Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-01-24

sale old spinster was startled by the
picture she made. Poor she might be.
low born she might be, but what patri-
clan bride could rival her matchless
dover Of beauty?
Presently Walls ring slipped from her
hand and rolled away over the floor.
"a bad omen," said Val, lightly; and
in a moment he was down on the worn
carpet, searching along its surface for
the little golden band. From q remote
corner he brought 1t back to Mercy at
last, demanding from her, in spite Of
Miss Affry's presence, prompt pay
for his exertions.
'R. A." said Mercy, bending her con-
fused face low over the letters engrav-
ed on the inner side of the ring-'T
have often wanted to ask you about
those initials, Val. Do they mean your
fathers manner"
Aunt AIRY looked up quickly, but
before Val caught her warning glance
he answered:
yes"
But Black does not begin with A."
said Mercy, smiling.
He seemed rather disconnected for a
moment. .....
"True. Thereby hangs q tale. I'll tell
you about 1t some time, darling. This
ring Is too large for your slim fingers.
You shall have another tomorrow, to
keep 1t in place"
The evening wore away. Outside The
rain fell fast, and, driven by fltful gusts
Of wind, 1t tramped up and down the
dark court, making now and then
frantic rush at the door Of No. 10, like
some person in breathless haste-like
a bearer Of great news. Never would
either Of the three forget this evening
it was destined to remain printed
upon the memory Of each in characters
OF fire. And yet nothing occurred to
break its profound quiet. Mercy went
away at ten o'clock. Ascending the
stair, lamp in hand, she looked back
over her shoulder at Val Black, who
stood watching her in the hall below
looked back, with smile on her lips
and the red light falling on her golden
hair and striking deep into the shady
violet Of her eyes. . ........
Mercy" he said, with the Unsuitable
vanity Of his sex, ARE you sure you
love me, darling?"
Very sure" she answered.
Suppose something should happen
this very night to separate us-how
long would you be faithful to me, dar-
ling?" ...
"As long as lived"
He watched her ascend the old stair
like fair spirit.
The pearly face. the golden hair, the
shy, sweet smile receded slowly from
his gaze-vanished at last into dark
ness. -.
Thus he remembered her for many a
long day after.
All through the silent hours Of that
night ugly, confused dreams crowded
upon Mercy. She stood on the brink Of
an abyss-she was falling over its
black edge-there was no one to help
her. In vain she cried to Val-he was
gone-he had left her alone to perish.
Bathed In q cold sweat and with a
smothered shrek on her lips, Mercy
awoke to find the morning light
streaming into her chamber-the light
Of her marriage day. AS she looked at
1t strange, superstitious chill ran
over her.
Something is going to happen" she
said to herself: II shall be separated
from Val! I feel as If some one was
walking on my gravel"
The next moment, however, she
laughed at her own folly.
What can happen? Is not every
thing ready? Even my mother could
not part us now. Am l growing ner-
vous? File! That's a disease which
only fine ladies have"
The day was very much like all
others in the old house. Mercy break
tasted with Val and his aunt. and then
went away to her humble room to put
the finishing stitches to her pretty
dress. Meanwhile in her own domain
below stairs Miss Affry hobbled about,
setting all things in order and COM
pounding various dishes with which to
make tempting the supper table.
Strange memories crowded upon her
as she worked, memories Of places and
persons very far away, but over and
above everything else arose one
thought:
"She is good and beautiful, and she Is
Vaps choice. Like his father before
him, he will have his own way in a
matter like this. couldn't keep him
from marrying her If tried ever so
hard She'll be daughter to me, even
as he is a son, and. ten to one, we shall
live on here taking dodgers and pinch
ing and contriving all our natural lives.
1 am content with the girl-yes,' 1 am
content!"
The hours flew on. Noon came and
passed. The sun was shining In the
court, the sky hung blue and cloudless
over the city roofs-Vars marriage
evening would De Ialr.
Miss Affry made the tour Of her sit
ting room for the last time, removed
every suspicion of dust from the win
dow seats, the round table, the cozy,
chintz- covered chairs and then came
to the hanging shelf on the wall, where
Walls books reposed.
Far up the stair Mercy Dill was sing
ing one Of her brave, sweet, Gospel
songs. Angel-sweet her voice floated
down to the old woman as she worked
Mounting a wooden cricket, Miss At
| fry began to take down the volumes
and brush them carefully, one by one.
While doing this something fell from
the shelf to the floor. She stopped and
picked it up. 1t was the evening paper
which Val had left unopened on the
preceding night None of its pristine
creases were yet disturbed.
| With that quick thrill of Interest
which the sight of newspaper had for
the last few weeks stirred in her heart
Miss Affry adjusted her glasses and
opened the sheet. AS she let her eyes
run along its columns, the first thing
on which they rested was this notice:
INFORMATION WANTED-Of the
son of Robert Arbuckle. Of Deepmoor
Lincolnshire, England, or of woman
called Affry Black, formerly a house
maid at Deepmoor Hall. Said Affry is
known to have sailed from England
with Robert Arbuckle and his wife
| Christine Black, twenty-five years ago
and is supposed to be still living Is Bos.
ton or vicinity. Any information tina,
will lead to the discovery either of hel
nephew or herself, will be literally re-
warded. Call or address Peter Finch
Barrister, at the office Of the British
Consulate, 6S Devonshire street. Bos-
ton"
(To be continued.)
FOUND QUICKER PROCESS.