Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-08-12

he was beautiful to me. He is en-
tirely conscious now, and in about an
hour YOU can send the nurse off for a
little sleep. Don't let him talk"
And so at last l went through the
| familiar door into an unfamiliar room.
with basins and towels and bottles
around, and a screen made of Jim's
| largest canvases. And some one on
| the improvised bed turned and looked
at me. He did not speak, and l sat
down beside him. After a while he
put his hand over mine as it lay on the
bed.
You are much better to me than I
! deserve" he said softly. And because
his eyes were disconcerting, l put an
ice cloth over them.
Much better than you deserve" II
said, and patted the ice cloth to place
gently. He fumbled around until he
found my hand again, and we were
quiet for a long time. think he doZ-
ed, for he reused suddenly and pulled
the cloth from his eyes.
"The-the day is all confused" he |
said, turning to look at me, "but-one
thing seems to stand out from every
thing else. Perhaps it was delirium.
but seemed to see that door over there
open, and you, outside. with--with
Max. His arms were around you"
1T was delirium," said softly. 1t i
was my fiLal lie i'm that house of men,
dacity.
He drew a satisfied breath. and lift
ing my hand, held it to his lips and
kissed it.
Il can hardly believe it is you." he
said. Il have to hold firmly to your
hand or you will disappear. Can't YOU
move your chair closer? You are miles
away" So did it, for he was not to
be excited.
After a little
It's awfully good of you to do this.
l have been desperately sorry, Kit,
about the other night. 1t was a ruff
anly thing to do-to kiss you, when I
thought
You are to keep very STILL" l re-
minded him. He kissed my hand again,
but he persisted.
Il was mad-crazy." l tried to give
him some medicine, but he pushed the
spoon aside. You will have to listen"
he said. II am in the depths of self
disgust. II can't think Of anything
else. You see, you seemed so convinc-
ed that 1 was the blackguard that
somehow nothing seemed to matter"
Il have forgotten it ALL" l declared
generously, "and l would be quite will
ing to be friends, only, you remember
you said"
"Friends." his voice was suddenly
reckless, and he raised on his elbow.
Friends! Who wants to be friends?
Kit, | was almost delirious that night.
The instant l held you in my arms 1t
was all over loved you the first time
I saw you. II suppose I'm fool to
talk like this"
And, of course, just then Dallas had
to open the door and step into the room.
He was covered with dirt and he had
hatchet in hts hand.
"A rope!" he demanded, without
paying any attention to us and diving
into corners of the room. Good heav-
ems, isn't there a rope in this con-
founded house!"
He turned and rushed out. without
~ md left airing |
the door.
Bother the rope!" l found myself
forced to look into two earnest eyes.
Kit. We're you very angry when l kiss
ed you that night on the roof?"
Very" | maintained stoutly.
Then prepare yourself for another
attack of rage" he said. And Betty
opened the door.
She had on a fetching pale blue
dressing gown, and one braid of her
yellow hair was pulled carelessly over
her shoulder.2 When she saw me on my
knees beside the bed Ooh, yes, l forgot
to say that, quite unconsciously, l had
slid into that position) she stopped
! short. just inside the door, and put her
hand to her throat. She stood for
quite a perceptible time looking at us.
and | tried to rise. But Tom shame
lessly put his arm around my should |
ers and held me beside him. Then
Betty took step back and steadied
| herself by the door frame. She had
really cared, l knew then, but | was
too excited to be sorry for her
II beg your pardon for coming
in," she said nervously. "But-they
want you down stairs, Kit. At least, II
thought you would want to go. but
perhaps"
Just then from the lower part of the
house came a pandemonium of noises:
| women screaming, men shouting, andl
| the sound of hatchet strokes and splin-
tering wood. | seized Betty by thel
arm. and together we rushed down the
stairs.