A Ghetto Violet | Page 7

idea. They had taken no previous counsel together, yet,
upon this point, both were in perfect accord,--they would prefer to be
left in their old home.
"When father comes back again," said Eph-raim, "he must know where
to find us. But to you, Uncle Gabriel, he would never come."
The uncle then insisted that Viola at least should accompany him, for
he had daughters at home whom she could assist in their duties in the
house and on the farm. But the child clung to Ephraim, and with
flaming eyes, and in a voice of proud disdain, which filled the simple
farmer with something like terror, she cried:
"Uncle, you have enough to do to provide for your own daughters;
don't let me be an additional burden upon you; besides, sooner would I
wander destitute through the world than be separated from my brother."
"And what do you propose to do then?" exclaimed the uncle, after he
had somewhat recovered from his astonishment at Viola's vehemence.
"You see, Uncle Gabriel," said Ephraim, a sudden flush overspreading
his grief-stricken features, "you see I have thought about it, and I have
come to the conclusion that this is the best plan. Viola shall keep house,
and I... I 'll start a business."

"You start a business?" cried the uncle with a loud laugh. "Perhaps you
can tell me what price I 'll get for my oats next market day? A
business!... and what business, my lad?"
"Uncle," said Ephraim, "if I dispose of all that is left us, I shall have
enough money to buy a small business. Others in our position have
done the same... and then..."
"Well, and then?" the uncle cried, eagerly anticipating his answer.
"Then the Sechûs of our mother will come to our aid," Ephraim said
softly.
The farmer's eyes grew dim with moisture; his sister had been very dear
to him.
"As I live!" he cried, brushing his hand across his eyes, "you are true
children of my sister Gudule. That's all I can say."
Then, as though moved by a sudden impulse, he quickly produced,
from the depths of his overcoat, a heavy pocketbook. "There!"... he
cried, well-nigh out of breath, "there are a hundred gulden for you,
Ephraim. With that you can, at all events, make a start; and then you
need n't sell the few things you still have. There... put the money away...
oats have n't fetched any price at all to-day, 't is true; but for the sake of
Gudule's children, I don't mind what I do... Come, put it away,
Ephraim... and may God bless you, and make you prosper."
"Uncle!" cried Ephraim, as he raised the farmer's hand to his lips, "is all
this to be mine? All this?"
"Yes, my boy, yes; it is a deal of money is n't it?"... said Gudule's
brother, accompanying his words with a sounding slap on his massive
thigh. "I should rather think it is. With that you can do something, at all
events... and shall I tell you something? In Bohemia the oat crop is,
unfortunately, very bad this season. But in Moravia it's splendid, and is
two groats cheaper.... So there's your chance, Ephraim, my child; you
've got the money, buy!" All at once a dark cloud overspread his

smiling face.
"It's a lot of money, Ephraim, that I am giving you... many a merchant
can't lay his hands on it," he said, hesitatingly; "but if... you were to...
gam--"
The word remained unfinished, for upon his arm he suddenly felt a
sensation as of a sharp, pricking needle.
"Uncle Gabriel!" cried Viola--for it was she who had gripped his
arm--and the child's cheeks were flaming, whilst her lips curled with
scorn, and her white teeth gleamed like those of a beast of prey. "Uncle
Gabriel!" she almost shrieked, "if you don't trust Ephraim, then take
your money back again... it's only because you are our mother's brother
that we accept it from you at all.... Ephraim shall repay you to the last
farthing.... Ephraim doesn't gamble... you sha 'n't lose a single penny of
it."
With a shake of his head the farmer regarded the strange child. He felt
something like annoyance rise within him; an angry word rose to the
lips of the usually good tempered man. But it remained unsaid; he was
unable to remove his eyes from the child's face.
"As I live," he muttered, "she has Gudule's very eyes."
And with another thumping slap on his leg, he merrily exclaimed:
"All right, we'll leave it so then.... If Ephraim does n't repay me, I 'll
take you, you wild thing... for you've stood surety for your brother, and
then I 'll take you away, and keep you with me at home. Do you agree...
you little