Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-12-03
led, with the looking.

Il
At sight Of her the young fellow out.
side the door was thrown into a state
Of lively confusion.
Good evening, Mr.. Black" she said
a little smile leaping from her red lips
into her wide. limpid eyes.
Good Miss Mercy" he
stammered. pardon me. there's a wo.
| man below-stairs who says she Is your
| mother, and that she came from
| from-Deer Island-deuce take her! II
| can't be. Shall I order her out of the
| house?"
Every vestige of color faded from
,, the girls young face. She dropped her
| needlework, recoiling a step in terror
mo! Heaven help me! No, Mr..
Black-it is true, quite true! 1 knew
I felt that she would soon be here. If
you please, will you tell her to come
up?"
She leaned against the door, her lips
blanched, her eyes large with dread.
Mr.. Blacks heart thrilled flercely. He
turned and dashed down the narrow
stair three steps at time to the entry
below.
60 up!" said he to Moll Dill, and a
moment after, in the little room above,
mother and daughter were standing
face to face.
A little room, indeed, with the seal
of poverty on everything in 1t, yet it
was scrupulously clean. and some at
tempts at adornment were visible
here and there. The furniture was
scanty, and of the poorest kind. In a
recess stood a bed concealed by a
spotless curtain. A pot Of violets Mr..
Blacks gift perfumed the narrow win
dow ledge, and the rickety table held
small oil lamp, a bundle Of needle
work, and a book of gospel hymns"
Mercy"
"Mother!"
Moll Dill attempted no demonstra-
ton. She simply flung herself into the
nearest seat, and tossed off her old
bonnet.
I'm back, you see!" she said, brief
ly.
Yes" shivered Mercy. II expected
you'll knew it was time for you to
come. You saw Joseph, then-he gave
you the address I left with him."
"Yes-After I bought it with the
shoes from my feet and the shawl off
my back-curse him!" flashed Moll,
that's why I'm here in this plight"
and her voice took a deprecatory tone.
1t was strange that this hardened sim
ner often felt in lie presence of her
child two emotions which no other
living being, perhaps, could arouse in
her-shame-fear.
80 you've found a new home Mer-
cy," she went on, before the girl could
speak, "the Mission folks didn't visit
the sins Of your mother upon you, eh?
they didn't hold you responsible for
my shortcomings? Well, I'm obliged
to 'em for that, I'm sure. It's an i'm
provement on our old quarters, and the
society hereabouts 1t better, no doubt"
She gave a low, bitter laugh as she
looked around the room,
Mercy shut the door, and stood with
her back against 1t.
Il was very sick after you went
away" she faltered, "and very desti-
tute. The ladies Of the Mission took
care Of me, and the first thing they
asked me was If would like to change
my lodging. was so glad, 80 than X
full; 1 said yes, anywhere on the wide
earth out of that place. So they
brought me here, and the Aid Society
gives me fine sewing to do, and I earn
enough to pay for this room, and buy
my food work all day and part of the
night sometimes, and everybody Is
kind-oh, so kind to me-"
Moll digested this news in silence;
then said she:
WHO was the man that came in
with me here tonight?"
"Mr. Valentine Black" answered
Mercy. steadily. HE Is clerk in
banking-house, and he lives on the
floor below with his aunt, Miss Affry
Black, who is my landlady. She hires
this house and let's it out to dodgers.
She Is poor, too-not with such power
ty as mine, but still poor, and I can
never tell half of her goodness to me
since 1 have been here! since the mis-
sion ladies told her my story"
Moll made an uneasy movement.
Have you got anything to eat?" she
said, after a pause. Il have been on
the road all day, and haven't tasted
bite nor sup since morning"
(To be continued.)