Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-01-21

that Moll spoke truly-that In spite of
the doubts which had often arisen in
her own mind, she was this creatures
daughter.
There was silence for space, then
Mercy made the following announce
ment:
Il am going to be married"
Moll gave jump. AS might be sup
posed, the confidence betwixt the two
was very limited-she knew nothing of
Val Blacks love for her child.
Married." she gasped. "You?"
i. The man who has asked me to
be his wife is Mr.. Black, the nephew
of my landlady below stairs"
MolPs wicked lip curled.
That fellowi Who-what Is he?"
He Is clerk in the banking house
Of Sardis & Co." answered Mercy,
and he loves me-in spite Of my pow
erty and disgrace, he loves ne, and I
am going to be his wife. II is strange
that any one knowing who am, should
want to link his name with mine, is It
not? can scarcely comprehend II my
SELF"
Moll grasped the girl violently by the
arm.
He means to take you from me,
does he?-he means to part us for
good?" she hissed.
mo, he means nothing of the kind"
replied Mercy, sternly. He is good
and generous-he Is willing to give
you chance, and IL will give you
one, too; but 1t shall be the last. I've
borne patiently with you for years and
years-Ive let you load me with shame
and reproach and make my life mis-
cry; but now 1t will be different.
shall bear his name and not yours, and
1t will be his home and not this cham
Der to which you must come. Heaven
help us both! Either you shall quit
drink and lead a sober life hencefort,l,
or / Will never see your face again-I
will never again call you mother!"
Mon Dill drew a deep breath.
do you mean she asked, with a
sidelong look at the girls pale, set
face.
Il dol dol
She stood as If in meditation, her
black eyes cast down, her interlaced
hands working nervously together.
Well" she said at last, with shrug,
you're right enough. It amt in flesh
and blood to bear such things forever.
I'll think Of what you've said-I'll make
up my mind to something and that
right soon."
She tossed off her old shawl and
turned away from Mercy, but as quick
ly turned back again, with a flash In
her black eyes, with low, contemptu-
Gus laugh on her lips.
Don't think that he Is STOPPING
that man-to marry you. You're more
than his equal, girl, in spite Of your
mother. It's not for him to feel asham-
ed Of his choice. A clerk In the house
Of Sardis e. Co., eh?-was that what
you said? Servant Of the man who
rolls in riches while others starve?"
She snatched up Mercy's old purse
from the work table where it lay and
opened it in the lamplight.
Not penny! We shall have poor
fare tomorrow. Well, we're used to it
that's a consolation. And Mr.. Black Is
Sardis's clerk? It's good jest! When
are you going to marry him?"
"A week from this night"
so soon? wish you Joy"
Without stopping to remove her gar
ments, Moll flung herself down on the
broken sofa In the corner and closed
her wild, black eyes. There she lay till
midnight, while Mercy slept and dream
ed peacefully in the little bed behind
the curtain. Then, unable to bear her
torment longer, the woman arose, and,
stealthy as a cat, began to pace the
chamber back and forth, groaning in
spirit, now throwing out her arms be-
fore her in paroxysm Of misery, now
clinching her hands till the nails pierre
ed the flesh. The old agony Of re-
morse and regret was upon her again;
but this night she did not flee to her
usual wicked mode Of allaying 1t. She
simply endured till morning.
RafOra Marnv aw0La aha mt IN har
hood and shawl again and stole out
into the city streets. Surely some bet
ter spirit was working in the woman,
for she turned her face resolutely from
all her favorite haunts, and walked Off
toward the business portion Of the me-
tropolis.
The hour was too early for any stir
in the great hive. so Moll turned aside
and seated herself to wait on a bench
of the green, cool Common.
Through her brain. two conflicting
voices rang. One said:
"A decent fellow, and he will be kind
to her, most likely-kinder than any
one else has ever been. He will clothe
and feed her, and that's all Moll Dill's
daughter can expect in life"
The other pricked her heart in this
wise:
But for me she might be dressed in
silks and jewels this day; she might
have lovers from the highest and no
blest in the land. This bank clerk is
as poor as herself. What right has he
to lift his eyes to her? Great God!
There isn't a cent in her poor little
purse today! How I have despoiled
her! how have cheated and wronged
her! If she knew all she would strike
me dead, perhaps, with the same air
she wore last night when she dashed
the liquor out Of my hand"
She sat and thought the matter over,
lashed piteously all the while by that
inward tormentor Of hers which drink
might stifle but could never kill. Pres
emily she lifted her haggard, blood
shotten eyes to the clock of Park street
church, and saw that 1t was already
past nine. She arose at once from her
bench and walked swiftly away.
Down Trement street she went,
through School, along Washington to
State, never pausing until she reached
the banking rooms Of Sardis & Co.
Here she looked around for a moment,
then ascended the steps in her rags
and tatters, and without the slightest
hesitation pushed back the heavy door
which bore the great bankers sign,
and stepped into the elegant, marble
floored room beyond.
Several persons were there at the
desks at the counter. A half dozen
pairs Of eyes stared blankly at the in
truding vagabond. Quite unabashed.
however, she cast one lightning glance
around the place, then walked straight
up to two men who stood at little
distance from the entrance, one in the
act Of receiving some business instruc-
tions from the other.
The first Of the pair, stalwart, red
haired, unhandsome, was Val Black.
The second, a small, wrinkled and
wi-y man, was Jacob Phillips, the con-
fidential clerk Of Cullen Sardis, and
the manager Of his Boston house. On
the arm Of this latter person Moll Dill
laid a firm, determined grasp.
Jacob Phillips!"
He turned sharply and stared at the
apparition in the ragged shawl and
hood, then recoiled step.
MY God" fell involuntarily from
his lips.
You know me, then?" said Moll Dill,
watching his changing expression, his
CONSERVATION, with a lurking devil in
her stealthy black eyes.
Mr.. Phillips seemed at loss how to
answer. The long-headed, reticent,
undemonstrative man Of business could