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

CHAPTER III.
A week had elapsed, and the work OF trans
formation, which Esther had undertaken, was
progressing bravely, and was, so far, most sat-
isfactory in its results. Order and conven-
ience began to reign where confusion had
hitherto prevailed. Even n the kitchen, where
reform had seemed most impracticable, some
thing like improvement was already manifest
Two of the Indian servants, wild creatures,
who appeared to regard dirt as necessary
adjunct to their existence, and could by no
means receive into their comprehension the
lessons of neatness which their new mistress
took pains to enforce, were dismissed ; and the
two who we're retained gave indications of
better understanding of the duties they were
required to perform. Still, much remained to
be done, and Esther found that unless certain
tasks were taken into her own hands, they
would either be entirely neglected, or accom-
plished in way that was scarcely better than
leaving them undone. This troubled Ray
mond, who could not bear to see her work,
and he announced his determination to pro.
cure more competent assistance for her, by
some means or other, no matter what ditficul.
ties lay in his way.
Don't worry yourself about me-" she re-
joined cheerfully. shall get on very we'll,
and will be less awkward than am now, when
Igrow more accustomed to what have to do"
81 don't want you to grow accustomed to
it," he replied. ut distresses me to see you
engaged in menial Offices, and | feel like
brute for having brought you away from lux
ury and ease, to toll in this wilderness, just
for my sake!"
"And what would not do Paul, just for
your sake? You don't know me, if you i'm
agine that mind the triAing work that de.
wolves upon me, or that would not gladly
undertake thousand times more, rather than
give up the happiness of being what am"
"a poor mans wife Not a very enviable
position, Esther, according to the opinion of
your New York friends and especially in sur
roundings like these! What would Mrs.
Pembroke say, ifshe could make visit of in
spection to our little domain ?"
"She couldn't hel saying that it's lovely
place." said Esther. "The atmosphere and
the scenery are acknowledgement refreshing
contrast to cramped streets and brick walls,
and the sitting city air l always had
longing to get wings and fly away. 1t was
just the sensation of bird in cage, pining
for fredoom and space"
"There is certainly enough of both of those
here to satisfy your utmost longing. But, Sc
riously, dearest, I cannot help accusing my
self of sel6shness in having persuaded you to
make the exchanged? One comfort is, there
is every reason to hope, that at no very dis
tant day, shall have the pleasure of laying
at your feet fortune that will amply COM
pensate you for few months, or perhaps
few years, of privation and selfsacri6ce."
LET it be ever so many years, shall not
mind it, Paul, so long as we continue we'll,
and can work and hope together. Remem-
ber I have not come here to be hindrance,
but help to you. Besides, don't care
pin about money. think it is very useless
trash, compared with other things"
On the day following this conversation,
Raymond, who had, as usual, left the house
early in the morning, rode up to the door, to
Esther's amazement, with p young girl on the
saddle behind, whom he assisted to dismount,
and led towards his wife as she stood waiting
to receive them.
II have brought you a maid" he said
laughing. 81 can't answer for her quali6ca-
tions, but she seems worth trial. She speaks
but very little English, for one thing; but
you can muster up enough Spanish to make
her understand, l dare say, and before long
she will begin to learn English, from hearing
it constantly spoken"
"Is she Spanish, then?" asked Esther.
"Her father was Spaniard, her mother
Mexican. I have hired her for you for a
very low sum. We are to keep her on trial,
and if she suits you, her old grandmother,
with whom she has lived for some years past,
is willing to sell her to US for fifty dollars"
"Sell her!' echoed Esther in horror. "Oh,
Paul are you in earnestY
"Indeed am 1t was her own proposition,
and she was anxious to clineh the bargain at
once; but 1 was not willing for that, and
thought it safest to make trial Of her capa-
bilities first"
"Poor little creature~ said Esther, COM
passionately regarding the girl, whose large,
soft dark eyes were fixed earnestly upon her
face. "What an unnatural old thing the
grandmother must be. Whereabouts did you
find her?"
"At the old Spanish settlement They are
frightfully poor, apparently, and she has
come to you with nothing but the clothes on
her back"
"And ragged enough they are" said Es.
ther; "but that is want can soon supply"
Then taking the girls brown hand in hers,
she said to her in gentle voice, "Come with
me-" The words were not understood, but
the tone and manner and the gesture which
accompanied them, seemed quite Ineligible;
look of pleasure lit up the girls face, she
nodded and smiled brightly, showing set of
white, gittering teeth, and followed Esther
with alacrity into the house. The first care
of the latter was to make her bathe herself,
and then attire her in some garments selected
from her own wardrobe, which, with a little
alteration, 6t her very well for although,
apparently, not more than fourteen or fifteen,
and very slenderly built, she was tall for her
age, lacking but few inches of Esthers own
height, and a couple of tucks hastily run in
the skirt of calico dress soon reduced it to
suitable length. By dint of pinning over
and betting in, the body was made to answer
almost as we'll i and it was amusing to see the