Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-03-21

..a .'n -. YORE
the steamer reached the pier, Eric
Sake placed Mercy in a carriage, and
drove directly to q modest house In 6
lquiet, respectable street where Bee was
watching and waiting for him.
It was cozy little nest, lacking NJ
lcomfort, filled with sunshine and har.
monious colors, and glorifed by tht
faces Of pretty blonde wife, and 6
SAKE painted his pictures, here hil
fashionable patrons came to sit fol
lportraits; here Bee rejoiced every da,
OF her busy, happy life, that she hat
married her hearts choice In defiance
Of all opposing forces; and here, fkt
an angel Of forgiveness and charity
she now sat by the bedside of the help.
less, dying Mrs. Sardis.
Sudden trouble had finished tht
work upon which excitement, chloral
and the dissipations Of high life had
long been engaged. Better so, perhaps
for death could have no terrors fol
Mrs. Sardis like those Of poverty and
Mercy. jaded with the journey OF
| the night, crossed the threshold Of the
artists home, and straightway found
herself 'clasped in the arms Of its lit
tie fair-haired mistress, who came giid-
ing down softly -carpeted stair In the
morning sunshine, to give the forlorn
girl warm and joyful welcome.
The two looked In each others faces,
and became inalienable friends from
that moment.
"And you are Ethel's sister," said
Bee. oh, how strange 1t all seems!
Except for your fair hair and blue
eyes, you are very like her. my dear;
the same figure. the same features, the
same style. Oh, you beautiful darling,
I mean to love you with all my heart;
feel that you will be a source of
strength to all Of u.s."
The tears rushed to Mrcy's eyes. She
kissed the speaker with grateful fer
vor. ,,s ..st ~...
"A thousand thanks! Does Mrs. Sar-
dis know that am here-can see
her?" 80 '....F ''
"She knows nothing" answered Bee.
sadly. Yes, you shall see her-Eric,
know, has told you all. What a sad
what terrible thing to happen to one
like her! In looking at her now,
could forgive her every sin which 1t Is
possible for one human being to COM
NIT against another" ~.-t.'
from her garments, and then hastened
to Mrs. Sardis' chamber.
She lay on a cool, white bed, In the
soft shadow Of closed shutters and
falling muslin curtains; speechless.
motionless, helpless-in the grip Of
that terrible disease, paralysis. Bee
leaned over her, all her old animostty
gone, her pretty, fresh face full Of pity
and tenderness.
Aunt Amelia" she said, gently.
this Is my cousin, Mabel-your step
daughter. She has come to remain
with us. She will take Etheps place
am sure we shall all love her dear
ly" "fA |''n.a% li.
The hollow eyes Of the sick woman
opened and fastened upon Mercy. The
latter bent and laid her soft young
lips to the nerveless hand on the coun-
terpane. Mrs. Sardis groaned. Where
now was her pride, her fierce will, her
determined ambition? A few days be-
fore she had been a leader Of society.
q queen Of fashion, with untold
wealth, as the world thought, at her
command. Now, shattered wreck,
riches gone, prestige gone, her vital
forces spent, her life hanging by q
thread. widowed and alone, she lay in
the home Of the girl whose happiness
I'VE brought her here" Bee whis-
pered to Mercy, because the house on
Fifth avenue and everything within 1t
Is in the hands Of my uncle's creditors.
There is nothing left Of his wealth
literally nothing. And my fortune, too,
Is gone-from guardy's private papers
we learn that he used 1t In outside
speculations Well, we do not much
care-Eric and I. We could not be
happier If we had the wealth Of Croe-
sus. Time was when Aunt Amelia and
were sworn foes: but now-now
would do anything for her; would
sacrifice anything for her comfort
poor, poor dear" .. ..... .-..- '.r
Yes, Bees fortune was swallowed up
in the general wreck; and Bees brave
lips spoke truly when she said she
did not much care. Her marriage with
Eric SAKE had been absurdly happy.
For his sake she would have liked the
money; but since 1t was gone, she
would not mourn for It. AS long as
she was Eic's wife and the happy
possessor Of the dark-eyed year-old,
how could she dare to complain?
With face Of calm resolution, Mer-
cy held whispered counsel with Bee
in this wise: .. "
1T is I who must take care of her.
not you. She has no claim upon you
she is my fathers widow-it Is my
duty to provide for her-that Is, with
Ethels consent. / will write to her at
once and tell her my plans. / have
money which my father gave me at
the SCHOOL, shall use it for her i'm
mediate wants. And I must begin to
teach at once. I suppose" with an anx-
ious CULVER in her young voice, that
1t will be no very easy matter for me
to find pupils in music here In
great city, where I am altogether un-
known"
Bee pondered.
you must advertise. Of course. We
have an old friend who often drops
into Eric's studio to spend an hour
Lawrence Harding. He is the editor OF
daily newspaper. We will talk with
him about It But. stay! I know OF
even more-Miss Vann. She Is q dis
tant relative, very wealthy, very gen.
erous and the only one Of all our for
mer friends upon whom we can rely.
| Sh Is soon to marry a certain baron
a detestable-but I will cut that, as
Eric says, since It is nothing that can
interest you. Miss Vann has much in
fuence, and ! am sure she will be
quite willing to exert It all In your
behalf. or course, you Will make your
home with me. / have a trusty SER
want, and together we can attend to
Aunt Amelia, while you are away
teaching, dear. I feel very uneasy
about Ethel She is unhappy, and she
does not write to us as she used to.
We have received no letters for weeks.
fear, greatly fear, that guardy's
death will be q terrible blow to her."
The next day Miss Vann's carriage
appeared in the quiet street, and Miss
Vann herself rustled into Eric Saxe's
studio, where Bee sat- with her rosy
boy in her arms, watching her hus-
band as he mixed his colors.
"She Is here, Miss Vann!" cried the
little matron, letting her baby slip down
to the hearth-rug. in her excitement,
land, oh, am delighted with her! She
is as lovely as an angel. want Eric
to make a picture of her at once"
Bring her to me-" said Miss Vann.
| Bee ran to Mrs. Sardis chamber,
found Mercy by the sick woman's bed,
thinking over the situation, with grave
lips and anxious eyes, and hurried her
i to the studio and presented her to