Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-10-03
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A DARK DEED
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Bv ETA w. PIERCE
CHAPTER XI-Continued

at their call, and supplied them WITH
the abundant entertainment for which
the old tavern was famous.
Night came, and Fairy was put to
sleep in the room adjoining Mrs. lris's
chamber. The latter person had muir
dered slumber. She tossed and turned
on her plump feather pillows-she
chafed and sighed the dark hours
away, and said Thank Heaven!"
when she saw the east grow rosy. AS
soon as the child was up she called
her to her side and embraced her.
Fairy, kiss mamma" she said. You
must do your utmost for me today,
child. Hannah, have you ordered the
depot carriage to take us to the
Woods?"
Yes, ma'am."
Where is our mannish, rampant
landlady this morning? 1 could not
drive her from my thoughts all night"
I'm glad to say I've not seen her
she gives me the shivers with her
high black looks"
A little before midday the sound Of
wheels was heard in the street out
side. Mrs. Iris looked forth, expecting
to see the rattle-trap from the station;
but, 10! at the door of the inn stood a
landau, drawn by pair of horses, and
driven by a black coachman in livery.
At the same moment the house maid
came running up the stairs with a
message.
1.-The carriage from Greylock Woods
has just come for Mrs. Greylock and
her child" she said.
He had sent his own equipage for
her. Surely that was a good omen
The color flew into her pretty, faded
face, her black eyes sparkled.
Quick, Hannah!" she cried, breath
lessly; put on your bonnet and
shawl; you must come with me. And
dress the child and make her lovely
my chief reliance is upon the child"
Hannah obeyed. She was almost as
agitated as her mistress. The unpaid
wages of two years arose in her men,
ory. Possibly this rich man might Ii
quidate her mistress's debts. The two
descended the stairs, and took their
places in the carriage, and the blooded
horses turned from the inn door and
flew along the sunny road, from Black
port town to the gates of Greylock
Woods.
Mrs Iris leaned back among the soft
cushions of the landau, holding to
Fairy as to a sheet anchor, and keenly
oil in6n1pnf a.
ing, the luxury of a decent vehicle
once more. Her heart was in tumult
of hope and fear. Was it to triumph
or disappointment that she was call
ed? The gate Of the Woods stood
open, as If in welcome, and Fairy be-
gan to clap her tiny hands.
"Oh, the pretty place!" she cried;
here it is, mamma-the pretty place!"
And Mrs. Iris, under her breath, an
swered:
Yes, child. Look, and see how
lovely it is, and know that all this will
go to a stranger, unless you can wrest
it from HIM"
Under the chestnuts, up the main
avenue they went, but not to the door
of the villa. The black coachman had
received his orders. To Iris Greylocks
surprise he left the dust-brown house
behind him. and drove on, past hotbeds
and wineries, past a fish-pond, with a
rustic bridge and tool-house, past
knoll and hollow and cool clumps OF
evergreens, until, at last, he came to
cottage in the very heart Of the Woods
"a full half-mile distant from the viii
la, and quite out of sight OF 1t. Here
the carriage stopped.
Mrs Iris looked. and saw pretty,
white, martin-box Of a house, with
fantastic peaks and gables, and a
piazza where a gay-colored hammock
was swinging in the wind. From foun-
dation to ridgepole. its entire front
was hung with roses, now in full
bloom-yellow and crimson, dazzling
white and superb pink, sweetbrier and
blush-they riOted and tlaunted at eV-
cry window, they hung like banners
above the doors, they covered the
piazza as with a screen. AS the driver
drew up his horses at the entrance Of
the cottage, fat, comfortable female
figure descended the steps, to meet
the occupants of the carriage-Mrs
Hopkins, the housekeeper of the villa.
II am to show you about the house"
she said, as she made her bow to Mrs.
Iris. 1T is Mr. Greylock's order. He
wants you to see everything here.
He will be coming directly to talk
with you. Give me the child" She
took Fairy in her arms; the tears fell
on her honest cheeks. And this is the
poor Master Rob's daughter! Lord
bless her? She has her fathers blue
eyes and yellow hair"
Mrs. Iris alighted, wondering at this
odd turn of affairs. Under the swing
ing roses she limped into the cottage,
hanging to Hannah JohnsOn's arm.
Hopkins, as guide, preceded them, and
began to throw open the doors on
either side of the pretty wainscoted
hall.
There was a drawing-rOO in terra
Gotta and peacOck-blue, with tables
and cabinets in ebony and brass a
velvet carpet, and many costly nick
nacks. There was a bOudOir in pink,
with pictures on the walls, and piano
i'm q corner. There was a gem of a
dining-room, with a deep rose-smoth-
cred bay-window, in which a maid
servant was spreading lunch of cold
chicken and mayonnaise, cakes and
fruit. There were kitchen offices, and
above stairs, airy chambers and
nursery full of sunshine and the breath
of flowers.
For years Mr.. Greylock has rented
this cottage" said Hopkins. but few
days ago the tenant left, which was
fortunate. We have done our best to
put the rooms i'm Order-most Of the
things came from the villa. Hark!
There goes the bell. Mr.. Greylock has