Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-01-31
THE AMERICAN COUNTESS
Chapter XVI-Continued.
By ETA w. PIERCE.


Miss Airy caught quickly at the law
yer's meaning-yea, read his tnougnts
in his face; and without any inten-
self promptly on his side.
'Mr. Finch is quite right, VAL" she
said, with decision.
81 don't know what you mean, an
swered Val, staring blankly from one to
the other; II am going home to Mercy.
Do you think shall postpone my mar
rage because Of anything / have heard
here? Not at all. Let me speak to old
Phillips q moment, and then Wen be
off,"
He went out with his great, strange
news, and Mr.. Finch walked straight
up to Miss Airy and looked her keenly
in the face.
"who is this girl?" he demanded.
Speak quickly"
Her name is Mercy Dill, sir. She's
handsome and good, sir, but
But what?"
shes very poor, as Val says, and
worse than that, she's the daughter OF
a woman who's been before the courts
for drinking walking gin bottle sir"
Great Godl and his wife will be the
future lady of Deepmoor Hall! This
comes Of your bringing him up in ig-
norance of his birth. How could you al
low him to become entangled in such a
fashion? Quite inexcusable! Marriage
with a low person would be your
er forgive me IL I should countenance
It. Do you love the boy? Do you seek
his best interests? Then help. me to
find some means by which he can be
saved"
Aunt Affry began to whimper.
she's as pretty as an angel, sir.
When you see her you'll not wonder at
Walls choice. I will do what 1 varl. !
must act for his good, Of course. Yes,
I know that everything Is changed
now"
"Such a mesalliance would ruin you
both with Sir Godfrey. A new will
would be made and everything but the
entailed property would be snatched
from your nephew. It would destroy
him socially, also. Merciful Heaven!
he must not throw himself away like
thisi"
Miss Affry had no time to answer.
The return Of Val to the inner room cut
short the conversation.
"Come!" he cried, with feverish haste
and the trio departed at once from the
banking house, leaving Vars fellow
clerks lost in wonder, envy and amaze
at the supreme good fortune which had
overtaken that beggar Black-Black.
the fellow whom they had all snubbed
without mercy-the great red-hafred,
loose -jointed clown, who hadn't the
faintest sign of blue blood about him.
And he was actually the heir Of an
English nobleman with no end OF man
ors and guineas. It was simply in
credible-it was abominably unjust!
Meanwhile Mr.. Finch had called q
carriage, and determined, in the pres
ent critical state Of affairs, not to lose
sight, even for moment, OF AIRY
Black or her nephew, he entered the
vehicle with the two, and rolled on to
Seedy Court.
Few words were spoken on the way.
AS they drew up at the door Of No. 10
Mr.. Finch cast one comprehensive look
around him, then followed his compan-
sitting-room which Miss Airy had left
In such trepidation an nour or two be-
fore.
Call Mercy" said Val.
Miss Airy went to the foot Of the stair
and called accordingly. No answer.
She ascended to the landing above, and
raped at the door of the back cham
Der. No answer.
Mercy" cried the old woman, come
down-Val Is here and he has news tor
you-great news!"
No voice replied. She opened the door
and looked into the room. The gray
wedding dress was lying on the bed,
with the little makers needle still shin
ing in an unfinished fold. On the sill
of the open window bloomed the boxes
Of flowers which the girl loved. Over
all shone the mournful light Of the
waning afternoon-but Mercy herself
was not there. Not there, nor in any
other part of the old lodging-house.
Ten minutes after, Miss Airy, with
pale, scared face, burst into the shabby
sitting room, where Val was stalking
to and fro mad with impatience.
"Mercy's not in the house!" she
cried; i've looked everywhere, Val.
What can have become Of her? I don't
understand lido you? She's taken her
hat and shawl and she's gone, I say
don't stare at me like that-shes
gonel"