Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-11-14
: = r. T. j. r. r. y r. r f. r r f. f. f. :. r + + +
A DARK DEED

Rv ETA w. PIERCE
CHAPTER XVIII.
In the Church,

weather, Iull VI lnlhSlSu AooN oiu SS''
shine-of leafless trees hung with
crystals; of great miles Of marshes
sparkling as IL sown with jewels; Of a
wintry sea pulsing loudly up on lis
cold, windy beaches.
In her chamber at Cats Tavern.
Polly. the nameless, stood arrayed in
the dress which Miss Greylock had
sent her-a garnet silk that fitted the
girls slight figure to perfection.
Plenty Of fine lace decked the corsage,
and a bunch Of Marechal Mel roses
.drooped at the round throat. Long
gloves concealed the imperfections OF
Polly's slight hands, and her sleek,
well-shaped head was crowned with
mass Of silky braids black as crows
wing. She had never worn a becom-
ing dress before in all her life, and 1t
was small wonder that she now stared
at herself in amazement-that she
scarcely recognized her own image,
as it looked back at her from the mir
ror on the wall.
Mercy Poole opened the door, and
surveyed the girl for a moment In
utter silence, then she said, dryly:
Fine feathers make fine birds, Pol
N. The Greylocks have sent car
riage to take you to the church-its
waiting at the door. DR.. Vandine
begs to see you before you go. He's in
a high fever this morning. doctor,
notice, has no more patience in af-
Fiction than other folks. Poor fellow!
It's pretty we'll known that he loved
Miss Greylock."
Polly's face fell.
Yes" she faltered, and went down
to the chamber below, where Vandine
law. with his broken leg and haggard
face, a helpless, irritable prisoner, up
on this, Ethel Greylocks wedding
morning. Heaven only knows what
battle he was silently waging now
with himself. At sight Of Polly, how
ever. his eyes frightened.
Marvel of marvels," he cried out,
what metamorphosis is this? A new
version Of Cinderella! Pom my soul,
Polly. you had a very narrow escape
from being positively handsome.
can scarcely believe my own eyes"
She had never been admired before
A sudden embarrassment fell upon
her.
DO YOU Ike the-the dress?" she
faltered, smoothing down the shining
folds with her gloved hands. He look
ed at her as at some new revelation
which thing, in truth, she was to him.
For the first time he saw that her
eyes were grandly cut, and like the
darkest velvet-that she had the skin
of q Spanish girl, and that her crown
OF hair was such as. princess might
envy.
The dress?" he echoed. Yes, Of
course. It Is a wonderful tone to SO
transmogrify you that you seem no
longer to be Polly. Or have I been
blind all along And so you are go
ing TO Miss Greylock's wedding? All"
and he writhed, how this wretched
limb pains me today! Well, go child,
and get your first look at grandeur.
And" with a groan, take my congrat-
ulations to the bride. I wish her un-
limited happiness. Sir Gervase is
downright good fellow, with no nom
sense about him-yes, by Jove! he Is
as worthy of her as-ah-as she is OF
him."
Polly put on the hat and wrap
which completed her pretty costume,
and entered the Greylock carriage,
feeling, indeed, like Cinderella on her
way to the ball.
The church, quaint, gray edifice,
stood but few blocks distant on the
main street OF BlacKport most un-
usual stir and hustle pervaded the sa-
cred building this morning. Splendid
equipages dashed up to its open doors.
Rich carpets stretched from the en-
trance down to the shabby sidewalk.
Within, costly flowers made mass
of splendor all about the chancel, hung
from the roof, and filled the baptismal
font-orchids, myrtles. orange BIOS
SONS. jasmine and waxy camellias,
tuberoses, with their overpowering
odor. and the uplifted cups of royal
lilies.
Crowds of elegant people occupied
the pews-invited guests. The purple
and fine linen, the wave OF gorgeous
fans, the flash of jewels, the smart
ushers flying up and down, with we'd
ding favors in their buttonholes,
frightened and bewildered poor Polly
She was glad to creep into a seat
far back near the entrance, whence
she could see and not be seen. In the
midst of such a gathering the name
less girl felt like some humble way
side weed cast among hothouse eXot-
tics.
All. the appointed hour was strik-
ing at last The white-robed rector
stood ready to perform his office. Sir
Gervase and his best man were al
ready in their place; but the BRIDE
party had not yet appeared. All necks
were being craned toward the DOOR
and all ears were on the qui vive for
it's approach.
Polly bowed her devout head and
whispered one prayer for the future
happiness of the girl whom she dareo
call sister only in her prayers. Whlle
thus absorbed, somebody crowded into
the pew, and sat down by her side
AS Polly lifted. her eyes again. they
encountered the stout figure ano
swarthy, SCARED face Of Hannah
Johnson.
She recoiled in sudden aversion
What chance had brought that crea'
fure to sit by her through this cere'
mony. The two looked hard at eacf
other for one instant-the next
breathless expectation fell upon eV'
erybody in the church-the bride
party had entered the porch-it was
at the door-it was sweeping up the
aisle toward the chancel.
The hot tears rushed to Polly's eyes
There was Miss Pamela in gray sat-
in and a bonnet of gray ostrich teath-