Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-01-07
CHAPTER vII-Continued.

sill bloomed pot Of violets which Val
had given her. An unwonted light was
shining in her great wells Of eyes-the
light of a new, strange happiness. She
looked shyly at the ring on her hand
Walls ring-then drew It off and turned
it to the light.
On the inner side these letters in old
English text, were inscribed: r. A.
to c. B."
"R. A.; meditated Mercy, that was
his father, but-A does not stand for
Black! That is strange"
So It was. Nevertheless, she kissed
the little, shining, old-fashioned thing
with thrill of rapture. 1t would have
required something more than wrong
letter to put her out this morning.
Some one loved her. She was no long
er alone in the world. Many thoughts
began to fit through her little head.
Would she disgrace Val very much by
marrying him? Only few days be-
fore, Aunt Airy had said to her:
You're a wonderful girl, Mercy!
How is 1t that you always speak and
act like a lady-you, who were brought
up in a North End tenement house?
Il don't know-I cannot help It,
Mercy had answered, simply.
Did you ever go to school?'
Yes, little"
And did they learn you to talk and
act there?"
I'm not sure-I think it came to me
without learning"
BLESS the child, so it did" Miss Af-
fry had cried. You're a lady by in
stinct, Mercy, just as lily Is a lily
though 1t grows out Of foul mud"
She remembered those words now
how happy they made her.
"I would like to be lady Tor vars
sake" she thought-Val, whom JACOB
Phillips called a dull plodder, seemed
to this little seamstress like king
among men. 81 would like to be all
that is beautiful and good for his sake.
Presently, as the sweet thoughts
fitted like happy birds through her
brain, she began to sing one OF her be-
: loved gospel songs" Mol Dilrs daugh-
ter was deeply religious. She went TO
the mission chapel every Sabbath OF
her life, and read her Bible daily, like
little saint. Her voice was strong,
silver-sweet suprano-uncultivated, IN
deed, but wonderful in strength and
purity.
"Other refuge have / none,
Hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah, leave me not alone,
Still support and comfort me.
All my hope on Thee is staid,
All my trust from Thee bring;
Cover my defenseless heao
With the shadow of Thy wing"
Little did Mercy suspect the urgent
need she had to make this solemn invo-
cation. At the very moment when its
pathetic words were falling from her
lips, something happened below stairs
The bell of No. 10 rang smartly, and
Miss Affry Black, as fast as her rheu-
matte limbs would carry her, ran to
answer the summons.
As she opened the door, her defective
eyes discerned upon the steps man
standing, 1.-the and elegant Of figure,
faultless in attire. He doffed his hat to
Miss Airy, turning upon her a swarthy
pock-marked face, with a carefully
waxed mustache and supernaturally
bright black eyes.
You haf lodgings to let, madame?'
he said, with a smile that disclosed a
set of glittering teeth, and an accent
that bespoke foreign origin. He waved
his gloved hand expressively toward
the placard which hung for two thirds
of the time, at least, in Miss Blacks
window. Somehow, dodgers were hard
to obtain in Seedy Court.
"Yes, sir" she answered, quite aweo
by his eloquence.
Would it trouble madame too much
TO show the rooms?" he asked.
mo, indeed; I shall be most glad
I'm sure" And she stepped back to lei
him enter. II have two, sir-a from
chamber up the first flight, very air!
and pleasant, sir, and an attic, whicf
I'm sure you will not want"
He bowed and smiled again-he wa:
very, very full Of smiles and bows.
'I will look at re chamber, If madame
pleases; think ze chamber will sui
me. 1 wish for a second floor, airy
pleasant. l hope madame has gooc
class Of lodgers?"
Miss Airy led the way up the stairs
Indeed I have. Working people, sir
but very orderly, very quiet"
Her heart misgave her a momen
when she thought of Moll Dill. but sh'
opened the door of her second foo
front, and the gentleman entered to in
spect it.
It was very unpretending room, ant
its humble appointments looked sadl!
out of keeping with the elegance
this applicant. Indeed, the contras
was so great that Miss Affry's spirit
fell at once. In fear and trembling sh
stood awaiting his decision, while h
walked from one window to the other
gazing critically around him, and de
liberating evidently, upon the attrac
tions Of the place. And all the while
from the small back chamber acros
the landing, Mercy Dill's young voic
was pouring into the room and into tn
greedy ears of this man, whose wicke
eyes grew blacker and brighter thai
ever as he listened.
"All my hope on Thee is staid.
All my trust from Thee l bring;
Cover my defenseless head,
With the shadow of Thy wing"
He turned quickly to Miss Affry.
THE rent, madame?' he demanded.
1.-TWO dollars per week, sir, whic
isn't bad, hope, for furnished room.
He drew out a handsome, well-flle
purse.
mo, madame. I pay for one mont
in advance, and take possession-we