Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-09-26
- ~ + Z. f. f. f. + r !. I. r f. r. r.
A DARK DEED

Bv ETA w. PIERCE

1
"Eureka!" almost screamed; ut is
Martial"
Yes, my lodging house girl in that
role of nursery maid, which I myself
had first thrust upon her! AS she
reached the seat whereon l sat l arose
and touched her shoulder. The stupid
creature had not seen me.
Martha" l said, making gesture
toward the infant she was propelling,
and whose tow head was hanging at an
acute angle over the side of the per-
ambulator, where is my baby? what
ever did you do with it?"
never saw such a frightened Great
ture! Of course she recognized me
have not lost all my good looks
and she flung up her hands with cry.
"Oh, goodness, gracious me! Now
it's come your turn, ma'ami Amt /
ever going to hear the last of that
baby?" And then suddenly she gath
cred courage and faced me defiantly.
You took it away yourself" she said.
You know you did, and that's what
told 'em all, and not one Of 'em doubt
ed my word"
l felt a curious shock.
Martha, who would have thought
you so shrewd? Come and sit down on
this bench and unburden your mind
to me-"
She obeyed like an automaton.
Tell me everything" 1 insisted.
And she did. The simple creature
held nothing back. When l had drain
ed her stupid head of very bit Of in
formation which it contained; when
had learned all that 1 wanted to know.
1 arose with a laugh. a joyous laugh,
that came straight from my heart.
Martha, you are as wise as an OWL"
said 1; "of course it was l who took
my child! Did you, did anybody,
think it possible for me to leave her
behind me when l went away? I only
wished, just now, to frighten you lit
tie for your old carelessness-be
thankful that l let you off so easily.
And now, go in peace, M4Itha. You
have done me a good service.
1.-The gods that live forever
Are on our side today
I see the finger of fate in this meet
ing, Martha; adieu!"
l left her staring blankly, not COM
pretending a word of this farewell.
and limped off with Hannah.
1T was my husband who carried
away the child" said to my compan-
ion.
Whatever did he do with ito" she
answered.
Cannot you guess? He went down
to Blackport that same night, but he
did not take the baby with him. Why?
Because it had died some time be-
twiXt it's removal from the lodging
house and his departure from the
city"
What a mind you have, ma'am!"
cried Hannah, admiringly.
Now observe. He did not speak
to the Greylocks of his child's death,
otherwise they would never have sent
messenger to fetch us to Blackport
after the discovery of Roberts body.
According to Martha, the man who
called at the lodging house was par
ticular to say that Godfrey Greylock
wished him to escort both me and the
child back to Greylock Woods. The
messenger returned with news that l
had fled and taken my baby with me.
In all probability the story has never
been contradicted."
We'll, ma'am," she said, breathless-
ly.
We looked at each other.
Godfrey Greylock is one of the
richest men in the state, and he is
absolutely without an heir" 1 answer
ed.
l went back to my wretched board
ing house place.
Now for the first bold stroke for
fortune and position!" l cried, and,
seizing pen and paper wrote the fol-
lowing lines to Miss Pamela Greylock
at Greylock Woods, Blackport:
"Broken-hearted, weary of life, full
of unspeakable regret and yearnlng
for him who once loved me, and who
sacrificed everything to that love-
mean my husband and your nephew
write to beg you, his favorite rela-
tive, the one who, he often assured
me, was mother to him in his moth
erless boyhood, to give me some ac-
count of his last interview with you
on the night of his suicide. Did he
speak of me? did he speak of his lit
| tie innocent child, and was it in terms
of endearment? If you have the
| heart of a woman, grant me the con
ISOLATION of knowing that his last
words were concerning us.
Iris Greylock.
Wednesday.
Received the following letter from
Miss Pamela Greylock.
In the conversation which he had
with his father on the night of his
death, my unhappy nephew declined to
speak of you in any way. His child
he barely mentioned. AS he was rush
| ing from the house | asked him to tell
me something concerning her He re-
piled that he had no time. There were
no words of endearment.
my nephew was my idol, and to the
fate of his child cannot feign an in
difference which l do not feel. Neith-
er do l believe that the sins of 9TH
ers should be visited upon her. At the
time of her fathers death it was said
that she was very i'll. Did she recov-
er? Is she we'll? Is she like my un-
| fortune nephew? Understand that l
ask these questions upon my own res
possibility, and without the knowl-
edge or consent of my brother, who is
at present abroad. and who would Sc
verely censure me for so doing"
l clasped my hands in an excess Of
delight. Who would have thought
that poor. dear Robert could have
shown such discretion in that last con-
versation with his father? OF course
this severe, high-burn Miss Pamela
detests my very name. She believes
all the evil things that have been
| cold AGAINST me Every word pf her