The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-05-05

pretty child, I've waited all night for
you. My God, what's happened to
your"
Tony covered her face with her
hands.
"Somebody beat me up" she
moaned. Il can't tell anything now.
And lost my pretty clothes"
Sudden strength came to Paul Pen
dlehaven. He sat up straight and
forcibly lifted the pitiful hurt face so
he could look at it.
''Tony," he began gravely, 81 COM
mand you to tell me what happened
to you. Tell me instantly. If I knew,
could take steps to punish the ruflan
who dared to do this thing"
That was just what Tony didn't
want. Hadn't she sworn to Edith IN
the presence of the infinite Christ, that
good Shepherd who had given up His
life for His sheep, that no matter
what Uriah did she wouldn't peach on
him?
The tears were still rolling down
her cheeks from under lowered lids.
"You have so helped me, Tony" con-
tinued Pendlehaven. "and yet you re-
fuse to let me do what can."
She tried to think of something to
comfort him.
"But sometimes daddies and hus-
bands beat their women folks" she ex-
planned.
"Then your father whipped your
quizzed the doctor.
'sThat I can't TELL" said the girl.
Don't make me. On, Lordy,
I'm all tuckered out"
It was of no use to put questions
any more, thought Pendlehaven. He
was persuaded that her father had
done this dreadful thing.
At eight o'clock, when DR.. John
Pendlehaven softly entered the sick
room he found his brother in sound
slumber, and Tony Devon, her face
discolored with bruises, fast asleep In
the chair by the bedside.
It was a stubborn Tony that faced
Doctor John that morning. Adroitly he
tried to draw from her the reason for
her extreme paleness, for the dark
marks stretched across her face, and
the meaning of the shudders that sud-
denly attacked her.
81 can't tell," she reiterated in dis
tress as she had to his brother. '''Please
don't ask me-"
That her mother was dead, she firm
ly believed. This she did tell the doc
tor between many sobs and tears.
"Tll never see her ever any more"
she told him tremulously. "And if
you'll let me, I'll live here forever and
forever and take care of Doctor Paul"
"My brother can't get along without
you, DEAR" he said, deeply touched. IF
you had seen how he grieved last
night, you wouldn't have made that
remark"
IT know he likes me-" said the girl,
signing, "and I love him. Why, I love
him"
She searched the mans face and
caught his smile.
"Better than you do me?" he came
in with.
Eyes" said Tonnibel honestly, 'but
YOU next" Then she thought Of
Philip, of the hours he had held her
against his breast, of the kiss in the
mornings dawn. and she fell into a
bashful silence.
When Doctor Pendlehaven told Mrs.
Curtis that Tony had returned, her
face drew down in a sulky frown.
'But we needn't care" Katherine
said afterward, "she doesn't bother us
much. For my part I can't see how
Cousin Paul stands her,
John says Paul almost died last
night" took up Mrs. Curtis. 81 sup
pose she's one of the things we've
got to stand in a house run by an old
bachelor and a grieving widower."
sTo say nothing of a father with
daughter lost somewhere in the
world" supplemented Katherine.
'There's no danger of Caroine's re-
turning after all these years." said
Mrs. Curtis. "If-if-that girl hadn't
come, Paul wouldn't have lived long.
John told me so himself. I almost
hoped that"
"That he'd die?" interrupted Kath-
crime, maliciously. "Well. to be truth
full I have wished it many times.
Cousin John would have to think of
somebody else then. Perhaps he'd
turn his attention to you, mother
darling"
"He won't while Paul lives" sighed
Mrs. Curtis. 81 don't know just what
to dc. I've thought of every conceiv-
able way to get that girl out of the
house, and John forestalls me every
time"
'I'm glad Philip hasn't seen her."
remarked Katherine. Hes just the
religious maudlin kind who would fall
for an appealing face like hers" Mrs.
Curtis made en- impatient gesture, and