Part 20 (2/2)
”It may all yet be well. G.o.d grant it,” I muttered.
”He will,” said Miss Warren, who had joined me almost immediately; ”this is not a day of fate, I trust;” and she began moistening Adah's lips with brandy, and trying to cause her to swallow a little, while I chafed her pretty hands and rubbed brandy on her wrists.
”It seems to me as if an age, crowded with events, had elapsed since I started on my aimless walk this morning,” I said, half in soliloquy.
”That you were directed hither will be cause for lasting grat.i.tude. Was not the house on fire?”
”Yes, but Reuben was invaluable. He was out on the piazza, and so was not hurt.”
”Was Mrs. Yocomb hurt?” she asked, looking at me in wild alarm.
”Please do not fail me,” I entreated; ”you have been so brave thus far.
Mrs. Yocomb will soon revive, I think. You were unconscious at first.”
She now realized the truth that Mrs. Yocomb was not caring for Zillah, and hastened to their room, impelled by an overmastering affection for the woman who had treated her with motherly kindness.
I followed her, and a.s.sured her that her friend was living. It needed but a moment to see that this was true, but little Zillah scarcely gave any sign of life. Both were unconscious.
The young girl now looked at me as if almost overwhelmed, and said, in a low shuddering tone, ”This is awful--far worse than I feared; I do wish the doctor was here.”
”He must be here soon. I know you won't give way. In great emergencies a true woman is great. You may save--”
A thunder-peal from the retreating storm drowned my words. She grew white, and would have fallen had I not caught her and supported her to a chair.
”Give me--a few moments,” she gasped, ”and I'll be--myself again. This shock is awful. Why, we would all have burned up--had you not put the fire out,” and her eyes dilated with horror.
”We have no time for words,” I said, brusquely. ”Here, take this brandy, and then let us do everything in our power to save life. I scarcely know what to do, but something must be done. If we can only do the right thing, all may yet be well.”
In a moment the weakness pa.s.sed, and she was her brave, quiet self once more.
”I won't fail you again,” she said resolutely, as she tried to force a little brandy between Mrs. Yocomb's pallid lips.
”You are a genuine woman,” I replied heartily, as I chafed Mrs.
Yocomb's wrists with the spirits; ”I know how terrible the ordeal has been for you, and most young ladies would have contributed to the occasion nothing but hysterics.”
”And you feared I would.”
”I feared worse. You are morbidly timid in a thunder-storm, and I dreaded your learning what you now know beyond measure.”
”You were indeed burdened,” she said, looking at me with strong sympathy.
”No matter. If you can keep up and suffer no ill consequences from this affair, I believe that the rest will come through all right. After all, they are affected only physically, but you--”
”I have been a little weak-minded. I know it. But if it doesn't thunder any more I'll keep up. Ever since I was a child the sound of thunder paralyzed me. Thank G.o.d, Mrs. Yocomb is beginning to revive.”
”I will leave her in your care, and see if I can do anything for Mr.
Yocomb. I thus show that I trust you fully.”
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