Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-08-27
was situated at the other end Of the
long strip of woodland which had been

was Sltudtcu d. tic otnci SHu VI th0
long strip of woodland which had been
Melinda's dread In childhood. The
woods bordered her orchard on one
side and through the wood was a wide,
well-made road much used as a short
cut by automobiles in the daytime, but
at night it was not lighted and had
lost none of it's terrors for Melinda
Chuffy Nevertheless, she made di-
rectly for the road, almost feeling her
way until her feet were set on its hard
smoothness. Then, driven by terror
mingled with pity for her old play
mate, Melinda fairly raced along the
! road, her eyes fixed on the black dark
ness before her.
AS she ran Melinda Chuffy repeated
over and over to herself q few words:
He never laughed at me when ] was
afraid-he always held my hand in
these woods mustn't forget"
An owl hooted and whip-poor-will
uttered his cry close beside her; in
sects Of the night added their chorus.
the wings Of night flying birds almost
touched her as they passed. Bats
tapped around her unprotected head
and Melinda alternately prayed for
protection and repeated over and again
her broken words about Ernest Bruce
and his loyalty.
At last she stumbled up the steps
Of the farmhouse and sank a crumpled
little heap Of black silk, pink shawl
and fiaxen braids against the door.
There the Petersons found her and
carried her inside, adding another to
the number Of their patients.
AS they carried her unconscious
form into the sitting-room a tall,
broad -shouldered man with one arm
in a sling, arose from the deep chair
where he had been sitting.
Another one?" he exclaimed, and
then coming forward and looking at
Melinda's sweet pale face intently he
stared up at the Petersons. THAT
must be Melinda Chuffy!" he cried,
taking their slender burden and laying
it tenderly on couch. How came
she here?"
Mrs. Peterson, a stout fair-haired
woman, driven out Of her few wits by
the unfortunate accident of the even
ing that had made her uneventful
home a hospital, looked stupidity at
him and shook her head.
Miss Chuffy-why I guess tele-
phoned her to come to you at once-I
said you were on your way to see her
and dying and she must come without
delay. You see, made a mistake and
got you mixed up with that other gen.
tleman who Is so badly injured-your
names were all strange to me and
did the best could"
"Of course you did, Mrs. Peterson
and we are all more than grateful,
assured Ernest Bruce as he leaned
over Melinda Chuffy whose white eye
lids were flickering. DO you suppose
this little woman came all alone
through those dark woods to see me?"
he asked in an awed tone, but there
was no one to answer for the Peter
sons had departed for restoratives.
Poor scared little Melinda" breath
ed Ernest Bruce, kneeling beside his
one-time playmate. Il wonder If you
know that you are a true sport after
all?" Melinda opened her eyes and
looked dreamily on the face so near
her own, so like the face Of the little
boy she used to know.
"I got here in time, Ernie" she
smiled tremblingly, contentedly letting
her hand rest in his firm grasp.
Il came all the way here from Ohio
to ask you to marry me, Melinda" he
whispered, caressing one Of her fair
braids. Somehow couldn't fancy any
girl but you after all these years and
was afraid to find that you were mar
ried after ALL"
Melinda blushed and strange to say
she felt none Of the shrinking that she
had experienced with those other suit
ors. II never-wanted-tom marry any
body-before-" she whispered shyly.
Il guess l was waiting for you!"