The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-01
CHAPTER XIV.


w WV IdbC VI tUc VoFfu.
There was pause not to be reck-
oned by minutes but suffocatingly
long. She had grown as pale as he.
That was ungenerous Of you," she
said then with Icy slowness. Though
no doubt yon-found II entertaining
IL must have still further amused you
to be taken for an architect?"
II am fattered." he replied. with a
trace OF bitterness. ito have suggested
even for q moment, so worthy a call
ing"
AT his answer she put out her hand
with sudden gesture, as IL bluntly
thrusting the matter from her con-
cern. and turning went back along the
tree-shadowed path.
He followed glumly, gnawing his
lip. wanting to say he knew not what.
but wretchedly tongue-tied, noting
that the great white moth was still
waving Its creamy wings on the dead
stump and wondering IL she would
take the cape jessamines. He felt an
embarrassed relief when. passing the
roots where they lay, she stopped to
raise them
Then all at once the blood seemed
to shrink from his heart. WIKI q
hoarse cry no leared toward her.
seized her wrist and roughly dragged
her back. feeling as he did so, a sharp
hery sting on his instep. The next
moment. with clenched teeth. he was
vtciously stamping his heel again and
again. driving into the soft earth a.
twisting root.like something that
slapped the brown wintered leaves in
TO Kissing turmoil.
lie had flung her from him with
such violence that she had fallen side
wise. Now she raised herself, knecl-
Ing In the feathery light. both hands
ciasped close 10 her breast, trembling
excessively with loathlng and feeling
tho dun earth-noor billow like q can
vas sra In a theater. Little puffs OF
dust from the protesting ground were
wreathing about her set face. and she
pressed one hand against her shoulder
to repress her shiyers.
The horrible - horrible - thir e."
she said whisperingly. 1T would have
bitten met"
He came toward her, painting. and
grasping her hand. lifted her to her
feet. He staggered slightly as he did
so. and she saw his lips twist to-
gether oddly. "Ah." she gasped, 1T
Bit youl IL bit you!"
NO." he said. Il think not"
Look! There on your ankle-that
spoti"
II did feel something. just that first
moment" lie laughed uncertainty.
Its queer. My foot's gone fast
asleep"
Every remnant OF color left her
face. She had known NEGRO child
who had died OF = watermoccasin's s
bite somo years before-the child OF q
house-servant. II had been wading in
the creek In the gorge The doctor
had said then that II one of the other
children.
She grasped his arm. "Slt down"
she commanded, here. on this log.
and sec"
Her pale fright caught him IIo
obeyod. dragged OF tho low shoe and
barred tho tingling spot. The firm
white flesh was putting up around two
tiny blue-rimmed punCtures. Ito
reached into his pocket. then rcmem-
bered that he had no knife As tho
next best thing ne knotted his hard.
EeTchief quickly above the ankle,
thrust a stick through the loop and
twisted II till the ligaturc cut deeply.
while she knclt beside him, her lips
moving sOundlcssly. saving over aud
over to herself words like these: 81
must not be frightened. Ilc doesn't
realize tho danger. but | do! I must
bo quite collected. II is a mile To- tho
doctors. might run to the house
aud send Unc' Jefferson. but il would
take too long. Besides, the doctor