Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-08-31

SpaSm seized and shook her 1or mo-
ment. Then she fell back In q heaI
upon the bed.
In the same breath the door opened
and a man entered. 1t was DR.. Philip
Cover.
What, is the patient worse" he
said, and hurried forward, gently push
ing aside the figure in black. Il am
glad for once to find some one with
her. Neighbors rarely come here"
He bent over Hannah Duff, looked
started, took up one Of her clinched
talon-like hands and dropped 1t again
"She is dead" said the figure In
black.
"She is dead" repeated DR.. Cover
starting slightly at a voice so unlike
those he was accustomed to hear. She
took step forward and confronted
him. Tall, with her black Hebrew
eyes flashing fire, she turned on him
her marvellous face, shone upon by the
wretched light Of that miserable room
DIR. Cover" she said, sweetly,
where is my child?"
He looked at her in amazement. He
did not even remember the face, rare
as 1t was.
Madam"
1.-The child born in this place year
ago." she cried, striking her gloved
hands together and shaking from head
to foot, as he could see; "the child
entrusted to your keeping and this wo-
man's-the child which is not here,
and consequently, must be with you
A faint recognition dawned in the
doctors quiet dark eyes, but gave
place Immediately to utter astonish-
ment.
you are laboring under some mis-
take" he said, gently. Il recall your
face; I remember, also, the somewhat
singular circumstances Of your illness
here; but a child-your child-intrust-
ed to me-certainly that is news!
confess do not In the least under
stand you."
She stood as If turning to stone.
"One year ago tonight left her here
to you and to this woman. had work
to do that could not otherwise be done
Il had weary miles to travel. Why
do you torture me? Is it kind, gener-
Gus? Certainly you understand, and
you have the child in your possession;
or, at least, you know where she is"
The deep establishment on the doc
tors face deepened. 1t was an odd
scene-that miserable room-the sad
colored day waning without-the dead
woman on the bed, and beside her
those two standing-the rusty country
doctor, with his quiet, surprised face,
and that splendid woman in her
mourning robes, wild-eyed and deadly
pale with some terrible emotion.
Il never saw your child" said DR..
Cover, "after my last visit to you;
never knew it was left here at all,
either in my care or otherwise. Will
you not believe me?"
She staggered as from blow. He
sprang to assist her, but she waved
him away.
Have you been inside this house
during the year.? she demanded.
Never till yesterday, when I first
heard of Hannah Duff's sickness, AMI
came simply to relieve her"
She gazed at him wildly, then raised
her hands and wrung them in the air.
Did she never-think, pray, pray
think, for my breaking hearts sake
never mention to you a child?'
Never" answered Doctor Cover.
She Strengthened herself rigidly,
looked at him as he confronted her, a
plain and somewhat shabby gentleman,
holding his hat crushed in his hand.
Then. with sudden movement, sire
cast herself PROSTATE at his feet.
"Oh, know" she cried. II under
stand 1t all You have been bought by
the gold Of my enemies-the enemies
Of my child-you have given her Up
to them-parted her from me for ever.
See! I kneel to you! Tell me Is 1t
not SOP"
Madam, you are surely beside your
SELF" cried the doctor, beginning to
feel and to look troubled. Pray con-
sider Your enemies? You are to me
an utter stranger. Your very mama is
unknown to me. What can I know Of
your enemies?"
you do know them!" she shriek3d
for they have been here and revealed
themselves, and you have delivered
my child to them. Fool that 1 was. !!
thought her safe in a place like this.
Now, what have they done with her?'
Rise" said the doctor, soothingly,
believing in his heart that this beauti-
full, frantic creature was a madwoman.
How can tell you that which do
not know? How could deliver to any
one that which I never had?"
She slipped back from his grasp,
clasping his knees with convulsive
arms
You know, and you only. Cease
wringips my heart! Have you no
wife, no child of your own that will
lead you to pity me? In all the wide
world I have nothing but that babe!
Where have they hidden her? Tell
me! tell me! I, too, have riches; I.
too, can reward you!"
"Merciful heaven!" cried the doctor;
"am I awake or dreaming? l entreat
you to rise and be calm. VIII you not
believe me?"
She sprang up with flashing eyes.
Il cannot, l will not, till you tell me
of my child"