Midnight had long since passed and in a few brief hours daybreak would come. Still nothing had occurred to break the peaceful stillness of the two ladies’ rooms, namely ÷ Mrs. and Miss Sowers’ rooms, and as Jack ceased speaking, Mr. Sowers proceeded to light a candle. After he had lit the candle, Jack advanced toward him. He looked his master in the face for some time. At last he said anxiously: ÷

“Oh Marse! You look as pale as a ghost. What is de matter wid you? You tremble like a leaf. Has you bin hurt?” Sowers did not Speak immediately. Presently he said unconcernedly: ÷

“Oh, nothing the matter with me, Jack. Let us see who it was that screamed so loud. Come on.” He knew his orders would be obeyed, so he hastily proceeded to his wife’s room. He aroused her and said: ÷

“Mary, was it you that screamed so loud a while ago?” She didn’t seem to understand him. Presently she said:

“No, dear, I don’t know anything about any Ice cream, you must have been dreaming.” And thinking she had solved the mystery, she closed her eyes and fixed herself in an easy attitude for going to Sleep again. But she was aroused again by Aunt Sally coming up to the bed and saying:

“Come, Missus, raise up, you didn’t understan’ Marse Joshua. He said he heard somebody hollerin’ an’ he wants to know if it was you or not. Was it you, Missus?”

“Oh, I understand you now,” said she interestedly. ÷ “No, it wasn’t me. Have you been to Mattie’s room?”

“Yes, Missus, we’s been dere, all ov us cullud folks, but She was a’sleepin’ quietly,” said Aunt Sally. ÷

“Well, it’s no use standing here,” said Sowers. ÷ “We had better go to Mattie’s room again and see what is the matter.” So saying, he repaired to Miss Sowers’ room. He went close up to her bed and looked at her for some time. She looked very pale. He listened. Was she breathing? Yes, but very faintly. He put his hand on her breast. Did her heart beat? Yes, but very slowly. His hand was of course outside of the cover, but if her heart was beating fast he would know it. So he raised the cover so as to feel her heart’s pulsation better. He looked; could he believe his eyes? Yes, he was forced to believe—well, what did he see? Why, he saw her pure white bosom bared, and on the left breast nearest the heart was a little red spot. Was he dreaming? No, he was wide awake. He was holding the cover in his hand. He let it drop and, behold, his hand was stained with blood. It proved to be too much for his over-taxed nerves and he staggered, reeled, and fell. Jack caught him and laid him on a sofa that was in the room—

He was soon brought to consciousness by the unrelaxing efforts of his faithful servant—Jack. As soon as he was able to get up, he said: ÷ “Oh Jack, I believe my poor child is dead—murdered—Oh God!”

He walked to the bed again. Was it so—could it possibly be so? Yes, it was possible. He knelt down beside his daughter’s bed and began pleading wildly, imploringly: ÷

“Oh Daughter! Oh my dear, dear child, do not die—live! For my sake, live.” He broke down with sobs. Finally he rose and said: ÷ “I must send for the doctor and a kind nurse. Perhaps her life may yet be spared—Jack, go immediately for Dr. Maltby—George, you get Logan, as he is a fast horse—and ride for life over to Mr. Armstead’s. Get his daughter to come over with you—Aunt Sally, you go down to Mrs. Barton’s and ask her please to come up here. I will write a note to Dr. Maltby and one to Mr. Armstead’s daughter. Be in a hurry, now please do all of you.” By the time he ceased speaking, Aunt Sally was half way to Mrs. Barton’s. Jack was soon off to Winchester for Dr. Maltby—George was soon riding swiftly across fields and meadows toward Mr. Armstead’s residence. It was he that rode up to Mr. Armstead’s door and knocked, as previously alluded to.

When Sowers was left alone, he went again to look at his daughter—must he call his wife? Yes—no—he thought he had better not call her until the doctor arrived and restored his daughter to consciousness. So he knelt by the bed—perhaps the death-bed of his child—and for the first time in the long years of his maturity he prayed, prayed earnestly. Pleadingly he begged the ruler of the great universe to spare his child. He implored the great King of High heaven to spare his child—his only child, his very life. Oh how great is [sic] the works of a kind providence. Was his daughter stricken down, perhaps to death, to bring the haughty mill owner on his knees to his Maker? Perhaps it was. However, as he knelt, he cried out in the anguish of his sorrow-stricken heart: “Oh God, spare my child, spare my darling child. She is my only child. Oh, spare her life!”

