Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-10-31
= T. r. 3A4@R r. f. f. f. r. f. + r r. r I.
A DARK DEED
j. aA%A +%t j.
Bv ETA w. PIERCE

her eyes sought the baronet:
BE so kind as to call my carriage
Sir Gervase," she gasped 1T is wait
ing somewhere near"
| He rushed to obey. Ethel leaned
anxiously over her mother:
Mamma, mamma, why did you GO
off like that? You are ill-let me &c
home with you"
Mrs. Iris looked hard at her daugh-
ter, and smiled in a strange, CHASTITY
way.
There's no room in the carriage
no, do not need you'll am quite well
it was only the heat of that dread
full hall, my love. One word in your
ear" She drew Ethel forward, an
whispered maliciously: "Oh, you sly
artful puss! Is this the way you de-
ceive your grandpa? Is this the way
you trifie with your titled suitor
Regnault, your teacher at school
your correspondent, seems very much
in love with you. Fie. fie!"
Then she departed. Godfrey Grey
lock, left behind with the baronet and
Ethel, looked at his granddaughter in
deep disgust.
shall we return to the hall?" he
said; "or have you had enough of
this, my dear?"
To Ethel the question meant: Shall
l look again on Regnault's face? Shall
l hear his voice once more? Shall
wait for some opportunity of commu-
nication with him?" Yet she deliber-
ately answered.: Il am quite ready to
follow mamma. 1t is very warm in
there"
So the party drove away in the track
of Iris Greylock, and when Regnault
came forth again, to his surprise and
vexation, only empty seats met his
gaze, where he had before seen a
group of faces-one coloring richly
under his ardent eyes, and one faint
ing with fear at sight of him.
For months he had known that Ethel
was the daughter Of Iris Greylock-
the young heiress had often talked to
him Of her relatives-but tonight, as
he recalled the elder woman's swoon-
ing, colorless face, the fact startled
him as it had never done before.
His feet pressed dangerous ground.
Fortunate would he be If he could win
Ethel Greylock in spite Of the perils
that were gathering around his suit.
One thing was certain-he had no
time to lose. Prompt action alone
would secure the prize. To delay now
was to suffer hopeless defeat.
AT the close of the entertainment
he went over to Cats Tavern, to rest
on his laurels and partake of smok-
ing supper which Mercy Poole had
prepared for the troupe.
In the low-ceiled entry Regnault
CHANGED to encounter the sewing-girl
Polly, as she was hurrying by on some
errand for her mistress. He was in
reckless mood, and, catching her by
the arm, he bent and looked into her
startled face.
"Halloo! a pair of eyes like deer's,
BY my soul, you had a narrow escape
from being pretty. Bring me a glass
of brandy, my child"
She struggled to free herself from
him.
There's no liquor kept at this inn
sir" she answered.
"Ah! Then, if you will permit me
to alter Ben Johnson's song a little:
Leave a kiss in the cup, my dear,
And I'll not look for wine.'
Somebody had just entered the inn
from the street Immediately strong
hand tore Polly free, and sent the
handsome tenor reeling against the
wall
Look out, fellow!" cried DR.. Van
dine, angrily; this young person is
friend of mine" Polly flashed one
grateful look on her champion, and
vanished in the direction Of the kitch-
en-. Regnault gathered himself uE
from the wall.
That little femme de chambre your
friend?" he sneered; what taste you
have, to be sure! Pray. who are
you?"
| "One who knows how to defend q
woman, and punish the insolence of
scoundrel!" answered Vandine, witt
reddening face.
by my faith" drawled Regnault
you are free with your compliments!
If you do not stand out Of my way,
shall take the liberty of throwing yos
into the street"
| Mercy Poole heard the voices, an6
came promptly out of the keeping
room.
mo wrangling here, gentlemen" she
said and stepped betwixt the twain
whereupon Vandine shrugged nj:
shoulders and went off up the stairs
and Regnault joined the other mem
bers of the company at table.
At a late hour the troupe separated
for the night. Regnault alone linger'
ed. whistling a line of Maud" ht
stepped into the living room where
Mercy Poole and her maid Polly still
waited.
Pontius PLATE leaped up from the
hearth-rug, spit viciously at the in
truder, and vanished in distant cor
ner. Robespierre cooked his one ear
switched his stump of tail, and tool
refuge under his mistresss chair, fol-
lowed by all the Borgias. Regnaul
drew back in mock alarm.
Heaven above!" he cried; "wha
have we here? A legion of cats, ant
all gone mad"
You see my family" answered
Mercy Poole. dryly. Who says tina
felines have no intelligence? Now,
find them wonderful readers of char
acter. These distrust you at sight
They say plainly-there's something
wrong about this man."
Regnault threw himself into a chair
and laughed.
Amazing creatures Something il
wrong with most of us, fancy. Land
I,.d,, do Won chance tO know famil,