The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-08-22
aAlone2 HoW's. that2n

"Alone? How's that?"
@Myfather died last year, ssrmother
wrote you," explained Elfe. Mamma
has followed him." and her voice grew
broken. "She died last week, Uncle
Hiram, and when she was dying she told
me to come to you. She sent you her
dearest love, regretting keenly-"
"Humph!" said the merchant "Of
course I'm sorry she's dead, but it's
years since l saw her, and the loss
doesn't come on me as keenly as on you.
Mary was good woman, little senti-
mental, perhaps, and always talking
about affection, honor. truthfulness. and
that sort OF thing, but she meant well, I
don't doubt How many children did
your parents leave?"
II was their only child, Un,le Hiram,
save the one who died"
"Ah. yes," and the merchant yawned
II have lost sight Of my sister during the
past few years. 1t is true. l received
letter in which she said her husband was
dead, but never found time to answer
it. My business cares have always been
heavy. 1 visited your parents in Ingle-
helm ten years ago, when you were
mere child. They were very prosperous
in those days-owned grocery store.
with houses and lots horses, and so
forth Your father had few expenses IN
that little village. I suppose, Elie, you
have inherited handsome proparty?"
"Quite the contrary, uncle. My father
made some investments which turned
out badly, including his Joint purchase
with you Of those wild lands on the Mus
selshell River, IN Montana He was
also burned out and failed in business
three months before he died"
@Ah, failed, did hep" said the mer-
chant, cheerfully. "Was it bad fail
ure?"
alt swamped US completely, uncle
left US in poverty"
Hiram Skidder stared amazed.
"What! Eh?" he gasped. "Poverty?"
@When the debts were paid we had no
home and only five hundred dollars in
money"
"The debts paid?"
ayes, uncle Every debt was paid.
My father taken i'll, fingered three
months, then died, but when he died he
owed no man cent" said Ellie proudly.
HNo widow or orphan, no trusting
tradesman, no one whomsoever. can say
that my father every cheated him or her
OF their rightrul dues"
"But, God bless my soul" calculated
Hiram Skidder. "Was the man mad?"
Ellie 'ooked surprised.
"My -vher was an honest man, sir
that was all"
"And your mother was left in pow
erty?"
@Yes, sir: but it was an honorable
poverty. She had little money left
after father died. We hired two rooms,
and got work to do. I had received a
good education ut the village academy
l mean good for my years. said Efie
,nodestly-"and I became a clerk in the
village book store. I managed to pro-
vide for my mother while she lived.
After her burial had only $50 remain
ing"
"A beggar!" muttered the merchant
"A regular beggar!"
Effie failed to catch this comment
"The bookseller had no further need
of my services" she resumed, "his son
being about to become partner with
him. And mother, when dying, told me
to come to you, Uncle Hiram"
"Very convenient for you, no doubt
But have large and expensive family
of my own-especially son and daugh-
ter who would bankrupt the biggest
millionaire on earth If left to their own
devices. Poor people have singular
fondness, I've noticed, for saddling their
offspring upon somebody else. T don't
see that can do anything for you. It's
absurd for girl Of your Size and educa-
ton to think of settling yourself as
pauper relation OH me. 1t can't be done,
my dear young woman"
The girls face flushed hotly.
"You are mistaken, SIR" she said, with
a dignity beyond her years. u want to
pay my way I want work. I came to
ask situation as a clerk in your store"
"lf l took in everybody who asks me
for c!erkship," returned the merchant
testify, II should soon be l., the poor
house. There is no vacancy in my es-
tablishment. My clerks arc used to my
ways, and l can't turn them off even to
make an opening for YOU"
Tho girls face looked blank.
"Do you refuse to receive me into
your services, Uncle Hiram?" she asked.
II do not want any favor, only chance
to earn my living. Twill work just as
the others do, and receive the same
pay"
sYou are very condescending," sncered
the merchant. "But the long and short
of the whole matter is, l have no place
for you!"
mo place for me in your house? No
place for me in your store?"
@You seem to understand me. have
NO place anywhere for you"
The girls countenance plainly eX.
pressed her surprise, indignation, and
wounded feeling
Wouldn't cousin Hilda like me fol a
companion?" she asked.
aNo: and if she would I couldn't con.
sent to anything of the kind. She has
too many companions already. Be-
silcs, she's going out of town."
"Will you at least give me money
enough to take me out to Montana 10
my other uncle, jeremiah Skiddcr," pur-
sued Ellie.
@No, ElGe; and that would be very
bad move for you. Your father and ]
sold our lands on the Musselshell to
Perry Wynans, my cashier, for almost
nothing, because they were reported
worthless, and hence you have no re-
sources in that direction. Your other
unc.e' is lazy, shiftless, lying vaga-
bond, and one OF the meanest men I've
ever encountered"
Then you refuse to interest yourself
in any way for me, uncle Hiram" in
quired Ellie.
81 can't do otherwise" replied the
merchant. at was your fathers place
to provide for you. I don't wish to
comment upon his failure in business
and neGlecting to provide for his family;
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