Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-09-05
T. T. + + f. f. f. f. f. + + r f. f. f. I. f. r
A DARK DEED
Bv ETA w. PIERCE


sion:
Il hope your marriage is happy
enough to recompense you for the loss
of your father and all his money"
He had not come to Blackport to
complain of his wife, or to publish his
marital troubles, for he was a proud
fellow, so he answered, evasively:
MY dear Mercy, matrimony is lot
terry, in which every Benedict, for lit
tie while, at least, fancies he has
drawn the first prize. But the loss Of
my father, as you call it, Is very seri-
Gus matter to me, particularly as am
somewhat embarrassed on the subject
of ways and means. hope to Heaven
that he is as eager as am for rec
| onciliation."
Mercy Poole struggled fiercely with
herself before she could again COM
mand her voice. Then she said, You
have a child?
Yes" he replied, "a daughter"
why didn't you bring her along
with you? The sight of her might
nave SOIlcHcu yOuE
Scarcely probable. If my memory
serves me right, my father always alb
horred his kind in the early stages of
existence. A baby Is the last thing on
earth that would soften his heart"
rs she like you-your daughter"
gasped Mercy Poole. with a curious
pallor on her gypsy face.
He shrugged his shoulders.
Really l do not know-I never no.
ticed."
How closely you must have looked
at her. Are you so absorbed in the
mother that the child is Of no import
ance? Yes, it must be so. And your
love for your wife is as fierce as 1t was
eighteen months ago-eh, Robert Grey
lock?"
Most certainly" he answered, with
bitterness that was quite lost upon
her.
Her assumed calm gave way, like a
dam when the floods are out. Instant
~ the brown statue became a furious,
palpitating woman.
And you dare to say it to my facet"
she almost screamed do you think /
have forgotten the time when you made
love to me in this very room-you had
glib tongue for making! And I
was a fool believed all you said"
Women are always fools, when they
listen to a mans nonsense" answered
Greylock. savagely.
How many, wonder have you de-
ceived in that way?" she painted. I'VE
used to walk in the moonlight on the
beach yonder-you brought me books
to read, and said to myself that you
were trying to make a lady Of me-to
lift me to your own level. But, great
God! 1t was not 50! One day you
shot gray hawk in the marsh-1 saw
you wiring it's neck. Then, for the first
time, knew there was cruelty in you,
in spite of your handsome face and fine
manners. Presently your father be-
gan to wonder why you came so much
to this inn-he began to suspect the at
and packed you off to the city to learn
law"
From the frying-pan to the fire" "
muttered Greylock.
Yes. We parted out on the beach
yonder. have stood for hours at the
window, and looked out on the spot.
You kissed me, and promised to write
to me often and to come back to Black
port in a few weeks. Lies-lies! You
sent me no letter-you did not return.
A month later I heard that you had
married a stage -dancer-a ballet-girl.
My God! what news that was for mel!
She flung out her sinewy, brown
hands with a passionate gesture, then
went on with increased vehemence.
"One of dads cronies came into the
inn and told me about the match, and
how angry your father was. / thought
| should have died. / flew out OF the
house down to the beach-to the very
spot where we parted, and l cursed you
from the depth of my mad, miserable
| heart-I cursed the hour that l was
born! Then l ran on and on, and hid
in the marshes. face downward, in the
tall brown grass, and there l lay all
night 1t was storming hard, but
never knew it. If l could have got at
you and your bride then, would have
killed you both"
Robert Greylock had listened to this
outbreak in sort of blank amaze. He
started now, and shook himself.
Good Heaven! Mercy, what a trag-
edy-uueen you would make! How seri-
ously you have taken little. harmless
Irritation! You are unreasonable, NOT
to say absurd. BY my faith, it is well
for the peace of society that all women
are not like you"
She did not seem to hear him.
Since the night when l heard OF
your marriage" she sObbed, the world
has all changed to me. My heart is as
dead as that hawk whose neck you
wung out on the marsh.
Mercy, this is too much!" he cried
in exasperation. You are making
mountains out of mole hills. You ought
to have forgotten me months ago.
hoped and expected to find you happily
married to some one of the many
swains who used to haunt this inn in
former days"
Il am not the person to forget" she
flashed; "and l shall never marry this
side of the grave Robert Greylock.
IT'S certain you never will the Other
side" he answered, with provoking
laugh, since we are told that no sucr
thing as matrimony exists there-and
blythe way, that is a most comforting
assurance to those who have had sur
felt of welded bliss here upon earth
did mean to keep my promise to you
Mercy, when l went away from Black
port. | did mean to come back and
marry you; but Fate was too much fol
me. Haven't you lived long enough tC