Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1912-06-19

ETQeBL BRUCE! SQe Teptdlcd ueip-
lessly. II suppose he has grown to
be a mani always think of him as
little boy-but he was older than +
why was he coming here and what
shall I do? At this time Of night,
too-yet he is dying and there is no
one to go to him-not one of his folks
Is here and there is DO one to call up
on to drive me over there because
they would talk all the rest of their
lives about ity'
AS Melinda talked half hysterically
to herself she was dressing rapidly,
finally slipping into the GOODNESS of
her black china silh gown. IF / am
dressed in black no one can see me
for the woods are dark she shrd-
dered. Il must take my pink shawl
black would look awful to dying
man-it's 80 queer l can't think of
Ernest as anything except little
boy!"
Quite forgetting to arrange her love
ly fair hair which hung in two long
braids over her shoulders, just as she
had fixed 1t for the night, Melinda
Chuffy, timid as a rabbit, fearful Of
her own shadow, hurried downstairs,
locked the side door behind her and
plunged into the velvet blackness of
the night
Woodside was a dairy farm and 1t
was situated at the other end Of the
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
wide. well-made road much used
as short cut by automobiles In the
daytime, but at night 1t was not light
ed and had lost none Of its terrors
for Melinda Chuffy. Nevertheless.
she made directly for the road. almost
feeling her way until her feet were
set on it's hard smoothness. Then,
driven by terror mingled with pity
for her old playmate. Melinda fairly
raced along the road, her eyes fixed
on the black darkness before her.
AS she ran Melinda Chufry repeat
ed over and over to herself few
words: HE never laughed at me
when I 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 hey; in
sects of the night added their chorus.
Twigs cracked, leaves aurried. and
the wings of night-fying 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 crump-
led lithe heap of black silk, pink
shawl and faxen braids against the
door. There the Petersons found her
and carried her inside, adding anoth-
er to the number Of their patients.
AS they carried her unconscious
form into the sitting-room tall,
broad-shouldered man with one arm
in sling, arose from the deep chair
where he had been sitting.
Another one?" he exclaimed, and
then coming forward and locking at
Melindas S sweet pale face intently he
stared up at the Pesecsons. That
must be Melinda Chuffy!" he cried,
taking their slender burden and lay
Ing it tenderly on couch. How
came she here?'
Mrs Peterson, stout fair-haired
woman, driven out Of her few wits
by the unfortunate accident of the
vening that had made her unevent-
full home a hospital, looked stupidly
at him and shook her head.
Miss Chuffy-why l guess / tele-
phoned her to come to you at once
l 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 gentleman who is so badly
lnjured-your names were all strange
to me and I did the best l 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 Pickering. do you sup
pose 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. II wonder II you
know that you are true sport after
all?" Melinda opened ber eyes and
looked dreamily on the face 80 near
her own, so like the face of the little
boy she used to know.
II got here in time, Ernie" she