The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-04-23

resolution. On Williams right was seated
more commonplace miscreant, whose
coarseness Of appearance and conversation
betokened atrocity unredeemed by refine
ment, and whose name of Squabby (by
which his companions addressed him) was
not without certain pathological fitness
One Of these external indications Of charac
ter, which garments often convey, appeared
in the contrast afforded bv the dress of these
men; for while Bills shabby, scanty, and
close .buttoned black coat, rather exaggera'
ted the unfavorabe impression made by
his thin angular form and cadaverous coun-
| tenance. and seemed 10 show that he des-
pissed those little amelorations in costume
which are within reach of the humbest,
Squabby's gaudy wais,coat. and gorgeous
Je"eiry Of glass and copper, showed all the
inclination, without the power to be what
IN these latter days is denominated ~
swell" The word dandy, which, at the
! time speak OF, was the generic term for
all who cultivated ostentatiously, with
whatever degree Of success, the art of cos
tune, fails 10 convey the idea Of exuberance
aud foridity exI ressed in the newer appel
lation. Squabby, therefore, was a vulgar
swell
Their female companon-faded, though
still young-possessed, nevertheless, a face
whose expression frequently drew my gnze.
| This was owing not so much 10 her beauty
| which could never have been of a striking
character, as to the likeness she bore to a
young girl with whom | had some years
before been curiously, intimately, and most
romantically connected. All, Catharine
,yt,a, I r Al
past thy angel face, with the mild implor.
ing look last beheld there-imporing a
speedy return, where fate was even then
writing, with iron pen, the stern decree
that for me 10 thee there should be no re.
turn--even now, rs those ewes so beseech-
ingly beam on me through the distance Of
many lustres, my heart owns that there are
sympathies over which time has no control
That likeness, faint as it was, perhaps alto
ge.her fanciful, awoke feelings Which, AS
they arose, brought with them a crowd of
memcries-ani hence the charm which n
lace, TO others, perhaps, commonplace, had
for me, though there was nothing i'm the
manner, appearance, or conversation of this
young woman which distinguished her as
II any way very superior To the scene and
N''N S'N'SNJ IIle ltUUtE utlOlS nCT.
1t must not be imagined that we had
no other occupation in this dreary and ILL.,.
lighted apartment than that of looking at
each other. Another bottle, besides tha,
which oiticiated as candlestck, stood on the
table; or should rather say, paced round
II, for 1t seldom halted much longer than
was necessary for the filling Of the cracked
glass which stood before each OF us. Our
| liquor WAS port, a choice made at nv sup
geSton, and Long g.nosed Bill had conceded
with hearty cordiality which his appear
ance did not certainly promise, hut the mo.
| tive OF which | afterwards OWNED. He
hhd sent the girl out for II dozen bottles:
and though almost abstaining himself. and
restraining also the manifest inclination of
Squabby for the generous liquor, he press
ed II on me with a hospitality that seemed
incapable of being repreescd or chilled.
Meanwhile the conversation did not fac.
Squabby, finding in me an interested and
attentive auditor, talked much and loudly
but with n certain coar,enesS which would
have di-gu>Ied me had not his Ioouacity
| perpetually started subjects which the sag!,
ciOuS William treated with a mastery
terseness, such as | have seldom heard
equalIed. But the great charm Of his con
versation was It's mystery. The numerous
adventures in which he appeared To have
been engaged had neither beginning nor
end. Oh secret expeditions, of harbread;h
escapes, of rapid flights, there were sufficient
To set up a modern novelist for several sen
ons-but the spring and motive Of all these
were wanting. Why these expeditions were
planned, what Pursuers he had escaped from,
and why flight was necessary, were ques.
lions which had 10 call in my magma
tion and invention to respond to, and thus
To string on theories of my own the broken
links OF his narrative. Equally mysterious,
though more bosterous, WAS the conduct
OF Sqnabby, who frequently made Jest
ing illusions TO their peculiar vocation.
which, though to me utterly devoid of
meaning, caused cynical smile To fit
across the asIute physiognomy of his friend
while the woman responded with low and
musical laugh generally smothered in the
the corner of her shawl This mystery
yelling the subject of their conversation,
without cOrcealIng its main outlines. lent to
1t the interest which awakened and baffled
| curiosity has always excited in my mind
fl ON my earliest days Ny part was not, how.
ever, merely that of y listener or a guesser.
heSltated not to exchange sentiments and
experiences with these humble friends, who
granted me the same attention which in
my turn gave to them; and remember re.
gardng 1t rs a striking proof that no elo
quence, il genuine, is beyond the apprecia-
ton of the rudeSl minds, when on one oc.
casion, | having delivered magnificent
quotation IN nInnnner (as hatter myselD
to do full justice 10 its sonorous flow, and
having told them the words were those of
the great Burke, they heard his name with
startled interest, and were silent for some
moments after. However, now conjecture
there might be- other reasons for the agita
ton caused by that glorious name.
had drank probably about two bottles
of wine to my own share, Squabby nearly