Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-07-23

watched his proceedings.
Barney adjusted the dividers, tried then
to the scale, looked wise, shook his head
tried it again, and appeared pleased; the1
drew three concentric circles around cat
head. Between the circles were variou
strange figures of dragons, serpents, &c
While Barney was thus proceeding, to al
appearance totally absorbed in his work
Bills phiz began to elongate, and he go
nervous. A superstitious dread came owe
him and the others in the room. The 81
lence was so still that nothing could be heard
save the beatings of Bills heart and tn
moving of Barney's pencil over the paper
When Barney had them worked up to tn
proper point, he rose, and pointing his fin
ger slowly at Bill, said in sepulchral tones
civilian Garrison!"
Bill rose.
civilian Garrison, put your thumb ii
this magic circle on the cats head, and &C
knowledge it for your hand and SEAL"
Interpretations fears had him
and while he stood stupidity gazing at Bar
ney, his knees smote together.
"William Garrison, do you refuse to &C
knowledge this as your hand and seal?"
Bill muttered out something.
"Well," said Barney, "the bets lost
The five dollars is mine."
This brought Bill to his senses, and clap
ping his thumb on the cats head, he suns
out
"Consarn your pictur, this is my hanc
and seal Make the most of it,"
"All things work well" said Barney, with
great solemuity, folding up his paper ant
gathering his instruments. "Better Viii
liam Garrison to be drawn across the creek
by black cat, than to 60 through life with
an owls head upon yes and a horses tail be-
hind yes. I must ask the aid of the com
pany," says Barney. "The cat must be black
must be male cat, and the offspring of q
black cat. This feat can only be done when
the sun and moon are both below the hori'
zon."
The company dispersed, Barney to laugh
over the-matter, Bill to try and dispell the
gloomy feelings which clung to him. His
utmost exertions could not drive them off,
His superstitious nature fastened upon him
the belief that Barney was in partnership
with the devil Sleep fled from his eye-lids
The rustling of the leaves or bowling Of the
winds excited him. Barney had put the
comether on him. Everywhere he went he
heard tales of horror, witch craft, of demons
and ghosts. The children in the neighbor
hood every night went to bed in fear and
drew the covering over their heads.
No one now saw Barney smile. His hith
erto jolly face was solemn and mystiHed:::-
With his cats head, concentric circles and
strange devices he paraded the country in
search of the mystic cat. Black cats were
found, but the circles refused to recognise
them, and the superstitious said the cats
head in Barney's circles growled at them
Finally Barney procured his cat; none could
tell how or where. Terrible tales ofthe fire
in her eyes, her uuearthly wailings were told
and people come to the sensible conclusion
that Barney had got her from the devil, OIL
that she was witch. None of these rumor:
tended to settle Bills nerves.
On the appointed evening Bill, Barney
and many others appeared near the old schoo
house. Barney informed the crowd that il
any of them crossed the creek the devil woulG
tear them to pieces.
Bill took his seat at the root of tree, ano
with both hands firmly grasped the roots.
Barney fastened the rope securely around
Bills waist, crossed the creek, carrying the
rope beyond the creek across the fence neal
to thick clump of cedars. Barney had fas
tened the concentric circles enclosing the
cats head upon Bills breast, at which Bill
shuddered, for he said he heard it whine
He then drew three concentric circles on the
ground, with the same devices in them
around this he walked, muttering incanta
tious. Barney then fastened the rope to the
cat, and placed her in the circles.
All things being ready, Barney called out
"William Garrison, ye omadhoun bod luck
to yes but It's meself that'll tache yes what
it is to distarb a Philosopher. I'm about tc
make the black cat pull ye, ye deluhderins
spalpeen, across the creek, when acushla as
the cats discrimeDashin of baste, take
care that it does not make yes better &C
quainted with the divil. Are yes reddy?'
At this Bills breath came thick and fast
and he grasped with melancholy desperation
the roots of the tree.
Barney gave the cat lick, and CRIED
"Come Gomez when it plunged and squall
ed
Bill hugged the roots affectionately. Bar
ney whippid his cat, and cried several times
"Come!' but Bill didn't come. Barney now
talked Irish to his cat, walked around the
circles, saying loud enough for Bill to hea,
him:
''By these my hellish magic arts,
See the devil comes from the lower parts"
Still the cat seemed unable to stretch the
rope.
This threw Bill off of his guard, who be-
gan to think Barney was making fool Of
him. Maddened at the idea, Bill arose, anc
began to curse and swear violently y at Bar
ney. Seing this, Barney piled the cat with
Irish and hickory fast, and cried out:
"Now comew