young man effected a
change of raiment That done, Martha
reappeared with the smoking tea, and
found Hume striving to stand upon his
feet, and looking white and desperate.
81 am going out to help in the
search!" he cried.
Lori there's no boat" said Martha;
and most likely you'd git lost yourself
YOU wasn't born on Cape Desolation.
Moreover, your legs are too shaky.
Better stay here by the fire till the
others come back. Caleb Hillyer and
Ress will find her, if she isn't under the
sea. Here's this unfortinit critter OF
an Andy a-holding to his poor head
and realizing nothing. If she's dead
he'll never miss her. She's hated the
sight of him for many a day, and idJlt
though he is, he knows it, SIR"
She laid her hand kindly on the arm
of Rose Hillyers husband.
Come, Andy" she said, well take
our tea together. Time was looking
at Hume. when l shouldn't have
thought of being so free and easy with
him; but he's changed, and we don't
treat him as we used to-leastwise, no
body but the sailor girl does. Well
WHY should We? He don't know me
from a born lady He'd as soon eat
his vittles in my company as with the
Queen Of Shelby"
As if in confirmation of her words
i Andy arose and went out with Marina
BRAY into the adjoining kitchen. Hume
was left alone by the fire. Hour after
hour dragged by. At last he heard the
murmur Of voices, the tramp OF ap-
preaching feet At the gate the sounds
seemed to remain stationary Tor