Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-02-07

say he'd been on it fortnight. He's got down,
now about as low as he can get and live, and
I guess he'd get sober in aday or rtwos"
"But where does he get his liquor" asked
the questioner. - ~
"You must ask Mike FingaI .hatquestion,"
was the others answer. ,g......
All eyes were turned upon the landlord, who
now stood behind the bar. He was. evidently
troubled at this turn, and he moved uneasily
upon his high stool. -
"Mike Fingal," spoke she teamster, edo
you sell that man rumF'
eyes, 1 Dc" the fellow replied with an ef-
fort. "Don't I sell you the same when you
call for it?"
"But aren't poor drunkard, and you
know it. That aren't no excuse. Mike,
think you'd do it.
"But when he wants rum he's bound to
have it, and if I didn't let him have it some
body else would" the host said. -
"Now that's old, energetically pursued the
teamster. "On the same ground you might
take pistol and 60 out and rob folks, because
if you didn't, somebody else would. But that
isn't here nor.there. The thing is, l don't
see what kind Of heart you can have to do
it."
The conversation was here interrupted by a,
sound from the street. The wind was still
bowling madly, and the snow was driving a.
gainst the windows, but above the voice Of the.
storm came the wailing of some one in dis
tress. 1t was surely the cry Of a child for:
help. We were all upon our feet in a mo-,
ment, and the lantern was quickly lighted;
My hat was already on my head--or cap, rath-
er-and I went out with the rest. All went
out but the landlord and his wretched custom,
er who occupied the settee. 1t was some mo-.
ments before could see at all, the snow came.
driving in my face so; but soon managed to
turn my head, and then went on. The wind,
as it came sweeping out through the passage
to the stable, had piled up a huge bank of
snow across the street, and in this bank We.
found female with child in her arms. She.
had not seen the huge barrier of snow in the
dark, and had got completely fast. She seem.
ed faint and frozen, but yet she clung to her,
child. The man who carried the lantern held
it up to her face. The features were half COW.
cred with snow, but the momentory glare of
the lamp was sufficient to reveal tome face
of more than ordinary beauty.
"Heavensw uttered the men, as he lowered
the lantern, and caught the woman by the
arm "Kate Lockland, is this you7" But
without waiting for her to reply he turned to
the rest of us and cried, "Here! take the child,
some of you, and I'll carry the mother"
The child was quickly taken, and ere many
moments we were back in the bar-room with
our burden. The two were taken to the fire,
and the snow brushed from them.
"Who's them ?" asked the host.
"Only Kate Lockland and her child" an
swered the fat man.
"What dye bring 'em in here for?" the
host uttered, angrily. "Why didn't ye take
'em to yer own house, jim Drake"
"Cause my own house is too far"
The host was coming around the bar, and
his eye was flashing with mingled shame and
anger, but before he got fairly out, the stout,
burly teamster who had said go much, started
up.
"Mike Fingal," he uttered, in tones such
as only man confident of his own physical
power can command, "don't ye put finger
on that woman. Don't ye d. it. II I'VE do III
crush ye as I would pizen spider"
Fingal looked the. speaker in the eye for
moment, and then, muttering something about
a mans having right to do as he pleased in
his own house, he skunk away behind his bar
again.
I now turned my attention to the woman and
her child. The former was surely not yet
thirty years of age, and she was trulya beauti-
full woman-only she was pale and wan, and
her eyes were swollen. She trembled fearful
ly, and could see her bosom heave as she
tried to choke the sobs that were bursting forth.
The child was girl, and about four years old.
She clung close to her mother, and seemed
frightened into forgetfulness Of her cold fp-
gers and feet. =
"Kate Lockland, what in Heavens name
are ye doing out this night?" asked Jim
Drake. ....
30, I was trying to find your own house,
Jim Drake, for knew you'd give me shelter.
But 1 got lost in the snow. / wouldn't have
cried out in front of this place, but my poor
child did. Jim Drake, have ye seen George?
O, God have mercy on him Poor, dear
George! He don't know we are freezing and
starving, in our own home No fuel-no food
--no-no-"
She stopped and burst into tears, and in
moment more George Lockland leaped to his
feet
"Who called me?" he cried, gazing wildly
around.
Katesprang instinotively, Butere she reach
ed her husband she stopped. The man Saw
her, and for while he was riveted to the spot.
Soon be gazed around upon the scene about
him, and gradually look Of intelligence re-
leved the utter blank of his hitherto pale and
maniac face.
"No fuel no tood!" he whispered, gazing
now upon his wife. "starvingl God have
mercy WHO was it said those words?-
Where am II"
George George p cried the wife, now
rushing forward and aiuging her arms about
her husbands neck. "Don't YOU know mel"
"Kate No fire ?-there's fire 7"
I