Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-08-22
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BOOK III-THE FLOWER.
CHAPTER VIII.
The White Messenger.

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party reached the house.
Stay a week longer" the little man
urged, "and I'll go with you; We'll go
together, all Of us, in my car. I'm
getting worse here every day. I've
got to get back to my doctors in New
York"
I'm sorry, CAL" he answered quick
", but must leave at once"
Nan allowed him to go without an
effort to change his decision. A strange
calm had come over her. She drove
to the station with him in silence. He
began to wonder what it meant.
AS he stepped from the machine she
extended her hand, with tender smile,
and said in low tones:
Until we meet again"
He pressed it gently and was gone.
He reached New York thoroughly
exhausted and blue. The struggles
through which he had passed had
left him bruised. He spent sleepless
night on the train fighting its scenes
over and over He had told her their
relations on any terms must cease, and
yet he knew instinctively that another
struggle was possible on her return.
He made up his mind at once to avoid
this meeting.
The sight of Harriet seated on the
stoop Of the old home by the Square
watching a crowd of children play
brought a smile back to his haggard
face.
He waved to her block away and
she sprang to her feet answering with
a cry of joy. The startling contrast
between the women struck him again.
She met him at the corner with out
stretched hands.
What a jolly scene, little pal!" he
. cried. What's the kids convention
about?"
They've come to honor me with
their good wishes on my voyage"
What voyage?" he asked in sur
prise.
"Oh, you didn't know-Tve an en-
gagement to sing on the Continent this
summer-the news came the day you
left Isn't that fine? I sail next
week..
A sudden idea struck him. He drop
ped the bag he was carrying and ex-
claimed:
by George, it is just the thing!"
WHAT" she asked with a puzzled
look.
Let me go with you, girlie?"
"Oh, Jim, If you only would, I'd be
in heaven! You have never been
across. I'd chaperone you and show
you everything you ought to see.
Please go! Say you will! You've
said you would, and you can't say no
you're going, you're going!"
IT will" he said with decision.
You've booked your passage?"
Yes, but I'll change it to suit you.
Oh, goodie, goodie! You're going,
You're going, you're going! I'm per-
fectly happy!"
He found business which required a
week and booked his passage with
Harriet's on a Cunarder which sailed
in ten days.
A week later Nan and Bivens re-
turned to their New York house. The
papers were full Of stories of his fall
ing health. A sensational evening
sheet issued an extra announcing that
he was dying. The other papers de-
MED the report as a fake. All report
ers were denied admission to the Riv-
erside home, and in consequence the
press devoted five times the space to
his illness they otherwise would have
given.
Two days after her arrival Nan tele-
phoned to Stuart
You must come up to see Cal to-
night" she said earnestly, "he Is ask
ing for you."
"Is he really dangerously ill.," Stu
art interrupted.
Its far more serious than the pa
pers suspect. He has had another
attack of his old trouble. The doc.
tors say he has a fighting chance
that's all. You'll Gomez"
Yes, early tomorrow morning. I've
an important engagement tonight that
will keep me until twelve o'clock. I'm
sailing for Europe day after tomor-
row."
A sudden click at the other end and
he was cut off. His experienced ear
told him it was not an accident. The
sound could only have been made by
the person to whom he was talking
quickly hanging up the receiver. He
waited a moment and called Nan back
to the telephone.
You understand, Nan?"
Yes, we were cut off,"
Tell him I'll be up early in the
morning, by ten o'clock, surely. Good
night"
The answer was the merest whisper:
Good night"
1t was just dawn when Stuart's tele-
phone rang and he leaped from bed
startled at the unusual call.
He seized the receiver and could
hear no voice. Apparently some one
was fumbling at the other end and he
felt the impression of woman's sleeve
or dress brushing the instrument.
We'll, WELL" he cried in quick, i'm
patient tones, what is 1t? What's
the matter?"
rs that you?" came the faint echo
of a womans voice.
Who is this, please?"
Jim, don't you know my voice! It's
Nam"
Il didn't recognize it. You spoke so
uueerly. What is it, Nan?"
For heavens sake come at once.
Cal was taken dangerously i'll at two
o'clock. The doctors have been with
him every moment. He doesn't get
any better He keeps calling for you.
He insisted on my telephoning. I'm
frightened. l want to see you. Please
Gomez"
AT once, of course, I'll be there in
l,o,r the