The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-25
CHAPTER XIX.
The Panq Of DIsllluslon.


The sick room was dark. So dark
that Tor little, until our eyes accus.
toned themselves to 1t, we could bare
ly distinguish objects. But our ears
required no attuning. Even in the pas.
sageway, separated by a heavy mahog-
any door, We had hint Of what was 90
Ing on within; and as We entered.
hoarse TRADE smote us in the gloom,
like an assault from ambush.
TO us both the tone and words were
alike unfamiliar. In infection and
modulation the voice was stra nge And
the uttered sounds were a coarse, hor-
rid jargon. Once thought I detected
an English oath, but I was not sure.
Evelyn clutched my hand and
could feel against me the tremble OF
her Slim young body. Gladly would
have spared her this ordeal, but had
been no less unprepared than she. And
now. as gradually shapes defined them
selves less dimly in the gloom, the hor.
ror grew; and, held by It, speechless,
inert, / stood where / had paused
the quivering girl very close beside
me-staring, listening, wondering.
1t was a large room, lofty Of ceiling,
with high windows, across which
heavy curtains were drawn; and the
only light was that which stole be.
tween these hangings or uttered
through three dark, richly-colored,
glass medallions set in side wall.
CQmarop'o hod r,oe.t-1
carved four-poster, was hung with
fringed and embroidered velvet, and in
the dusk OF the chamber 1t took on the
somDer likeness Of catafalque, add
Ing to the eerie seeming a touch OF the
Iunereal anonymously from the
shadowy midst Of it came that ranted
r1Smarole OF strange words, now high
pitched, now bass, now cultural.
What had at first seemed a moving
gray patch had developed by degrees
into the white, night-robed, sitting fig.
ure OF the invalid, swaying excitedly.
with arms extended In ceaseless ges.
lures For a long moment this un.
canny object had held my gaze, but
presently near the beds foot, des.
cried Bryan's white uniform and the
sight brought a measure Of relief. In
response to beckoning head-tilt, the
nurse joined US.
i thought you had better come" he
whispered, quite calmly. 81 thought
possibly you might understand what
he is saying"
But l don't" I whispered back. IF
It's a real language l never heard It.
what do you imagine it is?"
i have an Idea it's Chinese" he an.
sWcred 1T sounds like the stuff You
near at a Chinese theater, and I
caught two or three words CT pidgin.
English, just before you" lie broke
on suddenly, and plucked at my sleeve.
There!" he murmured. Did Won
hear that? Maskce. That Was plain
enough. 1t means never mind A it,
tie while ago he was evidently trying
TO hurry some one. 1t was chop-chop
about every other sentence"
EYelyn's eyes shOne luminous in the
gloom.
Cant you give him something to
quiet him. she begged. It's awful TO
let him go on like this. It's cruel. He
seems to be in such distress"
i can, Of course" Bryan returned.
But | thought Mr.. Clyde was anxious
TO have everything he said reported.
and"
"Oh, do give him something" she
insisted.
Bryan left us to obey. | saw him
stop at a table near the bed. and i'm
the half light caught the e.tut of a
hypodormic syringe. But. as if scent
Ing his purpose, Cdmcron's voice mllod
abruptly. For second or two he was