Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-04-01

holding to her black dress, crying out,
wildly and incoherently:
In Gods name, what does this
mean? How came you here? Where
ling! my one, only love, never thought
to see you again on this side Of the
gravel" E...
MY husband! I have none"
"Discordo?"
Then you believed his letter."
'T did-oh, fool that was-I did"
you were very willing to be de-
ceived." she said bitterly-"very will
ing to think Ill Of me. He told me 1t
would be so-he was sure his vile plot
would succeed; but II hoped other
wise, for trusted you. I was sure
you would trust me-"
His face whitened slowly with con-
viction, pain or remorse.
Then 1t was all a miserable lie?"
ut was all a miserable lie; but 1t
cannot matter now. Rise Sir Valentine;
we are not alone"
| you did not love him-you did not
marry him? Merciful heaven! how i
have wronged you, then-how have
wronged myself! Explain this mys-
terry, or I shall go rlad!"
At this juncture the Van Dorm chill
dren fed from the MUSHROOM, and
ran to tell mother and brother that a
strange. red-haired gentleman was
down on his knees before Miss Sardis,
kissing her dress. and calling her
Mercy" and darling"
This piece Of news, added to the fact
that the English baronet had vanished
from the apartment where he had been
left, induced the Van Dorns to seat
themselves in the drawing-room to
await the appearance OF the parties,
and an explanation Of their extraordt-
nary conduct
Sir Valentine Arbuckle drew Mercy's
unresisting hands into his own; , su
iy, "and God Is my witness that what
ever you say / viii, with heart and
soul believe. If have wronged you
shamefully have also loved you
boundlessly. have never ceased to
think Of you-never since we parted,
on our appointed wedding-day, In
Seedy Court. Heap your reproaches
upon mel deserve them. You can
not condemn me half as much as I
condemn myself"
So, with those slight hands locked in
his, she stood and made her explana-
/ tions, and heard others in return. The
humble lovers. Of Seedy Court-Valen-
tine Black, the bankers clerk, and
Mercy DIN. the sewing girl. were no
more, not even their names remained.
But this man and woman, so unlike
that obscure pair, looked once In each
others eyes, and forgot In a moment
all change, all doubt, all wrong-yes,
and the months and the years that had
passed since their last meeting.
do you forgive me, Mercy?" he ask
ed, humbly.
IT forgive you," she answered.
| do you love me still, darling?"
Il love you still. Even If we had
never met, If I hao never heard of you
again. should have loved you till my
dying day."
He had already told her of the err
rand which had brought him across
the sea. Now he drew out the old
ring, the tiny agent Of their reunion.
and placed 1t for the second time upon
her hand.
"But"-she faatered, you are rich
and titled now, and am but poor
music teacher. Are you sure
He gathered her into his arms
II am sure, infinitely sure, that you
are the one woman in all the world for
me what you will, for I am your slave
for evermore.
Time had not changed his passion,
grandeur and ease had not altered 1t.
Hearts like his are slow to receive i'm
pressions, tenacious to hold them.
truly, LOT MIN tne Wlue WOfIo ueiu
only this one fair woman.
The two lovers went back to the
drawing-room, into the presence Of the
amazed Van Dorns, where sundry ex-
plantations were made, and many con-
gratulations offered, even by the
gloomy and rather indignant son Of
the house, and then Mercy hastened
home to tell the marvellous news to Bee
and to introduce to that amazed little
lady, and to Eric SAKE, her stalwart,
titled lover.
"Oh, day Of days, never to be for
gotten! Ethel was sent for in great
haste, and she came, full Of rejoicing,
and gave both hands to Sir Valentine,
and thanked him anew for the service
he had rendered her in the past, and
laughed with delight at her own share
in bringing him across the sea.
"Sir Valentine" she said, do you
know anything Of Finette? I have
thought of her so often and so CRATE
fully, the good, true creature! Can you
tell me If she is well and happy?"
YES" he answered.; "she Is living at
IVerrieres, with her brother Gustave.
Fidelity like hers Is rare. and needs en-
Icouragement. I took the liberty to
settle upon her a trifing pension. She
is we'll, she is happy, and she will lack
for nothing as long as she lives"
"Oh, you sly puss!' she whispered,
in mock indignation: ito think you
never told me q word about all this?
Who would have dreamed that you
had such a romance in your life? An
other title in the family Well, thank
heaven, this one is worn by a good,
true man, and it will confer upon you
not only distinction, but genuine hap
piness. know you will be happy,
dear, because you love him and be
loves you-and when one has said that
one has said all"
Il A fortnight lacer-for the impatient
Hover would have no unnecessary de-
Ilays-Mercy became the wife of Sir
Valentine ArbuclSle. The wedding was
solemnized in Bees quiet home, with
only Miss Vanr and a few intimate
friends for guests.
II To Ethel, this parting with the Sis
ter whom she had learned to love so
dearly was a strange mixture OF JOY
and sorrow.
"Oh, darling, come with US to Eng
LAND, and let cur home be yours,
Mercy pleaded. "Sir Valentine wishes
it and I-oh, I cannot leave you drudg-
ing here. It spoils all my own happi-
ness to think Of YOU"
Not vet. Some time, perhaps, when
am sick or old, or tired Of governess-
ing, may seek refuge with you; but
not while I am young and strong, and
able to work for myself. I am too
. proud, you know, to be dependent even
} upon you. whom love better than any
one else in the world. Sir valentine
Is noble and good and generous, and
thank him heartily; but must battle
with the world single handed a little
longer, and you must not think Of me
at all, dear, but only Of him, and OF
your own great happiness"
Surely, Ethel, you will accept some
aid? He Is going to settle an allow
ance upon you--he told me so HIM
!. SELF"
mot a penny, dear. l could not
think Of doing such a thing-or at
least, not till am superannuated. as
said before. But will come some time
to Deepmoor Hall, and spend Christ
mas with you"
/ No further persuasions could shake
her resolution She would take moth
ing but love and kind thoughts from
Mercy and her husband. So the two