Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-01-24
CHAPTER XIV.
A Thunder Clap.


fine lines with her needle along its old
cover. ...s
what shall I do for wedding
dress?" was the burden Of her thoughts
and a pretty serious one 1t was for a
girl who had, in spite Of her hard, re-
pressed life all the instincts Of her sex
"What shall I do? have nothing but
an old alpaca, frayed at the seams.
cannot be married in that"
Humble as her condition was, the
little bride-elect had plenty Of pride.
and that dilapidated alpaca was as gall
and wormwood unto her soul this morn
ing.
Presently the bell of No. 10 rang
brislSly, and q moment after she heard
Miss Airy calling her name from the
hall below.
Mercy! Come down at once. Here
is something for you."
Mercy flew down the stair to receive
from Miss Airy common envelope
closely sealed, and bearing these words
in pencil:
Wondering greatly, she tore 1t open
and drew out a roll Of crisp bank notes
fifty dollars in all.
There must be some mistake-lt
can't be for mel" gasped Mercy, help
less with astonishment.
"A lad brought it." said Miss Affry
''an ordinary errand-boy. He said, Give
this to Miss Dilr-all as plain as print.
l don't think he has had time to leave
the court yet"
She ran out of No. 10. and Mercy
followed; but no boy was in sight. Re-
turning to the sitting-room, the two
examined the envelope, the bills, but
without onv cline IN the QiVer
1T must be that some Of the ladies
of the Aid Society sent it." sctd Miss
Airy at last; maybe they have heard
that you are to marry Val; but no!
that's not possible, since you only de-
cided that last night. Well, at any rate
the moneys for you, my dear, so thank
the Lord and don't look so dazed
about It."
Yes the bank notes were for Mercy
there could be no mistake. Some one
had kindly remembered her in her hour
of greatest need, and the gift was none
the less acceptable because its donor
chose to remain unknown. Mercy neeo
sigh no longer for a wedding dress.
When Val Black appeared at dinner
and heard of the anonymous present
and looked in Mercy's delighted face
as she crept shyly downstairs to show
I
grew very grave, indeed.
rs your mother in the house?" he
asked, abruptly.
"No. She went out early this morn
ing and has not yet come back" an
swered Mercy.
He opened his mouth for another
question, but on second thought shut
it again. Something told him that
Mercy Dill knew nothing of the ac-
uuaintance betwixt her mother and ia
cob Phillips, and that 1t would be bet
ter not to mention the matter-at least
for the present.
You think it is quite right for me tc
keep this money, do you not?" asked
Mercy, gazing a little anxiously into
her lovers solemn face.
"Yes-of course" he answered. And
SO the mysterious roll Of bills bought
Mercy's wedding-gow
For the next few days a perceptible
ripple Of excitement stirred the moldy
quiet of No. 10 Seedy Court. Miss Al
fry put by the secret anxiety which
had oppressed her for the last few
weeks, and entered heart and soul into
her laddie's happiness. Val was In
the seventh heaven Of beatitude, and
Mercy, in her little back chamber
stitched away, not at the Aid Society
sewing now, but upon her own marri-
age gown.
ON the morning after the delivery OF
the anonymous fifty dollars at the door
of No. 10, Moll Dill walked into heI
daughters presence. washed, combed
dressed in a decent new gown, with
clean, new shawl pinned across hel
bosom and a respectable bonnet tied
under her chin. 1t was plain that she
had not been drinking. Her face was
colorless, her manner cool and collect
ed.
Mother! what has happened tc
you?" cried Mercy in amaZement.
I've turned over new Leaf" an
swered Moll, with a short laugh. "Yor
don't believe that, do you? AS for these
clothes, they were given me by an ole
friend. Come say good-by, Mercy; Tn
going out Of the city to work at farm
house till the harvest is over-the mis-
sion folks told me of the place. wan
country air, and I want to give you
little peace, girl-it's most time, ism
it? When you're married and settled
I'll come back and talk with you. Mean
while you needn't fret about me;
shan't drink at the farm, and If any
thing happens that YOU want me-smal
fear of that!-but if you should, tn
mission folks will tell you where / cal
be found"
She was gone before Mercy had tim
for word. Her altered appearance, he
voluntary departure from her oil
haunts and associates, filled Mercy witt
new hope. Surely the long -looked-fo
reformation was beginning at last! He
mother had been the one black SHADOW
upon her new joy, and the removal
that shadow, even for a little space
was like the lifting Of heavy loa'
from off the girls heart. For the frs
time in al her short. dark life she wa
happy; she had future to look for
ward to, a share in the hope and glad
ness of the world. She sang no longe
with the sadness and pathos of old
Cover my defenseless head,
With the shadow of Thy wing"
An earthly arm was now stretched
out to shield her; never would sh
stand alone and unprotected more.
"I have had hard, dark ffe," sal
Mercy to herself; but it never cam
never will be so again!"
Alas! all the while over her fair. de
voted head tempest, blacker than an
she had ever known, was gathering I
overwhelm her.
one morning Miss Affry, in descend
ing the stair from Mercy's chambe1
with a part pf Mercy's wedding-gow
hanging ovel her arm, blundered head
long against a person who had just en-
tered from the court, and was snatche
up in his two strong arms and Sc
promptly upon her rheumatic feet.
soon as she could adjust the glasse
upon her defective eyes she saw tha
Signor Discordo stood before her, a
swarthy, as elegant as smiling as eve
What! are you back again?' sh
cried. in vague dismay, for Val ha
commanded her to dismiss this lodge
and Vars word was her law.
Yes" answered the signor dofhn
his hat and showing all his white teeth
my pupils keep me much away, d
they not? I hope haf ze pleasure
seeing you we'll, madame? l hope you
household has prospered in my absenc
your nephew and ze charming Nee
Dill?"
"Oh, yes, they are quite we'll" sal
Miss Affry serenely smiling; %
Thursday next Miss Dill and my ne
phew are to be married, you know, an
of course we are all very happy an
very busy just now. sir"
He gave a tragic jump backward.
II know? Married-so soon! NJ
God. how cruel!" cried the signor, In