Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-11-14

II W HE.
? The carriage still stood at the door
Sir Gervase called Hopkins, and tolt
her of the errand which called us uI
, to town.
, Before 1t everything else, even the
dead man In the library, seemed tc
sink into insignificance 1 cared fol
nothing now but to discover the truth
concerning Nan-her birth, her par
entage. About myself I never thought
1t was not of the slightest consequence
whether I was Of Granny Scrags
blood or not, but my beautiful, fugi-
Tive Nan!-how fervently I prayed
that some happier revelation might
await us regarding her!
Twenty minutes later Sir Gervase
Greylock and I were at Blackport sta =
tion, and the train was putting in to
meet US across the frozen marshes. II
was a consolation to find myself fol-
lowing Mans footsteps so soon. She
had fled to the city-by some kind
chance we might encounter her there
perhaps she, too. had gone to search
for Harmony Alley and Granny Scrag.
BUT, no." said to myself, despond-
entity; she does not remember the
place-she was such baby when she
was taken away! And Hannah John
son told us Of the shameful means
employed to make her forget every
thing.
| In the cold, dull December after
noon, we alighted at the city depot.
There was nothing remarkable in the
appearance of either Of us. Hopkins
had tied thick veil over my hat, and
thrown a comfortable wrap Of her
own about my shoulders. Sir Gervase
wore long gray overcoat, bottoned to
his ears, and was commonplace enough
to look upon. Certainly no one would
have suspected him of being a gentle
man of birth and title.
| On descending to the platform he
rushed to the officials of the place, and
assailed them with questions but alas!
hundreds of ladies had come and gone
there since noen-handsome ladies',
muffied ladies. 1t was line seeking
for the lost needle in the NOW of hay.
No information concerning Nan could
be obtained at the depot.
Il really had no right to hope for
anything here,' said Sir Gervase,
sloomily, and he called a carriage, and
we started for Harmony Alley,
My heart beat violently as we turn
ed into the dlsreputable quarter where
the tenement house had stood long
years before. Old landmarks began to
arise on all sides. Few changes had
taken place In the locality. At the
entrance to the alley the carriage
stopped and Sir Gervase and 1 alight-
ed. I glanced around.
Yes" I said, this is the place.
And the tenement house is here, and
it is still a tenement house. Will
you walt at the entrance sir, or will
you come with me? 1t used to be a
terrible den in the old days."
Il will go with you," he answered; !;
lead on"
went down the familiar alley, reek-
ing with dirt and swarming, as 1t
seemed, with the very gamins that
used to wage war with me in my
childhood.
Sir Gervase and stepped into a
dark hallway, where two vixenish wo-
men, with unkempt heads and drink
flushed faces, stood hurling all sorts
of invectives at each other.
Madam" said Sir Gervase, politely
addressing the fiercer of the two, II
beg leave to ask IL there Is an old
woman called Scrag living anywhere
IN this house?"
The pair stopped their battle to
stare at us. A person Of respectable
appearance was rarely seen in Har=
mony Alley. held my breath for the
woman's answer. 1t came at last,
mingled with two or three oaths.
Granny Scrag? That's the witch in
the attic. She gifts the brass by beg
ging on the streets. Yes, young man
follow your nose up the stair yonder,
till you can't follow 1t further, and
you'll find yourself there"
| I glided ahead of Sir Gervase; he
came after with mighty strides.
Yes, the same old rickety stairs,
down which I had more than once
been kicked by Granny Scrag; 1t
seemed as If must meet Pietro, the
organ grinder and the monkey. as I
flew up. The same dark. reeking
landings. and 10! the same garret door,
sagging on its hinges, at the head OF
the last flight and beyond it the pur-
gatory of my childhood-the attic
where l had lived and suffered with
| Nan!
| / pushed back the door, which could
never be locked. The dirty skylight,
the cupboard in the wall, the bed of
rags. the broken stove-all were there;
but the place had no human occupant.
This is the room," said to Sir
Gervase, but granny Is not here"
I'VE must wait for her" he answer
ed.
| was III thS oe"'SI S-'N
the garret was bitterly cold. He set
a broken chair for me, and began
himself to walk about under the sky
light.
Look at this room!" l burst out, in
uncomfortable bitterness, land then
think of Greylock Woods, and the life
which Nan has led there!-think or
the luxury, the refinement, the unlim-
tied affection, that have surrounded
her for years-yes, ever since she
could clearly remember anything. You
say, doubtless, that Godfrey Greylock
and his sister were cruelty deceived
that you also suffered; but tell you
NV poor sister has sustained the most
grievous wrong of all! To be thrust
in a moment out of her Eden back to
such a place as this-to be left with
out even a name-oh!"- l struck my
hands sharply together. for knew, II
he did not what it was to be hope
less and friendless and poor-"God
keep her"
hnnf