Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-01-17

claimed her companion. "S'pose now goet
to work and advertises her don't you think
I'd git a fine reward You bet l mean tc
try"
"Oh Jim, don't, don'tw she cried, entreat
ingly, with terror in her face. "1t's 80 long
now, you wouldn't never find her folks
'Twouldn't be no use"
"Wouldn't it1 You bet it would" .
"Then, don't, for my sake-Oh! Jim, for
Gods sake, don't try to get her taken from
me. I'd die if I was to lose her!' In hel
frantic appeal, she came nearer, and laid her
hand on his shoulder.
"What 'ud that matter ?" he coolly rejoined,
shaking her hand off, "Nobody'd cry over
you, guess, and your funeral wouldn't cost
nothin', 'cept to the city"
"Oh! you brute; you bad, wicked man, to
talk so-you amt got no feelin', no nnore'r
stick or a stone," she burst forth with uncon-
trollable passion, stamping her foot violently,
as she spoke. Then, with sudden change
of manner, she drew near him again, and re-
sumed her supplicating attitude.
"Don't mind me, Jim. I didn't mean to
abuse you, like that; but it drives me mad to
think of losin' her. And it wouldn't make
her happy, neither, for she loves me as if l
was her real mother, as she believes l am"
"More fool she," was his reply. "Anyhow,
faint her feelins, nor yours, neither, that I'm
concerned about. I'm thinkin' what nice
lob 'twould be for me to restore lost child
to its parents and git good round sum of
money, as 'ud keep me, for good while, like
gentleman"
lis it money you want? Then I'll give
you some, if you'll only swear to leave the
child alone, and not try to get her taken
away" cried the woman, eagerly. Jims
small, foxy eyes glistened beneath their bushy
brows; but he only gave her contemptuous
glance.
"You, indeed I'd like to know if you
could give me enough to pay me for holding
my tongue-unless you've struck bonanza
somewhere" he rejoined.
81 amt very rich, but I've got something
enough to keep you for good while, if you
don't drink and gamble it away" said his
wife. "Promise me you'll 60 away and not
meddle with me or the child again, and I'll
give it to you, Jim every dollar"
"That's your bargain, is it You want to
get rid of my company, already? You're a
nice, loving wife, amt you, to give me such
welcome, after being separated so long?"
"As to that, you know we'll enough that
after all that has passed between US, I'd never
live with you again-more especially with
her in the house. As to lovin' you, you
knocked all the love ever had for you out
of my heart this many year back. 'Taint
question of love between you and me, now,
said the woman, bitterly, yet with touch OF
involuntary sadness in her voice. The time
had been when she had loved him-but. Oh
how impossible that seemed to her now
call right. You may depend I'll give you
as good as I git" he replied. GAS to livin'
with you-bah I'D sooner keep company
with she.wolf. But as to your money, that's
horse of another color; so fork it over at
once, and when I count it up I'll see what
bargain it'll be worth my while to make"
"Not till you promise" )" was her rejoinder,
accompanied by misgiving that, in her anx-
iety to obtain her wish, she had committed
herself too soon. He laughed scornfully.
"Do you think I'm goin' to mince matters
with you, you jade2 You've told me you'd
got money, and I mean to have it; and if
you don't let me look at it pretty quick, I'll
make you sorry you didn't" He concluded
with a threatening gesture which made her
shrink back. He had not lost his old power
over her yet. He saw this, and laughed in
brutal triumph. "Go, quick" he repeated,
"and fetch your fortune here every cent"
"It amt FORUM, Jim-it amt as much
as you seem to think" she family answered.
"And you must promise me first"
With loud oath the man started from his
seat, and seizing her by the shoulders shook
her till her teeth chartered again then flung
her from him with such force that she reeled
against the opposite wall. "Go this minute,
or III kill you," he cried, with an emphasis
that gave reality to the threat. Don't you
say another word, but do as bid you, if you
value your life"
She dared not refuse, for she knew him of
yore, and doubted not that he would make
his words good if she provoked him too far.
Bitterly repenting her own rashness in hav'
ing betrayed that she had money in her pos
session, before making sure that she could
gain something by giving it to him, she went
without more delay to the secret repository
where she kept her little store, and bringing
it thence, flung it on the table before him.
"There t is, every cent" she sullenly ex-
claimed. "You can take it and do what you
please with it."
"Thank you for the privilege, my dear,
be sarcastically replied. Emptying the stock
ing out, he counted its contents-ten 6ve-dol.
lar gold pieces, double eagle and some odd
change in silver.
"Is that all ?" he asked, with look of dis
gust. Il s'posed you'd a hundred, at the
very least. Why, there amt but seventy'four
and half! How long do you s'pose that
'ud last me :"
II don't know, nor I don't care. It's all
I've got, so you may make the best of it."
81 b'lieve you're tellin' me lie," he re-