The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1870-10-12


dashed over the ford. up the grav-
ely hill, and out into the dusty
perspective of the Wipgdam Road,
like one leaving an unpleasant
fancy behind him. The inmates
of dusty cabins by tho roadside
shaded their oyes with their hands,
and looked after him, recognizing
the man by the horse, and specu.
la,ing what 4" was mp with iO"man.
che Jack" Yet much Of ttIis in.
terest centered in the horse, in a
community where the time made
by " French Pete's mare, in his
run from the Sheriff of 'Calaveras,
eclipsed all concern i'm the ultimate
fate of that worthy.
The sweating f1aDks of his gray
at length recalled him to himself.
He checked his speed, and, turn.
ing INTO by.road sometimes us.
ed as a cut-off-trottcd lcisurely
along, the reins hanging lisllessly
from his fingers. AS he rode on,
the character of the landscape
changed, and became more pastor
al. Openings in groves of pine
and sycamore disclosed some rude
attempts at cultivation-a flower.
ing vine tra,led over the poi cl of
one cabin, and a woman rocked her
Graded babe under the roses of
another. A little farther on, Mr..
llamlin came upon some bare.leg.
ged children, wading in the vii
l"wy creek, and so wrought upon
them with a badinage peculiar to
himself that they were emboIden
cd to climb mp his horses legs and
over his saddle. until lie was tain
to develop an exagger. ted feroci,y
of demeanor, and TO escape, leav-
ing behind some kisses and coin.
And then, advancing deeper into
the woods, where all signs of liabi-
tation failed, he began to sing--up
lifting a tenor so singnlarly sweet,
and shaded by a palhos so subdu
ing and tender, that l wot the rob.
ins ana linnets stopped TO listen.
Mr.. Hamlin's voice was not cult
waited the subject OF his song was
some sentimental lunacy, borrow
cd from the negro Ministries, but
there was some occult quality of
tone and expression that thrilled
through all a spirit inexpressibly
touching. Indeed, ii was a won.
deriul sight to see this sentimental
blackleg, with pack of cards in
his pocket and u revolver at his
back, sending his voice before him
through the dim woods with a
plaint about his "Nelly's grave"
in way that overhowed the eyes
of the listener. A sparrow.hawk,
fresh from his sixth victim, possi.
bly, recognizing in Mr.. Hanllin a
kindred spirit, stared at him in
surprise, and WAS iain to confess
the superiority Of man. With
superior predatory capacity, he
couldn't sing.
But NJ. Hamlin presently found
himself again on the high.road,
and at his former pace. bitches
and banks of gravel, denuded hill
sides, stumps, and decayed trunks
Of trees took the place of woodland
and ravine, and indicated his APP
proach to civilization. Then q
church-steeple came in sight, and
he knew that he had reached home.
In few moments he was clattcr-
ing down the single narrow street,
that lost itself in a chaotic ruin of
races, bitches, aad tailings at the
foot of the bill, and dismonnscd be-
fore the gilded windows of the
Magnolia +" saloon. Passing
through the long barroom, he
pushed open a green-baize door,
entered dark passage, opened an.
other door with pass key, and
found himself in a dimly.iighted
room. whose furniture, though ele.
giant and costly for the locality,
showed signs Of abuse. The inlaid
centre-table was overlaid with
stained disks that were not con.
templated in the original design.
The embroidered arm chairs, were
discolored, and the greeu-velvet
lounge on which Mr.. Hamlin
threw himself was soiled at the
foot with the red soil of Wingdam.
Mr.. Hamlin did not sing in his
cage. He lay still, looking at a
highly colured painting above him,
representing young creature OF
opulent charms. 1t occurred to
him then. for the first time. that he
nd never seen exactly that kind
of a woman, and that, if lie should,
he wonld not, probably, fall in
love with her. Perhaps he was
thinking of another style OF beauty.
But just then some one knocked at
the door. Without rising, he pull
led a cord that apparently shot
back a bolt; for the door swung
nnn,, onA q, ,,a,, onfaroH