Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-10-10
A DARK DEED

By ETA w. PIERCE

than anxious 10 keep,
Sometimes she was consumed by an
inward fury which not even Hannah
Johnson could soothe. She would
limp about her pretty rooms, like a
wild creature in a cage. At one time
she would caress Fairy; at another
she would not tolerate the sight of
her.
IT cannot bear it," she would al
most shrek; this pretty prison, this
suspense, this loneliness, this lack of
everything that gives color to life! 1t
is useless, Hannah Johnson, to wait
for anything better-I am chasing the
very shadow Of hope, and when God
frey Greylock dies, the English heir
will thrust me out of our shelter here,
after which I must make Fairy sue
cess in the ballet, or starve with her"
You're too easily discouraged,
ma'am," purred Hannah Johnson.
"Time works wonders. Have pa
tience."
So the months went on. year
passed, and Mrs. Iris had never once
encountered the inhabitants Of the
villa. Near as they dwelt together,
they were yet as far apart as If
oceans rolled between them. Mean
while the child Fairy was growing.
1t was the eighth anniversary of
Robert Graylock's death-a winter
night, full of storm and darkness.
Six o'clock-the dinner hour at the
villa-had struck, and Godfrey Grey
lock stood in the warm, bright draw
ing room waiting for Miss Pam to
join him.
The wind roared around the brown
tower, and smote across the plate
glass windows; sleet pattered sharply
on the panes. He could hear the
groaning Of the great trees in the ave-
nues. This was a night sure to bring
wreck and disaster to the coast
Presently Hopkins appeared at the
door with a message:
Miss Greylock begs you will excuse
her, SIR" she said; shes had bad
turn and is quite upset. And will you
be so good as to sit down to dinner
without her? She's never herself, you
know, sir, when this anniversary
comes around"
Yes, he knew. Eight years had
passed since the tragedy, but how
well he remembered all it's dreary de-
tails! In solitary grandeur he seat
ed himself at his sumptuous board,
opposite Miss PANS empty chair.
The lights burned brightly, the blaze
of a wood fire flashed on the glass and
silver of the table; but outside the
tempest seemed to grow in violence.
Its a hard evening for travellers,
sir" the servant who waited at his
elbow ventured to say.
He had barely got beyond the soup
and fish, when. without warning of
any kind the door flew open, and
something darted into the room, ran
around the table, and climbed into
Miss Pamela's empty chair.
Godfrey Greylock paused in the act
Of lifting a glass of wine to his lips
the golden liquor splashed down on
the board.
He stared in blank amazement.
Over the damask cloth arose head
like a sunbeam, and two big blue eyes
gazed back at him across the shining
table, like audacious moons. The
hood was pushed back on her pretty
neck. and the storm had drenched her
sunny hair, and torn it out in count
less rings and tendrils. The little
jacket that protected her small
shoulders was covered with sleet and
snow. She looked like some bright
winged bird blown by the rude temp
est of the night into this luxurious
room.
Godfrey Greylock put down his
glass. He gazed steadily at the object
there in Miss PANS high, carved
chair. and the object gazed steadily
back at him. He was not dreaming,
nor laboring under any hallucination.
1t was his despised and rejected grand
daughter, and on this dreary anni-
versary of Robert Greylock's death
she was sitting before him at his ta-
BILE, and looking at him with her faith
er's eyes. He turned to the servant.
Leave the room," he said.
The man vanished.
who sent you here in this Storm
Godfrey Greylock then demanded of
the golden hair and blue eyes oppo-
site.
Nobody" she answered. II ran
away. 1 wish you would give me
some supper. I was so angry at Han
nah Johnson that 1 would not eat any
at home, and she said, Very we'll,
might go to bed hungry"
He filled a porcelain plate with the
choicest morsels on the table, and
placed it before her. She fell to the
repast with appetite, yet in a dainty
way, that showed her table manners
had not been neglected. He watched
her silently. She had grown much in
the last twenty months. and her beau
ty had put on a high-bred look, which
suited we'll a daughter Of the Grey
locks. When her hunger was appeas-
ed she pushed the plate away, and
gave him a little nod of thanks.
who came with you from Rose
Cottage at this hour?" he demanded
sternly.
NO. one. 1 came alone" she an
swered.
He thought of the long half-mile
through the woods of the darkness
and tempest and his face grew stern
er yet.
DO you know that l have strictly
forbidden the inmates of the Cottage
to approach this house," he cried.
"Oh. yes" she replied. airily, IMAM
ma told me: but she had a headache
tonight, and l couldn't stay with Han
nah Johnson. She slaps and pinches
me, and / hate her. So | thought
that. being my grandpa, you wouldn't
mind If I Daid YOU one little small