Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-01-06

"That can easily arrange" said Raymond.
81 assure you she was willing enough to get
rid of her on such favorable terms. | don't
suppose she ever owned fifty dollars in her
life. Her eyes actually glistenee at the bare
mention of such sum-"
"Did she propose the amount, or you r
"She did but so hestatingly at first, that it
was quite evident she was not prepared for my
compliance with her demand and when she
found that did not consider it unreasonably
high, her anxiety to obtain it at once knew no
bounds"
"What horrible creature she must be! I
feel more and more convinced that she is not
actually related to Picciola, and proportion
ately anxious to cancel all claim she has upon
her. Do go, this very day, Paul, and settle
the matter beyond dispute"
"And suppose you repent Of the bargain at
terwards, Esther?"
"But why should ?"
"Picciola may disappoint your expectations
and prove less worthy than you now believe
her to be. Suppose she turns out dishonest,
vicious, or deceitful What will you do then,
with such burden on your hands-sell her
of to somebody else? ?"
GAS if I would ever be guilty Of such an
act |" reioined Esther in much indignation.
"You know me better than really to think so.
But am not afraid of being disappointed:
She has been with me now sufficiently long, |
think, to allow me to form correct estimate
other character. I have always found her
truthful, affectionate, and most eager to obey
nv slightest wish. Besides, even should she
be guilty of any fault, no matter how serious,
never could make up my mind to send her
back to that dreadful grandmother, after the
way in which she has used her. Oh Paul,
if you could see the shocking marks Of i'll.
treatment which the poor child has showed
me! You would feel as sorry for her, and
anxious to protect her. as | do"
"Now, Esther, how do you know but that
she has been merely playing upon your sensi-
bility. Perhaps those marks have come from
an entirely different cause to the one she as
signs them to-"
"Dont tease me so, Paul. I know you
quite agree with me, though you will not al
low it"
"Of course I do. Am I not bound to CO.
incide in your opinionsf"
II wish you were" said Esther, with re-
collection of Sehor Alasquez in her mind.
AT any rate, know you will do what wish
now, and feel quite sure we shall not repent
of our bargain"
Raymond set off on his appointed errand,
but arrived at the old woman's wretched hab-
itation, only to find it untenanted. It's occu-
pant had been removed by death. A neigh.
Dor of hers, squalid-looking settler, half
Spanish, half Indian, informed him that it
was nearly week since she had been carried
off by low fever-that, and the too free use
of alcohol in which it seemed she had been
accustomed to indulge. "She was talkin'
heap about you," said the man, 'and was
mos crazy to see you. She said she had some
thing particular to tell you about the girl"
"And could you not have come and let me
know ?" responded Raymond. would have
come to her if I had known she wished it."
The man shrugged his shoulders II had
no beast to ride, and the walk was too far
but might have gone if 1 had been sure I
would got something for my paine: !" "---
"Dd she leave any message to me, or to her
grandchild ?"
"She left something's little parcel, which
I was to give you, for consideration"
"What sort of consideration ?"
"Whatever you might judge reasonble,
stranger. leave it to you to make an offer"
Disguised at the mans cupidity, Raymond
answered that he would give him dollar for
the parcel, whatever it might be:
"I guess not, stranger" was the reply, &C.
companied by cunning look. "Id rather
keep it, than take dollar for it know
what's inside"
"Show it to me, then," said Raymond i'm
patiently, "and I will give you whatever it
may be worth"
The man shuff1ed into his cabin and came
out with very dirty little paper package,
which he proceeded to unwrap while keeping
at careful distance from Raymond, who re-
mained seated upon his horse.
'See here" he said, holding up a small
locket, attached to piece Of common string,
in lieu of a chain. "Ain't that worth five
dollars, now?"
"Well, take the five dollars, then, and let
me have it once"
call right, stranger; there it is-you see l
amt man to back out from my word
Long familiarity with the habits Of this
class of individuals, prevented Raymond from
feeling any surprise, as he might have done,
at the avarice which could make capital out
of the commission of a dying person and
without farther comment, he received and
placed in his pocket the old Spanish woman's
bequest 1t might he thought, afford some
clue to Picciola's real origin; and though ne
felt no special interest himself in the matter,
he thoug ght it would crafty his wife to have
any light thrown upon it,
Esther felt rather relieved, than otherwise,
at the news of the demise Of the ''old witch"
as RAYMOND called her, as it freed her from
all apprehension concerning any interference
with her young charge, whom she might now
regard justly as her own property. Picciola,
when the information was impaired to her,
looked serious, but testified no sorrow, as in
deed it was not to expected that she would;
for it was evident that the bond between her
departed relative and herself had not been of
sort to awaken any Of the finer sensibilities
of her nature, and she was SO we'll pleased in
her new home that it was no doubt salts
faction to her to feel assured that there would
now be no impedment to her remaining
there.
The locket which Raymond brought to his
wife, contained merely curl Of dark hair,
surmounted by the initials IL. A." There
was, at the back, a place fora picture; but the
space was empty, though Picciola averred
that she remembered once seeing likeness
there which she thought must have been her
fathers. The relic, as it stood, could give no
clue to the girls history, and Esther, having
attached it to ribbon, gave it to its righttul
o,unor to ,yaar as an ornament around her