Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-11-17
A D A R K D E E D
BY ETA w. PIERCE.
CHAPTER XXIX.-Continued.

CHAPTER Xxlx.-Continued.
Who are you and what do you want
here?" she snarled, looking from me
to the baronet, and from the baronet
back to me.
Sir Gervase advanced briskly.
I'VE have business of Importance
with you, madam" he answered.
WHO we are is Of no consequence
just now. What we want" dashing
recklessly into the heart of the matter,
rs information concerning two chill
dren who once lived in this place with
you-two little girls, named Nan and
Polly. You called them your grand
daughters"
The wretched old creature dropped
upon a broken chair. I could not but
pity her In her destitution, her for
saken and wicked old age. She clutch
ed at the ragged shawl crossed on her
bosom.
sol" she answered, shaking either
with age or agitation; them brats!
What do We want to know about 'em?"
with a gleam Of cunning In her sunk
en- eyes.
I had told him her weak point. He
drew a roll of banknotes from his
pocket.
Many things-yes, all that you can
tell" he replied. do you see this
money? 1t shall be yours. If you will
answer my questions regarding those
children"
She eyed the notes greedily.
"Oh, that 1 will, sirI" she whined.
1T Is little money 1 ever see nova
days. Times Is hard, and begging
amt what 1t used to be. Seems as II
peoples hearts got harder every year.
I'm poor, sir, and I'm old, and I'm
alone in the world, and 1t all comes Of
them two young 'uns! I ought" re-
sentfully-"ought to have had more
for Nan. A hundred dollars wasn't
worth taking, and she as pretty as a
pictur. 1t ruined me, that bargain
did,"
I could keep silent no longer. I
cried out in spite of myself.
Tell the truth, now granny-you
must tell the truth! Were those chill
dren your own flesh and blood-had
you any right to have and to hold
them, to call yourself their grand
mother? 1t Is Nan that we most care
to know about, the child you sold to a
strange woman in this very attic. She
was no more like you than day Is like
night. She could not have been Of
your blood-it Is monstrous to believe
It! Tell the truth, the truth! What
was her real name? How did you get
possession Of herr"
She turned, as II startled by some
thing In my voice, and gave me a
piercing look. I think she recognized
me at that very moment.
How did git possession of Nan?
II don't mind telling you the story. I
had a daughter-in-law once, the wild
ow of my one only son, who was a
sailor, and was lost at sea the first
vyage arter his marriage. Judith
lived with me-she was a good girl,
kind and dutiful. Well. by-and-by
she married again, being but young,
and her second choice was a wild
blade of a fellow-a clog dancer In q
variety theatre. He came to a sud-
den end in some kind Of a drunken
frolic, and when her baby was born,
Judith died, too, and left the child to
my care. That brat was Nan. She
was like her father, Jack Hardness
he was called Handsome Jack and
Lightfoot Jack, among sporting folks
he had a comely face, as well as a
pair of wonderful heels. Now I ask
We, was Nan mine or not? Had any
claim to her or not. And" with sharp
suspicion, what's all this to ye any
way, and how'd we ever know there
was a Nan and Poll here?"
Thank God!" I burst out; "she was
not of your blood, then-she was in
no way related to you!"
I'm thinking Jack Harkness's blood
was no better than mine," sneered
Granny Scrag. Man was the child of
my laws second mar
riage. There wasn't one Of her own
kin left on earth when her mother died
i was her nearest, so 1 say again,
Nan belonged to me-"
From poverty and obscurity-from
common, not to say disreputable, peo-
pie, Nan, the queenly, the beautiful.
had sprung! I could think Of nothing
but a lily growing out Of turbid wa
ters.
The baronet spoke not word. His
face was like carven stone.
"Many's the time," whined the old
woman, i've been sorry parted with
Nan. The price got was too little
too little, and need her now to work
for me, and take care Of me, like as
Judith. her mother, would do this day,
If she were a-living. Ye two must be
friends Of hers, or We wouldn't be mere
asking about her. Where Is she?"
starting suddenly up on her shaky old
legs. I'm going to have her back.
She must be a fine grown woman by
this time"
The baronet made a gesture.
"Sit down, Mrs -. Pardon, you
have not mentioned your own name.
It's Black, young gentleman. but l
haven't been called 1t for twenty
year."
sit down again, Mrs. Black. AT
present. Mans friends do not know
where she is-she has left them under
peculiar circumstances. Let me re-
mind you that you have told but half
of your story. There were two chill
dren. Only one belonged to your
sons widow. Now, what of the other
who was she?"
Granny Scrag looked at him askance.
You mean black Poll?-oh, that's
another matter!"
Explain. The children could not
have been sisters?"
She turned sharply to me.
mo, they wasn't sisters. Perhaps