Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-03-28
By ETA w. PIERCE.

York from her summer dissipations
bringing with her the little niece who
was to be Ethel's pupil. A formal note
sent by a footman to Bees door, in.
formed our heroine that Mrs. Severnt
was now ready for the services Of 6
governess. With a white, saddenet
face, which told palmer than words
the tribulation through which she had
passed, Ethel answered 1t in person.
Dear me! how dreadfully i'll yor
look!" said Mrs. Severne: do you
really feel equal to the work?"
"Yes," Ethel answered, earnestly;
''and I am most anxious to be about
it." .. .s
VERY well. Grace is not tractable
child. She will give you plenty OF
trouble, dare say. wish you to have
entire charge Of her-I can spare her
no time whatever. Keep her in the
school-room as much as possible. BY
the bye, I hear that your sister has a
very enthusiastic about her. You must
entice her to sing at some OF my re-
ceptions"
And so Ethel entered upon her Ia
bors in Mrs. Severne's household. The
place was no sinecure. Her pupil was
a spoiled, pampered little vixen, who
tried her strength and patience almost
beyond endurance sometimes. She was
treated, in all respects. like an upper
servant She took her meals with the
housekeeper, and rarely or never saw
any guest Of the house or member OF
the family. For this she was devout-
ly thankful, since 1t would have been
keen anguish for her to have met, In
her altered position, the friends Of her
glad, triumphant days. She never
went out, save to the park with her
charge; or to make a flying visit to
Bee and Mercy. So the autumn passed,
and winter came.
One bleak, snowy afternoon, the Sis
ters sat together over brGiht fire In
Eric Saxe's studio, talking Of many
things. Mrs. Severne had given Ethel
a alf-holiday; Bee was out with her
husband, and the two girls were alone
save for baby Eric, who lay in rosy
sleep upon Mercy's lap.
Ethel, dear" said the little music
teacher, anxiously, as she warmed her
small, wet feet at the blaze (she had
just come in from a lesson), you do
not gain either in flesh or coolr. fear
you are not happy with Mrs. Severne
Oh, can guess how 1t Is. She is q
miserable little creature--she treats
you, I dare say, like a servant" E
surd child?" answered Ethel, as she
sat with hands clasped listlessly on the
lap Of her black dress, and the fire.
light playing on her perfectly colorless
face. II am servant, you know. Un-
der present circumstances, I cannot
expect her to remember our old friend
ship" .... ., -
do you ever see anything of Mr.
Harding?" queried Mercy, carelessly,
as she twisted one Of baby's yellow
curls round her fingers.
mo-" replied Ethel; but Miss Brad
ford, the lady to whom he Is engaged
arrived from Boston yesterday to
spend the winter with Mrs. Severne,
We were school friends and rival
bellies once. I met her this morning
on the stair, and she stared and nod
ded, and said How dye do" In man.
fectly. Don't grow indignant, dear. It's
the way Of the world. I don't mind II
much. Perhaps I might have done the
same thing myself two years ago.
have been heartless enough in my
time, heaven knows" ..-
Ethel are you sure that Mr.. Hard
ing is engaged to Miss Bradford?"
"Yes; for Mrs. Severne takes par
ticular pains to tell me Of the fact. II
will be a very suitable match in all re-
spects. Alice has been in love with
Lawrence Harding for years. Now lei
us talk about your affairs, dear. Bee
tells me that Archie Van Dorm has fal-
len helplessly in love with his sisters
music-teacher and made her an offer
of his heart, hand and fortune. All
Mabel, is it true?"
The blood ran into Mercy's cheek
and out again.
YES" she answered, in a low voice
| lit is quite true, Ethel. There Is ne
harm in confessing it to you, sup
pose?"
"Oh, my dear child, I am very, very
glad! He is wealthy and well-con'
| nected, and he is not bad fellow II
any respect. did not ask Bee-but
of course, you accepted him?"
Mabel opened wide her violet eyes.
Certainly mott"
Mabel"
Don't look so disappointed. 1t wa!
| very good Of Mr.. Van Dorm to notice
me. I do not care for him in the least
l shall never marry any one"
| And, pray, why not?" cried Ethel
| Because shall never meet any ont
whom I can think of in that-that-
way" answered Mercy, firmly. Let Vi
not talk Of 1t, darling. I am going t
live with Bee, and teach music all m!
life, and be happy in my own way
you know"
"You-with your beauty! You ridic
ulous child! 1t is simply impossible
to believe such a thing!"
"Ah, you will see!"
Ethel drew her purse from her pock
ct and took from it a roll Of money
her quarterly salary, which Mrs. Sc
verne had paid her that day. She gaz
ed thoughtfully into the fire few mo
ments, then said to Mercy:
You remember, dear, the stor:
which I told you about the Englfsl
stranger who befriended me in tn
darkest strait Of my life-who wen
with me from Paris to Havre, and pal
my passage to New York;"
yes" answered Mercy.
The time has come for me to dis
charge the debt I owe him. hav
realized little money, you know, fror
the sale Of mammals jewels. 1t Is no
pleasant to feel under such obligation
to a stranger"
Certainly not" said Mercy.
Ethel began to search the dlneren
compartments Of her purse.
II hope have not lost the addres
which | asked of him at Havre. II
wrote 1t down upon card--ah, here !
is. l knew I should some time be abl
to refund the money"
Then she drew out a bit or paste
board, and holding it to the f1religh
for the day was waning In the studio
read these words aloud: Sir Valen
tine Arbuckle, Deepmoor Hall, Lin
colnshire, England"
A sudden dead silence. Ethel locke
up and saw that Mercy had risen fror
her chair, and was standing beside ne
with a blanched, agitated face.
rs Sir Valentine Arbuckle the per
son who befriended you, Ethel?"
Yes, dear"
rs he a TALL unhandsome man, wit
hazel eyes and red hair?"
Exactly. Pray, how did you kno'
that?"
She paid no heed to the question
perhaps she did not hear 1t. A faro
look was upon her white face, as If sh
!, had gone back in spirit to some long
past time. Her violet eyes filled slow
ly with tears.
You are going to write to him? ?
she said, under her breath-"to sen
him money!"
Yes"
Here is something Of value whic
r. = Ill.