Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-01-31

distraction, and that his heart wal
broken, and all that. All, I'm afraid III
was deeper than thought-that Ital'
ian. II anybody has coaxed her from
you, Val, he Is the man.
Mr.. Finch coughed expressively.
Vars pale face Redeemed with jeal'
GUS wrath.
Discordo!" he cried. in fierce dis.
gust, don't mention that fellow. Mer.
cy detested him. 1t is true that he
made love to her-I wish now that
had wrung his neck for it!-but she
never listened to him-never! There's
an internal mystery about the matter
its too much for me, I'll own, but
don't say that Mercy has deceived me
don't tell me she is anything but the
be. I'm not going to believe wrong OF
her without proper evidence, am I? I'm
not going to damn her with your sus-
picions? God help me! MOI"
He walked up to Peter Finch and
laid one hand on his shoulder.
Have patience" he said, simply, do
not you see that it's impossible for me
to 60 to England till my mind is made
easy about her? that it's useless to ask
me to think Of anything or anybody
else for the present? When have
found her. I will be at your disposal,
and Sir Godfrey may command me as
he likes; but, till then, leave me to
myself"
Mr.. Finch was a man Of varied ex-
perience. He knew the human heart
he understood the desperate and ephe-
neral nature Of youthful passion. It
could not be many days, at the farth-
est, before Val would be disenchanted.
fo oh ha fty,nx, ,nv-d
for it-Discordo is the mani"
Aloud he said to Val: $50
Very well. 1 will not urge you fur
ther. Call upon me for any aid which
you may require-I am quite at your
service" .-...
Mr.. Finch then proposed that the
two, in accordance with their altered
circumstances, should leave Seedy
Court at once, and take up temporary
quarters with him, at his hotel; but to
this Val would not listen.
Mercy shall not come back and find
the place deserted" he said, resolute-
ly, for in that case she would not
know what had befallen us. Let Aunt
Airy rid the house Of her dodgers as
soon as she likes, but while we stay in
America, for Gods sake, let us stay
here"
Anu val NdQ MS way.
Three days passed-three days which
no coming splendor, no future honors
would ever erase from the memory Of
searched and fumed, hoped and de-
SPARED, and finally settled into a
moody, reticent frame Of mind, the like
Of which Miss Airy had never seen be-
fore.
The mystery of Mercy Dill's disap-
pearance was a mystery still. No skill
of the detectives had been able, as yet,
to obtain the smallest clue of her
whereabouts. Mr.. Finch smiled with
secret satisfaction. This American
born Arbuckle was not likely, after all,
to disgrace the family name.
Miss Affry, figuratively speaking
washed her hands Of the missing girl,
and clamored to be gone from the land
Of her long toll and privation.
Dear mel" she said to the London
lawyer, how long will that miserable
boy keep us waiting here, while he
hunts the city over on FOOLS errand
! long to be on the voyage. Why, Sir
Godfrey will be dead as door-nail
before we ever get to Deepmoor!"
The fourth day came-raw, dark,
miserable. In the old living room at
Seedy Court, so soon to be deserted by
its present occupants, Miss Airy, Val
late breakfast. The altered fortunes OF
tible In the dainties on the board, and
In the smart cap and silk gown, fresh
from the shop, which added unwonted
splendor to Miss Affry's small, crooked
body. Soon, very soon, the moldy lodg-
ing-house would know its mistress and
her busy ways no more; and, as II con-
scious of the fact the battered furni-
ture seemed to shrink forlorn into the
corners, and the very tick-tick of the
clock on the mantel was sad with
echoes Of farewell.
"Val," said Miss Affry, addressing
with some severity, the distrait, jaded
fellow on the other side of the table
who looked like anything but the fa-
vorite of fortune which he was, ARE
you not growing tired of this?"
God knows I am" he answered,
briefly.
you drive me crazy! What good
will any tidings of that girl do you
now? Why should you care whether
she Is in Boston or Babylon, after what
has happened?"
For the hundredth time, Aunt AZ
termined voice, II tell you that shall
not leave this city till hear from
Mercy Dill. 1t doesn't matter whether
the news be good or bad, here I stay
till 1t comes, and you must be content"
Content" shifted Miss Affry, with
Deepmoor waiting for us on the other
side Of the water"-
She paused, startled by sudden
ring at the bell
TITS the morning post" said Val, as
he arose from the table and went to
the door.
In a moment he was back again with
letter in his hand-a square letter,
superscribed with the name of Mr.. v.
Black, and postmarked New York.
Moved by the same foreboding, Miss
Affry and Peter Finch arose also from
the table.
open it-quick, Vail" cried the old
woman, breathlessly.
With a hand that shook in spite of
all his efforts to keep 1t firm, Val tore
apart the envelope, drew from 1t a
sheet Of paper and read these words
aloud.
Dear Val:-Don't look for me. don't
think Of me any longer, for am mar
ried to Mr.. Discordo, and before you
receive this, we shall be on our way to
his own land-Italy. I thought cared
for you till he came, but he loved ME
so much that I was forced, somehow,
to love him in return. 1t was better to
leave you, was it not, than to marry
you when my heart was given to him
I am sorry had to deceive you, Val
l am afraid you are very angry, but !
could not help It; and because you will
never see me more, you must forgive
and forget Mercy"
A moment Of profound silence fol-
lowed the reading.
Now" said Peter Finch, in a tone
Of irrepressible satisfaction, Il hope
you are satisfied, sir!"
Val held out the letter to Miss At
fry. pointing to its crude, Uniformed
characters.
rs this her writing, Aunt Affry?"
I'm sure I don't know-I never saw
any writing of hers-Im not sure that
she could write at all. Oh, the deceit
full little hussy! And we both thought
her a born angel! It's just as I told
you, then-she went with the Italian.
He'll abuse her; dare say he'll make
her go round with a monkey and a
hurdy-gurdy yet; and good enough for
her! Well, what could one expect of
Moll Dill's daughter"
Val tore the letter straight across.
Don't look as If you were glad!" he