Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-10-17
CHAPTER XVII.

Il
around her feet.
CHAPTER XVII.
On tho Beach.
Godfrey Greylock and his heiress
drove to Cats Tavern the next day
and made a formal call upon Mercy
Poole. The latter received them with
the dignity Of duchess. The master
of the Woods. who was not particular
ly pleased to renew his old acquaint-
ance with the towering gypsy, saluted
her with hauteur.
You owe this visit to the curiosity
Of my granddaughter" he said. she
would give me no peace until l con-
sented to bring her here"
Ethel stood in the low-ceiled living
room, and looked around on the clean
Illness there, the quaint old furniture
and-the cats.
Quite true" she said, lightly. u
wanted to see you, Miss Poole, and
your pets, and this old inn, where, long
ago 1 once stopped with mamma and
Hannah Johnson, and Of which I have
always preserved a dim memory"
Her grandfather frowned. A sombre
smile fitted over Mercy Poole's dark
face. Even indoors she wore mans
hat on her iron-gray hair, and a linen
apron was pinned over the front of her
black gown. To Godfrey Greylock she
gave little heed, but his granddaughter
she regarded with keen attention.
you are welcome" she said kindly
to the latter. Sit down. And 80 Rob-
ert's daughter Is now grown to wo-
manhood? Yes, you are as old as
was when I first knew your father.
Let me look at you. You are hand
somer than any Of his race. Isn't that
so?" appealing abruptly to Godfrey
Greylock.
81 beg you will not turn my grand
daughters head with compliments
he answered coldly.
Captain Kidd leaped from a window
seat and began to purr about Ethel
with friendly violence. Robespierre'
with his one ear and abbreviated tall
came out Of q corner and clawed her
mantle, as a hint that he desired a
little attention. The Borgias and the
other murderers blinked at her serene
ly with their round. opal eyes.
why, this Is like show!" laugned
Ethel How glad I am that you con-
sented to bring me here. grandpa
Mercy Poole turned to the old aris-
tocrat.
do you remember the last time you
and I metz" she said dryly. 1T was IN
YOUR library at the Woods, Godfrey
Greylock-the night after your sons
burial"
mo" he answered in a freezing
tone. II do not remember"
Pardon me, I think you do-one
can't forget such things. 1t was the
time told you Robert had been MUIR
dered. You hadn't suspected the fact
before. Well, we've both changed a
good deal since that night"
His face darkened.
"Oblige me by leaving the past out
of our present conversation. find no
pleasure in recalling It,"
1T would be strange If you did,
she answered, with low laugh, and
she snapped the one ear of Robes
pierre who had bounced rudely on her
shoulder.
From certain signs which her grand
father was making. Ethel knew that
her visit must be brief She glanced
around for DR.. Vandine, but that per-
son chanced to be absent, visiting his
Blackport patients. After a few mo-
ments caressing the cats, she prepar-
ed to depart.
You will let me come again, will
you not?" she said to Mercy Poole at
the door.
The landlady looked at her with
strange tenderness
| There's a room In this house at all
times for your fathers daughter" she
answered; the other Greylocks hate
DuI nOl yOu-llOl yOu!
Moved by a sudden impulse, Ethel
turned and pressed her fresh young
lips to Mercy Poole's dark cheek. Then
she departed with Godfrey Greylock.
What a strange woman" she said
musingly, as the two rode away from
Cats Tavern. What did she mean
grandpa, by saying that my father was
murdered?"
He looked greatly annoyed.
1T Is some mad fancy which got
possession of her years ago; never
give it a thought, my dear. She is
mad. as you can plainly see by the
abominable names she has given those
cats. There was some boy and girl
love affair betwixt her and your faith
er-bah! do not ask me to speak OF 1t
i abhor the woman"
And l like her, grandpa!"
| They were driving back to the villa
through the summer sunshine. When
they reached the turn in the road
which brought them nearest to the
salt-pits, Ethel laid her gloved hand on
her grandfather's arm.
| Point" she entreated, ito the spot
where my fathers body was found
| He shuddered.
| mo! no! Do not look that way!
| What morbid nonsense!"
Il must see the place. grandpa Stop
the horses, please, and let us alight
and walked down the slope. Mamma
told me the whole story, long and long
ago"
"The whole story? doubt It," NUT
tered Godfrey Greylock, but being in
i 90 raf,,,;pr onvthinp tO this