Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-02-06
CHAPTER XII.

"And now" said Monsieur Leroy when he
had ended; "I don't want to afflict you with
business details, my dear, but there are some
little arrangements find it necessary to dis.
cuss with you, and as there is no time like
the present, why, it may as we'll be got through
/ with at once"
Business arrangements p repeated his
wife. "Well, let us see what you refer to-"
"What refer to, is, to use vulgar word
money" said Monsieur Leroy. money, my
dear. That's the shortest and most explicit
answer can make you"
Money" echoed the housekeeper.
"Why, yes; you know what money is, don't
you? suppose you see plenty of it here"
; returned her husband.
II get my salary" said Mrs. Ford, shortly.
"And how much, may ask, is your sala'
ry?" blandly inquired Leroy.
f twenty-five dollars" replied the house
keeper composedly, and without wincing.
twenty-five per month-well, that's not
so bad Out of this, of course, you provide
for your personal wants, which are few"
"How do you know that ?" interrupted his
wife.
because I know you of old, my love, to be
a person of frugal habits most self'denying
character, in fact. The remainder of course,
you lay aside"
"Well, and what of that?"
"Merely this-that as you have been here
sometime, you have doubtless, by laying aside
each month the chief part of your wages, &C.
cumuated quite nice little sum-"
II have not been here so very long as you
seem to think" said his wife. 81 only came
in October"
"Only in Octoberw said Leroy, in disap-
pointed tone. "Four months-phew l
thought it was longer. Still, in these four
months, 1 imagine, you have managed to save
something to speak Of? Fifty or seventy-fve
dollars, for instance p
"And if I have p
"And if you have-why then, to come to
the point at once, you surely won't refuse to
lend me helping hand, when tell you that
I have not dollar in the world" said Mon
seur Leroy, pathetically.
"Not dollar! Are you speaking the truth,
Auguste?"
Monsieur Leroy laid his hand on his heart,
and raised his eyes to the ceiling
GAS Heaven is my witness" he said solemn
ly, ~ stand before you this day, my Julie,
without a sou in my pocket"
Mrs. Ford cast down her eyes, and reflected.
"I haze saved little sum" she said, slowly,
at length, (which had reserved for differ
ent purpose; but, if you are really in such
extremity"
L" interrupted her husband.
"Well, then, asyou are in such need as you
say, I suppose I cannot refuse to give you
some assistance"
"Adorable woman !" cried Leroy. Ever
generous ever selfsacri6cing I read my
jules heart Alright, when deemed it an i'm
possibility that she could refuse to aid me in
distress"
"Nonsense," said Mrs. Ford, coldly. 81
will help you, as you say but on one condi-
tion."
"Name it" said Leroy.
"That you will 60 away afterwards, and
not give me any further trouble"
$50 away not see you any more, do you
mean p
"Of course, that is what I mean. I want
you to promise to keep away from here, be-
cause it would be an annoyance to me to have
you coming about, especially as / could not
possibly prevent the family from finding it
out; and might even lose my place, you
know, if they found out you were here"
81 suppose they think me dead, don't
they?"
"Of course they do; I thought so myself"
II am sure" said Monsieur Leroy, 81 do
not see why they should object to my being
alive. The world is wide enough for US ALL"
"Well, that's neither here nor there" said
his wife. 81 only tell you that if you don't
agree to my conditions I cannot help you."
"In the first place." said Leroy, "tell me
how much you can give me"
II will give you enough to support you for
short time, until you can find some employ
ment, said the housekeeper. "Isuppose you
expect to get work, don't you"
Monsieur Leroy made grimace.
"Work I" he said disdainfully. II don't
relish that idea much"
"IfI work, you can, imagine" said his
| ,p;fa UT ono M moro accustomed to it than
you are. How will you live else? Of course
you don't mean me to support you-in fact
your own sense will tell you, that out twenty
five dollars a month, 1 can't pay your ex-
penses and mine too"
Leroy considered, with scowling brow.
"Ahw he said at length, shaking his head.
"a dark prospect-very dark. Well, ifyou
give me what you can spare, I will agree to
let you alone until it is exhausted-and I'll
make it last as long as can"
Mrs. Ford shook her head. "That's too in
definite" she rejoined. 81 must have a more
positive assurance than that"
Leroy gave little snarl. "Psste! what
would you have?" he exclaimed impatiently.
"You don't want me to starve, do you? Give
me as much as you can, and tell you I will
live Just as economically as possible, and, if I
can find something to do-though I don't
suppose can do that here, I'll try my luck
in Columbia then, if am in need, why
I'll come again if not, will stay away. I
can't promise fairer than that, can I? Andin