Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-05-22

pleted my packing. l made sure that no.
body would be stirring in the house at that
early hour, and at any rate the ladies would
be deep in their feather-beds. I was delib-
Grating whether I should bravely shoulder
my portmanteau or leave it to be sent after
me, when the door burst open, and to my
immense CONSERVATION, in strobe Nimrod, a
brace of dueling pistols in her hand.
"Merciful Heavens" said I to myself
'torture begins again. 1t must be owned
that these amiable demons 90 to work early"
Without salution or ceremony Nimrod
strobe up to me.
"Your conduct last night" she said,
'your ill-treatment of my sisters property,
and barbarity of several of her pets, are an
insult to the family and demand atonement.
I have taken the business into my hands
We will exchange Shots"
care you out of your mind?" cried l.,
impatiently.
"You will soon see that" replied Louisa,
coldly and decidedly. "Answer me. Is it
you who broke the claw Of that rare speci-
men of the lobster tribe? Is it you who
threw the horned beetle with such violence
against the wall that the poor creature is still
unable to walk or fly? And are you the de-
linquent who upset the cases in which colo
nies of spiders, earwigs, and centipelcs had
long led tranquil and happy life? DoyOu
confess all these ofences?"
My politeness was gone. had come to
consider Nimrod as man, and should as
soon have thought of putting on white kid
gloves to saddle horse, as of using towards
her that subdued tone and those guarded
expressions one unusually adopts with the
gentler sex.
"AIay the devil fly away with the whole
brood!' cried |, perfectly exasperaed at
being called to account for my defence against
the menagerie.
"Follow me, sir" said Louisa; "such cx-
pressions as these can he washed out only
with blood. Come, sir
"Nonsense I replied; 81 do not fight
uuels Wltn young laQlcs.
"ITa." cried Nimrod, stepping up close
to me, with raised pistol and an unwholc-
some sparkle in her eye "Nonsense, did
you say? Afraid, suppose. But it won't
do. Follow me, sir"
81 tell you again that l will not. How
can I answer to God and my conscience for
having levelled pistol at you %
"Need not to level it without you choose.
Fire in the air. I am the agglieved party
and will fire at YOU"
"a thousand thanks"
"For the last time I ask if you will fol-
low me? If not, I declare you the greatest
coward that ever trod the earth and called
himself man."
"As you please"
"Yes, but that is not ALL You shall car
ry away mark that will remind you, your
life long, of your conduct this day.
"A mark" said I to myself; "what does
the assassin mean? She is capable Of any
crime" And 7 confess felt uneasy. LOU
lisa came nearer and nearer, herpistol raised,
her corntenance threatening. In her eye
there was something deadly and alarming
I began to retreat. As drew back, she
advanced, taking step for step with me, her
pistol aimed at my head, her finger, as it
seemed to me, actually pressing the trigger.
I could bear it no longer.
"Fiend &" I exclaimed, "for Heavens
sake leave ME in peace. am about to quit
this inhospitable house."
"You are going away ?" cried Louisa, in
strangely joyful tone, and sinking the muz-
zle of her pistol.
81 heartily wish I had never come," was
my answer; "nor would I but for my uncle's
desire"
"Speak the truth" said Louisa, resuming
her threatening tone. at was not your un-
cle's desire alone, but views of your own,
that brought you to Wiesenthal. You wish
ed to marry me or one of my sisters"
"Good Heavens" I exclaimed, ''marry
you? I should as soon think of marrying
Minnie rifle. Never dreamed Of such a
thing, l assure you. Besides, Lam engaged
to be married already"
"What!" cried Louisa perfectly overjoyed
And she threw the pistol away, and herself
almost into my arms. "What you are en-
gagged to be married ? Why did you not
say so before?"
81 was not asked the question:" replied
I, quite aback by the sudden embrace and
change of mood.
"You would have saved yourself deal of
unpleasantncss, poor fellow !" continued
Louisa. 81 would not have shot at you, nor
would Ernesine have tormented you with
her snake, nor Emily have let your blood,
nor drawn your tooth"
sI should have been well pleased to have
been spared the last operation" said 7.
"You would have found us all very amia-
bic, good tempered girls"
81 have no doubt of it, since you say So;
but I really do not understand"
I will explain" said the transformed
Nimrod, who each moment became gentler
and more charming at is secret; but
we, too, are engaged to be married"
"All threew
"All three Notwithstanding our rather
masculine tastes, we are women at heart"
81 am glad to hear it."
care you? And surprised, too, appa-
rently. Well never mind; you will learn to
know us better. But our father, kind and