He rose and seated himself on the edge of the bed and gazed long and earnestly on the face of his child. Not a muscle of her face moved. Could she be saved? He hoped so. He hoped she would live. His only hope for future happiness was in his daughter’s recovery. At last he heard someone coming in the yard. He composed himself as well as possible. Presently the door was opened and Mrs. Barton walked in. Aunt Sally following close behind, Mrs. Barton went to Mattie’s bed and looked at the little red spot on her breast.

***

When Dr. Maltby recognized his visitor, he said, “Why, Jack, what brings you here this time of night? Is anyone sick at your house?” Jack pulled the note out of his pocket, and as he handed it to the doctor he said, “Oh Marse Docter, Miss Mattie’s bin stabbed right in de heart. I’se feard she’s kill.” The doctor tore the envelope open and hastily perused the note. It ran briefly as follows: ÷

Please come to my house immediately. Jack will tell you all. Don’t delay.
          Joshua Sowers.

The doctor called Dick to get his horse—Dick promptly obeyed and the doctor, accompanied by Jack, was soon on his way to Brookland. They soon arrived there, and the doctor immediately went up to Miss Mattie’s room. He found Mr. Sowers and Aunt Sally there. He examined the wound and then gave her a powerful stimulant. Presently Mrs. Barton came in, and as the door opened the doctor turned his head to see who it was. He started and clutched the coverlet nervously. However, he soon recovered himself. Why did he start at the presence of this woman? The question Shall remain unanswered for some time yet.

“Doctor, do you think she will live?” Mr. Sowers asked. “If she dies, my only hope for happiness in this world is gone.”

The doctor waited for some time before he ventured an assertion. Then he said, “Well, I can’t tell yet. She may get over it as the stab is not very deep, but it will be a long time before she will cease to be an invalid.” By this time, Mattie began to show some sign of returning [to] consciousness. Mrs. Sowers was called by Aunt Sally. ÷

“Missus,” said Aunt Sally. “Missus, wake up, don’t you know your darter is bin almost kilt?” Mrs. Sowers just dreamily heard what Aunt Sally said, and she faintly murmured: ÷

“Yes—Aunt—Sally—you may put more water in the kettle.” Aunt Sally looked at her in astonishment:

“Oh Missus, de doctor has come and dey wants you to come in to Miss Mattie’s room right away,” Aunt Sally said.

“The doctor here and want[s] me to come in Mattie’s room? Why, what’s the matter in there, Aunt Sally?” Mrs. Sowers was fully aroused by this time, and she rose hastily and went to her daughter’s room. She glanced at her daughter’s breast and saw the blood slowly oozing out. It did not overcome her, for she had nerves of iron, it seemed. “Doctor, is she dead?” Mrs. Sowers asked in a low voice.

“No, madam, she is not dead, but unless my directions [are] followed to the minute I am afraid there is little hope—yet I think with a little care, or at least by being punctual in giving her her medicine, she may live. However, I’ll hope for the best.” There was a silence of brief duration. Then it was broken by Mr. Sowers as he looked at his watch.

“Why, it is two o’clock—yes, near three,” said he. “I guess George will soon be here with Miss Ella.” The doctor still sat by his patient. Presently he said, “Mrs. King is very anxious and very much annoyed at her son’s absence. I suppose he has come before now and made all necessary explanations.”

“No indeed, he has not been seen or heard of,” Mr. Sowers said. Mattie Sowers opened her eyes at last. She looked wildly around, put her hand to her breast, and cried out—“Oh, he has stabbed me! He has stabbed me!” And she sank again into unconsciousness. The doctor Smiled and said, “She will soon regain her mind.” Mr. Sowers was glad to see the doctor smile, for he knew then that there was some hope. ÷

“Well, I can’t help thinking of Albert’s absence,” the doctor said softly. “His mother will fairly go mad if he is not heard of soon. I hope he will soon make his appearance.” Then he added, “Mr. Sowers, I suppose your new miller has got here ere this.”

