The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-11-20
DCEESS.

| ElSle was SmOhluS Il IIdSEdul SuUdu
cigar. One glass and bottle were be-
fore Quillebert, who was doggedly
drunk. T4atiolais was received with
ominous c)ldness. No glass was Of
fered him. He lacked courage to ask
for one.
"LeoniLas, settling day has come, %
said Quillebert, with brutal abruptness,
terminating an embarrassing silence.
"What? How, Constant?' Latiolais
asked, shaking as if with an ague.
What? Your Indebtedness to me.
How? In money. Pay me the mon
ey."
"Now"
eyes, now. It is past due. You have
had more time than 1 ever asked Of a
creditor"
"But the notice is so short, Constant" !"
$50 is my time, Leonidas."
"My debt is large"
81 know that, to my sorroW.'
~ have not the money!
"Get it."
"Within what time"
"Thirty days."
Impossible"
"Then the property must answer"
"Oh, Constant, my friend, spare meT'
groaned the unhappy man.
"Leonidas, my very dear friend, I
have not time. My other dear friends,
Americans and Christians, are pressing
upon me inducements to return to
France which really cannot resist.
We are getting old, you and l. Just
think of it, am older than you! l
may not live to come back to this para
disc, and therefore my affairs here
must be closed up just as if 1 meant
not to come back. I really have not
the time to spare you, Leonidas." )"
Quillebert appeared to enjoy the pains
of his victim as much as he cid the
rum, which be quaffed at shortening
intervals, his insolence increasing with
each potation.
"Are you serious, Constant, and will
not pity for my grandchild move you?'
Il never was more serious In my life,
and nothing but death can move me.
At present, Leonidas, I enjoy perfect
health"
'sAly God! My God! Ny poor Estelle
must suffer want and hide her head in
shame for my disgrace. And there is
no escape, no hoper' The old mans
head was lowered, and his shaking
frame rocked to and fro.
"There is hope, there is escape" in
emphatic tone said Evariste, whose 81
lent presence had been forgotten by
Latiolais in his distress.
where? BY what means" cried the
latter, looking up with wonder and
wistfulness in his haggard face.
"Estelle can save you," Eyariste re-
piled.
"Estelle? My Estelle? Explain, my
dear young friend"
"Be calm, monsieur, and I will make
my meaning plain to you" EVariste
exemplifed his advice, being as un-
perturbed in manner and free from eX-
citement in speech as if he were dis
cussing persons and affairs remote
from his own interest. I'm the course
Of business with Quillebert have be-
come possessed Of portion Of your
obligations-namely, some Of your
notes, your granddaughter's. procura-
ton to you to contract de BITS for the
maintenance Of her property and au-
thorization to cancel her mortgage
against you so as to give first rank to
the security I hold. N. Quillebert has
determined to leave this country very
soon, and I appreciate the necessity
for haste. There must be mutual ac-
countings between him and me to ad-
just finally our joint ventures during
the past four years, some Of which
have been quite heavy. AS your notes
and their securities held by US two are
in the main concurrent, If he forecloses
I shall be compelled to do likewise.
I understand, Of course, you have not
the means of payment. The sale OF
surrender Of your property and your
granddaughters must follow pressure.
Now, 7 will purchase all your obliga-
tions which N. Quillebert has and de-
liver them, together with those which
are in my hands, to you, making you a
debtless, solvent man and reinstating
your granddaughter's estate on one
condition"
"And that is, monsieur"
"That Estelle becomes my wife with.
in month. You now understand that
Estelle, and she alone, can save you, u
Evariste concluded, as he had begun,
speaking coldly, deliberately, precisely.
"You are prince in generosity, my
dear friend. /. am overwhelmed by
your munifcence. You give me life,
peace and health, and in return can
give you only an old mans thankful
ness" Latiolais in transport of graf
itude rose and started to embrace Eva
riste, but in sheer weakness reeled and
would have fallen to the floor had not
the young man caught him and return
ed him to his chair.
collect yourself, monsieur. There Is
no occasion for demonstration" said
he dryly. "Do you promise Estelle's
consent?"
Certainly l do" he replied, half
weeping, half laughing. "She, dear
child, will be honored and overjoyed,
and she will be as grateful as l am.
To save her grandfather and become
the happy wife of the noble and great
hearted N. Oakfell. Ha, la, ha, ha:
Oh, promise, promise her consent"
Attend, monsieur. This is Nednes-
day. On Saturday next at o'clock l
will call on Mile. Latiolais and ask her
hand in marriage. Her answer will de-
eide the matter We have discussed to-
day"
"Win you not come in time to dine
with us?" said Latiolais almost affec'
tiolately.
"No; that can await her answer"
EYariste curtly replied.
- ,yr~4o