Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-09-03
The Stnrw Teller.
TURNED ADRlFT.

:sRosamond! Rosamond"
"Yes, Uncle Phineas."
"It's nine o'clock, Rosamond. The clocks
just struck"
s'I know it, Uncle Phineas."
s'Well, take off them logs as hasn't got
fairly to going and put 'em keerful in the
chimney corner, and kiver up the rest with
good coat of ashes. Dye hear, Rosa
, monde"
eyes, Uncle Phineas!" with sigh.
because you know, Rosamond, nine
o'clock's the time folks was abed."
"Yes, Uncle Phineas."
sAnd be sure you lock the big front door
and bolt both bolts, and put cheer agin
the hinges, so't'll tumble over eff any one
tampers with the fastenings."
''pl not forget, Uncle Phineas."
George Hand rose from his seat, with a
smile; as Rosamond Fosters troubled eyes
met his own.
"Perhaps had better be going," said he,
Evidently your uncle thinks my room
will be better than my company"
s'You won't mind him." said ROsamOnd,
family.
mot in the least" said George. "He's
quite right. Nine O'Clock is time to go
home. I'll come some other time and fin
ish my visit"
He held Rosamond's hand trifie longer
than there was any necessity for, as they
parted and the girl sighed softly as she
bolted the great door and adjusted the
"cheer" at the exact burglar catching angle.
George Hand had been very near saying
the word for which her heart had longed all
these months, just when Uncle Phineas'
cracked voice made it audible, over the
bend of the stairway.
It was rather hard, but Rosamond's life
had been a succession of mute Self-sacrlticeS,
and this only made an additional one.
But Uncle Phineas renewed the subject,
next day, with some acrimony.
81 tell ye what, Rosamond," said he, "the
candle-box is more'n half-empty"
eyes, Uncle Phineas, it's the middle of
January you know" said Rosamond, gently:
"Idont keer if'twas the middle of April" !"
snarled the old man. "That amt no excuse
for wasting candles. Arter this the house
has got to be shut up at half-past eight
o'clock at night and all the lights out. l
amt goin to end my days in the poor-house,
not to please all the shiftless young fellers
in the place. Eff they amt got homes of
their own to set up in l amt goin' to fur
nish one for en-"
Rosamond made no answer. What COM
ment had she to offer? Did not Uncle Phi
meas remind her dozen times a day that
she was a penniless orphan, entirely de.
pendent on him for the bread she ate, the
clothes she wore? TO be sure, there had
estate of Elakim Foster had been divided /;
but Uncle Phineas had insisted on her lay
ing that aside for rainy day.
Some said it was sensible thrift; some
called it an offshoot of the miserliness that
underlay his whole nature. But the old
man deigned no explanation; he only sniff
ed great sniff when he heard that Rosa
mond's only brother, Jared, had put his
share into an invention of his own which
he was trying to push through the patent
office. "Humph" said he. "Fools and
their money are soon parted
To-day, however, he had no sooner set
tied the candle-question, than he broached
new topic.
"Give me that there money o. yourn,
Rosamond," said he. "1've got a good
chance to invest it, where it'll double itself
in year or two"
Rosamond turned red, then white. She
did not speak. "Don't ye hear me? croak-
ed the old man, impatiently. "What are
we standing there for? Get me the money,
"Uncle Phineas," ;" gasped Rosamond, driv-
en- to desperation, II haven't got 1t; II
lent it to Jared!'
"Lent it to Jared !" thundered the old
man. TluuS IL llilO eiC NV yoo h'Se&h
made ducks and brakes of it! Lent it to
Jaredw
"He needed it, Uncle Phineas," pleaded
the girl. "And, after all, he's my brother" ;"
"And you never asked me?'
81 was afraid you would not consent, Un-
Gle Phineas."
The old man snarled like an infuriated
wolf: his wrinkled skin turned dull yel'
low.
aye can clear out O. this house; my root
shan't shelter We no longer. Clear out, l
say" ~,
Rosamond stood appalled,.
"But, Uncle Phineas, I've nowhere to
CO." she faltered.
Ye'd oughter ha' thought o. that afore ye
was so free with your money!" growled the
old man as he held the door wide open Tor
her to pass out.
"But it's dark, Uncle Phlneas! Ana us
showing hard"
"What is that to me?" shouted the old
tvrant.. "Do you mean to start or must |
take We by the shoulders and put ye out :
There was something in the savage light
Of his ewes that appalled, his niece, even
while she had opened her lips to remon-
strate still further. Without auother word,
She glided out into the twilight tempest.