Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-05-06

YORKVILLE
like to drop in informally and see Tom
entertain Daisy"
"Parkhurst," said Tom, taking a
chair opposite his lawyer, "1'm In a
bad flx."
"What's up now?"
"Oh, it's all on account Of that beast
" matrimonial tax. You know how i'm
possible it would be for me to pay 1t
this year.
"Not exactly impossible, VAIN
wright"
"Yes. impossible unless oblge my.
self to live without everything to which
I have been accustomed
"Would that be 80 hard"
"Is would be extremely unpleasant. F"
"But think to what use your money
would be put. You forget that this tax
is levied that women may have few OF
the luxuries which You have In such
abundance.
IT forget nothing Of the sort. OF
course I am willing to pay fair share
toward their support, but you know
that have always been taxed beyond
reason.
II think that there are few Of us who
would not find fault with almost any
rate Of taxation. Well, what can I do
for you"
First, forget what I have said il you
.can," replied Tom, with a sudden
change of tone. IA man must grumble
about something, suppose, or he would
not be human. It might as well be taxes
as anything else. presume ! shall be
taxed nearly &8,0 this year, shall ]
not2''.
II may get 1t reduced $40o or $500
by proving that your financial condition
does not warrant 80 LARGE rate OF tax
alton" -.
"That would really be. proclaimiDg
that I am hard up. No, don't do that.
II I must sink, prefer to sink with fly
ing colors."
'"Who is talking Of sinkingF''
II am. I tell yeu, Parkhurst, have
got myself in a tight place"
Chow so?''
Suppose I am obliged to fight a
breach Of promise case?"
"You can't afford it this year, my
boy. It would mean financial ruin"
ri am afraid I shall have to do it,
ruin or no ruin. I very foolishly pro-
posed to Ridgway's cousin and was ac-
cepted'-
"Do you refer to Miss Margaret
Blake?'
eyes. Do you know her?''
Every we'll Tom, you surprise me-
Why did You do that?"
II had not seen her.
II should think not !" This was said
with such energy that Tom was sure the
lawyer had no higher opinion of the
personal appearance Of the young lady
in question than he himself had formed.
Islander has always seemed to be a
friend whom one could trust" he said
apologetically. "We have told each 9th
or everything for the last five years. BE
saw that I was worried about that
beastly tax and sugge 'ted this plan as a
way out of the difficulty. He REPRESENT
ed Miss Blake as beautiful, graceful
everything, in fact, that man could
ask for except that she might be little
too high tempered"
"Ridgway always worshiped his
cousin. Still, I must say that you have
shewn surprising lack Of common
sense. Had you thought Of buying q
horse Of Ridgway you would have In
sisted on seeing it first. +"
II didn have much time, you know. I"
"Oh, we'll, I guess it is not as bad as
it might be-. Miss Blake is quite music.
al and she has very pleasant manners,
I believe; at least they seemed pleasant
in the country. I can hardly think Of
her as a city girl I have an idea that
she will appear very differently from
the girls whom You have usually danced
attendance upon.
ri am sure Of it," groaned Tom.
"Parkhurst. I'm thinking Of breaking
the engagement. +"
"Have you counted the cost?"
IL presume it will pinch me for a
year or two"
"Pinch you'll Man alive, it will ruin
your prospects for life. Not only will
there be heavy fine for the broken en-
gagement, but the breach OF promise
suit
perhaps Miss Blake will not sue'-
Don't flatter yourself. She will I
know her better than you do. She will
like nothing better. 1t will give her
just the advertisement she wants before
becoming a public singer.
"Does she mean to study for the
stage?"
$50 I am told"
Worse and worse" " Tom groaned
more dismally than before. BE looked
so wretched that the lawyers heart be-
came almost sympathetic. There was
silence between the two men for several
minutes. Then Parkhurst said seriously
II don't believe I should break that
engagement if I were you, Tom.
''How can I 60 Oh? l have virtually
promised to appear with her in society,
and if I should break even that part OF
the CONTRACT
"She has you in her power and no
mistake. If you lose everything, you
will be in a more unhappy condition
than you will should you play the de-
voted lover to Daisy. You may be
chaffed for your odd preference, but II
you carry yourself we'll it will only be
considered one of your oddities, while
If You throw your property away you
will not be considered worthy even SO