Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-01-03
some manhood in me, after all-some

TeSlSI your DeduIy anu yOutH, yOuf III
nocence and loneliness when you came
to us here, than steel can resist the
magnet that draws 1t. And once giving
up to you my whole heart, how can
ever recall It? could not II would
would not If could. love you! that
tells the whole story, and-I said as
much to you last night count myself
uncommonly fortunate in winning
YOU"
They had now reached the end Of the
court, and the appearance Of a milk
wagon there, cut short the CONVERSE
ton. Mercy, made her humble pur-
chase and retraced her steps. Val
bearing the cracked pitcher and walk
ing by her side as proudly and Loyalty
as II she were princess. He did love
her with a power and passion that
startled even himself
II cannot let you go on as you are. !"
he said, as they reached the door of
No. 10-"working day and night for
bare subsistence. 1t is true have not
much to offer you, but can save you
from actual hardship. and by and by
better times are sure to dawn for me.
With you to work for. there Is nothing
1 cannot do. You'll not be afraid to
take up life with me. even at my pres
ent salary-will you darling?"
Afraid? oh. mol" she answered in a
low. steady voice; but don't talk Of
that-yet-don't! You must have time
to think well Of what you are doing;
Niss-sA Aelsli-sppst-b -ba~'e -rf'-S-ro eNauita
sure tnat am welcome in her home;
and-and my mother| must have time
to think about her, and to do something
for her. ThereI let me take the pitch
er nowI hope no one has seen you
with It."
II don't care II the whole city sees
me-"
They were in the shadow of the door,
and he gathered her to him, regardless
of the splashing lactea fluid and kissed
her fervently.
A moment after, Mercy was decor
ously ascending the stair with her
and Val walked into Miss
Afrry's sitting room, humming deri-
sively:
when Adam delved and Eve span :
Who was then the gentleman"
Miss Airy was spreading the table
for breakfast. She had not slept eth
er. as her weary eyes and anxious face
showed plainly. She gave her boy a
quick, questioning glance.
He went straight up to her and laid
his hand on her rheumatic shoulder.
Il have thought It all over, as you
bade me, Aunt Affry, have been all
night thinking Of It, and this is the
have reached: love her,
and every consideration have been
able to think of, falls dead before that
one fact. Whether could live without
her or not do not know, but shall
not make the experiment. shall mar
ry her-I shall take the goods the gods
provide and ask no questions Of the
future"
A little shadow fitted across her old
face, then she smiled brightly up at him
from her vastly inferior height.
Just as you think best, laddie! I
shall not meddle In the matter at all,
only consider well what you are doing
there may be much, very much in
volved in 1t that you cannot foresee
now"
He made an impatient gesture.
II know-I shall marry her, my mind
is made up"
Very WELL" returned Miss Airy, In
a voice Of calm resignation, II have
had good reason In my day, God knows,
to distrust love-matches, but say,
very we'll! whatever you do, you are
sure of Aunt Affry's blessing, boy-and
of her devotion to you and yours"
He knew that we'll enough. He gave
her a grateful glance, as If casting
away from him a burden-the burden,
perhaps, of the secret he held with her.
He made a hasty breakfast and went
away to his daily toil-to the familiar
desk in the banking house Of Sardis &
Co., where his fellow clerks would snuE
him, Jest with him, and exchange COM
monplaces; never dreaming that the
big, loutish fellow who had once been
an office boy in the establishment, and
was the shabbiest Of all the clerks,
could have anything mysterious In his
life, past, present or to come.
Val had always been the butt Of his
companions at the banking house. He
worked the hardest Of them all, and re-
ceived the poorest pay. He wore thread
bare coats, and was the unresisting VIC
tim of all sorts Of impositions from his
associates. His poverty was we'll
known among them; also the fact that
he lived with a decrepit aunt who kept
dodgers in wretched part Of the city.
Though he had risen from the post
of office boy, no favor had ever been
shown him in the establishment. Jacob
Phillips, the head clerk, called him the
least efficient man there.
BLACK Is an honest fellow" he was
wont to say, "but dull-abominably
dull. He'll be nothing but poor plod-
der as long as he lives"
AS for Cullen Sardis, that great capi-
talist never interested himself in his
employees nor pretended to know them
always excepting Phillips himself,
who had long been the bankers conf
dant and friend. 1t is probable that ne
had never heard the name OF valentine
he knew nothing OF
his faults or his merits.
(To be continued.)
Ancestry of The Revolver-Since