Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-11-07
to speak one rational word to u.s.

ing to tell you-no, not one world"
Hopkins stared in amazement.
who stabbed you at the pits, girl?'
she demanded, "and how came Miss
Greylock there with you? Fie! fie!
You must tell everything, and imme'
diately.
! A strange look passed over Polly's
thin, bloodless face.
ASK me no questions" she painted
for 1 will tell nothing-you cannot
force mel will not-I will not!"
Hopkins sent at once for DR.. Van
dine.
This reminds US of the hospital
days-eh, Polly" began the doctor
as he advanced to the bedside Of the
wounded girl. 1T is plain that you
were born under an unlucky star
Your talent for getting into Difficult
ties Is something marvellous. Now, he
good girl, Polly, and tell me who the
scoundrel was that assaulted you and
Miss Greylock at the cairn."
For the first time in her life she
eyed him distrustfully.
II would not speak one word con-
cerning that night, DR.. Vandine," she
cried, with sudden vehemence, IF you
would give me the whole wide world
| His was the voice above all, that
had the power to move her; yet now
he coaxed and pleaded In vain. She
| inn,
new phase Of Polly's character,
Vandine was puzzled and provoked
AS he turned away from her he said:
Il know you, Polly; you love to do
noble, generous things. By your ST.
lince you are trying to shield some
body-not yourself, I feel assured"
One night in the late summer came
the crisis Of Ethers fever. DR.. Van
dine and the nurse held possession of
the sick chamber. Outside its door
Godfrey Greylock walked the corridor
in an agony of dread. Would she live
or die? In this terrible hour he real
lied, as never before, that he loved his
granddaughter more than family name
or pride-more than lands or gold
more than the whole wide world.
| Hour after hour wore on. A deep
bay window at the end Of the corridor
was flooded with silver moonlight. A
night-bird sang in the chestnut trees
of the avenue. The wind, full of the
scent of late violets, swept up the
green knolls, and through an open
pane blew in upon the wretched man
like a breath from heaven. Ay, would
she live or die? The question beat
upon his brain with regular strokes,
clutched his heart like a demon-hand,
choked his breath.
Spare her, oh, God" he prayed,
"and take all else that l have on
earth!"
The door Of the sick-room opened,
and DR.. Vandine stepped forth. God
frey Greylock gathered himself up as
to receive a blow.
Speak" he gasped. rs it life or
death?"
Vandine's face for a moment was
positively handsome.
Thank God" he answered, lit is
life"
| Godfrey Greylock staggered to the
deep window, threw up the sash as If
suffocating, and dropping his gray
head against it burst into tears. His
darling was to live and not to die.
| When Ethel Greylock came drifting
back from the gates of death, she
found her grandfather kneeling beside
her bed, murmuring over her tender
broken words. She was not assailed
with questions, as poor Polly had
been; nothing was allowed to disturb
her. Her life still hung by a thread
For a while she seemed too weak even
to remember the tragic night at the
pits; but days passed, and strength
returned to the heiress of the Woods,
and one morning when Godfrey Grey
lock came to pay his usual visit to her
chamber, she stretched out her snow
flake hand to him in sudden entreaty
| Grandpa 1 wish to ask you some
thing" she faltered.
ASK on, my darling!"
who found me that dreadful
night?" shuddering. Who brought me
home to you, grandpa"
Il found you, Ethel. 1 brought you
home
A wild, frightened look came into
her face.
But how, grandpa?-how did l es-
cape from that man alive? Some one
came between us-it was not you!"
His naughty old heart seemed tc
stop beating.
What man, my darling?"
i She flung her arms around his neck
"Oh, will you promise to pardon me
if tell you everything?" she sobbed
Il do not deserve your forgiveness
grandpa, and yet cannot live without
it,"
Speak, Ethel; there is nothing that
will not forgive you. Speak freely
The nurse had retired to an adjoin-
ing room and the two were alone to-
gether. Ethel Greylock bowed hel
head like a broken lily, upon hei
grandfathers shoulder, and told hin
all.
He listened without sign Of anger
or resentment. He had been so neal
to losing his idol that he could feel nc
wrath against her now, even for the
grievous offense of which she had beer
guilty. When her story was ended he
embraced her, kissed the tears from
her white cheeks, and said, in a per.
fectly composed voice:
Il cannot reproach you, Ethel; yor
have already suffered enough for youl
folly, poor child! BY driving from
you the man you loved-and it |:
plain to me that you do love Sir Ger
, vase Greylock-yOu have ruined
your whole future happiness. Even Il
such a thing were desirable, we should
find it useless to attempt the proper
!, a,,,;,broapt Of pappau1t He was In