Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-08-12
The Sturp Teller.
ADVENTURE OF CAPTAIN POTTS.

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ADVENTURE OF CAPTAIN POTTS.
| was fishing the v -one cold day in March,
To stand up to ones hips in water on such day,
welding ones rod with benumbed fingers, shows
one an enthusiastic lover of the gentle art. And
such l was, and for once had got hold of a good
time The water was just the right height and
color; the wind was cold but not too cold for the
trout, and blowing down the stream, raising nice
curl on the water, bu. not strong enough to prevent
my throwing my fly right in the teeth oft. [ was
fishing up the river from Gladwy, and at every
other cast rose good fish, and generally brought
him to basket. After three o'clock they rose no
more, and whip as would | could not stir fin.
was not sorry then, when the next reach OF the
river brought me in view of the handsome stone
bridge which spanned the v, and which
knew carried the high road which led to the mar
ket town of Llanywn. Thereupon | emerged on
to dry land, and, taking off my wading boots and
ainging them over my shoulder, lit my pipe and
started at smart pace on my way to Llanywn. l
was very tired, but very happy, for had good
basket of fish, and my opportunities Of fishing be-
ing rare, appreciated my luck accordingly. After
walking about mile, the gloom of evening draw
ing on and the hills seeming to close in upon me in
mysterious shadows, l heard behind me the beat
of hoofs and the rattle of wheels, and presently
overlook me spanking mare, drawing dog cart,
wherein was seated a Unlocking man, with broad,
good .humored face, wearing brown great coat.
He pulled the mare up sharp, and shouted out III
you are going to Llanywm, III give you hit ~
Nothing 10th, scrambled into the dog-cart, while
the mare executed pas seul on her hind legs, and
away we went. We were soon at 1lanywm, neu-
traltnted Welsh village, consisting of long strag
Cling street of novels, a big hotel, the Prince
Llewellyn, jutting cut into the middle thereof,
rugged little church, a dozen public houses, and
half dozen dissenting chapels. At the Prince Lie
wellyn my friend pulled up. "Come and have
some beer? The home -brewed is capital. "Dau
qlassiaa da c,crac Annie, darling, to the pretty
Cambrian waitress. The beer really was good !;
we drank to our respective healths after the kindly
Celtic fashion, and struck up friendship cement
ed by other two glasses of 'cwrw." We agreed
to dine together tsix; and while my friend, whose
name found was Roberts, went to transact his
business 1 took stroll round the town and called
upon the local Aymaker, fisherman and barber, to
talk over the fishing and.lay in stock of flies. [
found myself at six with an excellent appetite at
Prince Lewellyn. Mr.. Roberts was punctual, and
we did Justice to the broied trout, saddle OF Welsh
mutton and grilled chicken, which formed our re-
past, washed down by famous home-brewed ale
Dinner finished, there being no other guests in the
cofee-room, we lit our pipes, brewed some whiskey
punch, and began to talk of fish over the fire.
Roberts, found was thorough fisherman and
naturalist and keen sportsman. We discussed the
merits of "all the streams which flow in Waes
of all the flies which cock their tails till we tn
ished sundry tumblers Of punch.
"Do YOU know" said Roberts, 'you remind me
of friend of mine so much, really thought you
were the very man when l came up to you on the
road, Potts his name was-Captain Potts; he
was London man: perhaps you know him.
''No, didn't know him
"Ah! he was one of the Pottses who smashed
50 awfuIy some years ago." said my friend, indul
ging himself with loud gufaw at his joke. You
remember the great failure of Potts, Pumpkins d
Gone. the bankers, of course? Well, this Potts
was nephew of Potts-Sir Tin Potts. you know
knew nothing of this though when | first met
Young Potts I met him on the river fishing. lie
was good fisherman; but you Engllshmen don t
often do much on our rivers, and then you go home
and say there are no fish in them Well, l gave
him some wrinkles which he pro6ted by and we
cot TO be fast friends. We've nothing to do; so
draw up to the fire, and I'll tell you story about
Potts and myself. call it the merciful dealing of
Providence with Roberts. You shall hear:
'I lived in this town some ten years ago, had
lust married, and had lately commenced practice
as Solicitor. I had been articled here, spending
the last year of my time in London with Fudge d
Frizzleum, of Lincoln's lima great chancery and
agency firm, as l dare say you know. My old
master, John Jones, was just dead, and thought
there was good opening here. But l didn't lind
business come in fast You see there isn't much
litigation in these parts The big swells are in the
hands of their London lawyers; and if a poor free
holder wants bit of money, he'll borrow it on a
note of hand from neighbor, without regular
mortgage deed, and it isn't often that any land
changes hands; and then | was the only lawyer in
the place. and that was against me. Still had all
there was to be got | was clerk to the magistrate,
clerk to the highway, clerk to the commissioner OF
this or that but these things, although they sound
large, don't bring in much. Well, what with fur,
nishing my house and Office, and so on, Id spent
the little money | had, and had to borrow some
still knew I should come right in time, and my
wife, though young was capital manager, and
would make crown 60 as far as pound.
However, was very much pleased when my
eighteenth cousin, Watkins Williams Watkins, a
man who had always been very friendly to me in a
naughty, distant sort of way, commanded my at
tendance at Wyddyllum Castle He told me that
her Majesty had insisted on his accepting the oner-
ous but dignfed post of High Sheriff of the
county, and that he, w. w. W., had gracously
determined to appoint me under Sheriff. He was
also pleased to invite me to luncheon and among
the distinguished party at the castle found an ac
ouaintance, Captain Potts, who, with Lady Laura
Potts, his wife, was on visit there. Potts was
not one of those fellows who are dcvsh friendly
by the riverside, and deuced cold in society," llc
came forward at once to claim my acquaintance
and introduced me to Lady Laura delightful lit
tie woman, regular little fairy, with such tin,
hands and feet and little nez retonsse, and spark
ling eyes, and such smile She made slave o
me at once (of course subject to my allegiance t(
nv Mary Jane). went home much pleased a
nv reception and at the appointment had rccelv
II l. ,A,,lk L