“No sir, he has not come yet, but I hope he will come tomorrow,” said Mrs. Sowers in a voice scarcely audible. Jack and Aunt Sally were permitted to go to bed again. Mr. Sowers laid [sic] down on the sofa. Mrs. Sowers took a seat at the foot of the bed. Mrs. Barton sat near the window and looked out. The doctor still maintained his position at the bed—his patient’s hand still in his. He sat there looking at his patient for some time. While he is sitting there, we will attempt to follow the intended assassin for a short while. As Mattie Sowers fell back on her bed, this wolf in human form glided quietly to her and, baring her breast, it tried to plunge the knife deep in her heart, but this wolf’s hand trembled and the knife only made a slight indenture in the flesh. Thinking he or she had done their bloody work, the intended assassin raised the window and quickly made its exit and disappeared in the darkness. Who was it? The question must necessarily remain unanswered, for Mattie is again returning to consciousness. The doctor asked her what was the matter: “Miss Sowers,” said he kindly, “what is the matter? Do you know who stabbed you?” The word “no” came faintly from her lips, very faintly, but it was enough to convince the doctor that his medicine had done as well as he hoped. ÷

The speaking aroused Mr. Sowers. He immediately asked how his daughter was. The doctor answered:

“She is much better. She has regained her mind.” Sowers was very glad to hear this. His wife was sitting at the foot of the bed wide awake, but she did not venture to say a word. Sowers went to her and said:

“Come, Mary, you had as well go to bed.”

“No,” said she. “I can’t sleep while my child is so sick. I’ll stay up until Ella Armstead comes anyhow.”

He said no more to his wife, but he asked Mrs. Barton if she wished to go home. “No sir, I do not wish to go,” said she quietly. ÷

Dr. Maltby started again. Hadn’t he heard that voice before? No, he could not have ever heard it.

Mattie stirred again. She opened her eyes and stared around for some time; then she asked in a hollow voice, “Isn’t this Dr. Maltby?”

“Yes, Miss, that is my name,” the doctor said promptly. Mattie was fully aroused now, and she asked in a little stronger voice. “Where is Mother and Father, Doctor?”

“They are here,” said the doctor soothingly.

The mother and father were very anxious to talk with her, but the doctor took them both aside and whispered those [sic] words in their ears:

“Don’t allude to the stabbing until I say you may.” They promised they would not and then went to their daughter’s bedside. She smiled faintly as she saw her mother coming. A silent kiss was all the mother could give. It was now precisely three o’clock. The doctor still sat beside the bed. We have made previous allusion to the fact that the doctor was one of the best of his profession. Mrs. and Mr. Sowers and Mrs. Barton all looked kindly on the doctor’s patient.

Mattie soon sank into a profound slumber. Her mind was at rest when she knew she had friends all around her. After a while, Mr. Sowers ventured to ask, “Do you think she will be well in a few days, Doctor?”

The doctor felt the pulse and forehead; then he said, “No sir, I will not say she will be well in a few days. You will find it will take a good while for her to get well. She may have the typhoid fever from this scare.”

Mr. Sowers still clung to a hope for the best. Hadn’t he, the great miller, knelt and prayed for his daughter’s life to be spared? Of course he had.

***

As Mr. Armstead opened his door, he was accosted by George as follows: ÷ “Good evening, Mr. Armstead. I am sorry to arouse you up, but some unprincipled Scoundrel has stabbed Miss Mattie.”

“Why, how are you, George?” Mr. Armstead said. “I can hardly believe you.” George pulled the note out of his pocket and handed it to Mr. Armstead, saying, “That is for Miss Ella to come over to Mr. Sowers’ as quick as possible.” Ella heard him, and she was there with a light as quick as a flash. She tore the envelope off and, unfolding the note, read as follows: ÷

Miss Ella Armstead, please come to my house as quick as possible. Come with George.
          Joshua Sowers

Ella got ready as soon as she could and started off with George. They soon arrived at Mr. Sowers’ house. It was ten minutes after three o’clock when she and George reached the house. She went right upstairs immediately:

“Good evening, friends,” she said in a low voice. “I have got here at last.”

“Good morning, Miss,” said Dr. Maltby.

“It is very near morning.”^[1] The others greeted her cordially.

“How is dear Mattie?” she asked presently. “Has she come to consciousness yet?”

“Yes, she has, and now she is sleeping quietly,” the doctor said. After a few moments’ silence, Ella said: “Your boy George told me that Albert King had left or disappeared very mysteriously.”

“Yes, he has certainly disappeared,” Mr. Sowers said, and then Mrs. Barton said in a voice that sounded musical to Dr. Maltby, “I saw a man dressed in a miller’s shirt coming up this way about an hour before I heard the scream.” Sowers then recollected his experience and what he saw—says he, “I saw a man dressed in miller’s clothes walking rapidly away. I did not come to the house right away as I had some books to look over.” In a few moments, the doctor ventured to ask, “Who do you think could have done this dastardly deed?”

There was a silence for some time. It was broken by Ella. She said emphatically:

“Albert King!”

Her words had great force, so the guilt was set on Al King, and so we leave our characters until morning.