Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-01-01
was crimson, ard her gaze fixed upon the

ground.
"I heard the two great ladies, who stared
at you," she said in thick, hurried syllables
II heard them talk of you. One said she
would give you two hundred dollars just tc
live with her-that she might look at you
The other said if her son came home he would
be sure to fall in love with you and sex
tuple the wages. Of course, then, you would
have to 90 away but think of the thousands
and thousands you could win in great city
if you would only act sensibly, and thro"
yourself as a temptation in his way, and not
be fool! !"
1.-TWO hundred dollars for my"
"For your virtue"-concluded Miriam, in
trembling voice-"and thousands afterward
in great city"
"Great God, sister, cried the young girl
abruptly snatching out ofher fingers the lock
she held, and recoiling from her with look
of positive horror. "And you-you-my
sister-would sell my virtue to man? Sell
your sisters honor for gold," she continued,
pressing her hands on her throbbing temples
"And why not, pray?" returned Mirlam
not daring to lift her dishonest eyes, and hang
ing down her disgraced head.
"Why not?" repeated Lide with cry Of
horror and disgust. "Why not?
GAY, why not? Many a woman better
born and better raised than you, has chosen
dishonor rather than starvation" replied Mi
riam.
"I will never do it-never-never J. re-
Joined Lide, springing from her chair and re-
treating to the wall Of the room, where she
stood with extended arms, as if to protect the
virtue her sister coveted to sell, as if to die in
its defence, if need be. Her round, delicate
cheeks were ashen pale, and her violet eyes
seemed charged with fierce electric fires.
"Oh Miriam, Miriam, have I lived to see
this day? Have I lived to look with loathing
and horror on the sister I loved {? Begone
from my sight! Never come near me again,
else I may do you harm in my terrible resent
ment" She seemed distracted, and her ges'
lures were wild and threatening.
"You're acting like fool-a sheer fool,
said Miriam, sullenly, with dark scowl 81
thought you would be willing to make any
sacrifice for me. You have over and over
again assured me of your willingness to do
anything I wished or anything you could
do for me; but your words were mere idle
breaths. I've found that out. If it were
otherwise, you would jump at the chance Of
building up a fortune in the simple way
have just mentioned"
cam lam I listening to my sister, Miriam
Halstead? ? And is she really talking in this
manner to her own flesh and blood?' Lide
gasped forth in accents made hoarse with
strong and terrible excitement.
Talking to her without effect" Miriam
said, sneeringly.
"Is it possible Woman, woman, | have
borne much disgrace at your hands already
but this wrong deliberately contemplated to-
ward me-your oarn sister-this outrageous
this objectionable insult-against my wo
mans pride-and to my chaste heart-ex,
ceeds all the rest, and makes me despise-
abhor-hate you! You, well-born? Why
the veriest pariah on the streets-the com
monest Biddy in the kitchen-would hold
nobler and purer principles than yours toward
her own flesh and blood. Begone from my
sight forever. Go, Miriam, 60"
"Leave my own room? That is rich But
not if know myself. What row you are
making about silly bit of talk. You baulk
me. You baulk me wherever I turn, at the
very moment when see ahead prospect OF
being successful and rich! Girl, can't you
listen to reason? I know if you 60 to live
with the woman you will win the man. had
my assurance of this from the best authority
the mother of the man-and see in your
yielding every chance one could wish to win
money and live at ease."