The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-11-17


and determination which had won for him
the respect OF men who were too apt to
regard piety as synonymous with eifemi-
macy, he attacked Scott i'll his own house
What he said has not been recorded, but
it is to be feared that it was part of his
sermon. When he had concluded, Scott
looked at him, not unkindly, over the glass
es of his bar, and said, less irreverently
than the words might convey: Young
man, l rather like your style: but when
YOU knew York ard me as well as you do
the Creator, it'll be time to talk"
And SO the feud progre sscd; and so, as
in more illustrious examples, the private
and personal enmity OF two representa-
tive men led gradually to the evolution OF
some crude. half-expressed principle or be-
lief. 1t was not long before it was made
| evident that those beliefs were identical
with certain broad principles laid down by
the founders of the American Constitu-
ton. as expounded by the statesmanlike A
or were the fatal qucksands, on which the
| Ship of State might be wrecked, warn
inglv pointed out by the eloquent Il. The
practical result of all which was the noml-
nation of York and Scott TO represent the
opposite factions OF Sandy Bar iii legisla-
tive councils.
For some weeks past, the voters OF
Sandy Bar and the adjacent camps had
been called upon, in large type, 10 RAJ
LYi' In vain the great pines at the cross
roads-whOse trunks were compelled to
bear this and other legends-moaned and
protested from their windy watch-towers.
But one day, with fife and drum, and
flaming transparency, procession MED
| into the triangular grove at the head OF
the gulch The meeting was called to or
| der by Colonel Starbottle, who, having
/ once enjoyed legislative functions, and be-
| inc vaguely known as war-hOrse," was
/ considered to be q valuable partisan OF
York. He concluded an appeal for his
friend with an enunciation of principle,
/ interspersed with one or two anecdotes,
/ SO gratuitously coarse, that the very pines
might have been moved to pelt him with
| their cast-off cones, as he stood there.
! But he created laugh, on which his can
didate rode into popular notice; and when
York rose to speak, he was greeted with
| cheers. But, to the general establishment,
! the new speaker at once launched into bit
ter denunciatiOn of his rival. lie not only
dwelt upol SCOTS deeds and example, as
known to Sandy Bar, but spoke OF facts
connected with his previous career, hithcr-
to unknown TO his auditors. To great
precision of epthet and directness of state
ment, the speaker added the fascination OF
revelation and exposure. The crowd
cheered, yelled, and were delighted; but
when this astounding philippe was con-
cluded, there was unanimous call Tor
Scott" Colonel Starbottle would have
resisted this manifest improperly, but lii
vain Partly from crude sense of justice,
partly from a mcancr craving for excite
ment, the asscmblagc was iniiexible; and
Sc1tt was dragged, pushed, and pulled upon
the platform.
AS his frowsy and unkempt beard APP
pcared above the railing, it was evident
that he was drunk. But it was also evil
dent, before he opened his lips, that the
orator of Sandy Bar-the one man who
could touch their vagabOnd sympathles
(perhaps because he was not above appeal
ing TO h.m)-stood before them A con-
sciousness of this power lent certain dig
nifty to- his figure, and am not sure but
that his very physical condition impressed
them as a kind of regal unbending and
large condescension. Howbeit, when this
unexpected Hector arose from the ditch,
Yorks myrmidons trcmbled.
There nought, gentlemen" said Scott
leaning forward on the railing" there's
nought as that man heZ said as isn't true.
| was run outer Cairo; did belong to the
Regulators; did desert from the army
did leave a wife in Kansas. But thars one
thing he didn't charge me with, and may
be, he's forgotten. For three years, gen.
tlemen, | was that mans pardner,-"
Whether he intended to say more, l can
not tell burst of applause artistically
rounded and enforced the climax, and vir-
tually elected the speaker. That fall H.
went to Sacramento York went abroad.
and for the first time in many years, dis
lance and new atmosphere isolated the
old antagonists
With little of change in the green wood,
gray rock, and yellow river, but with much
shifting of human landmarks, and new
faces in its habitations. three years passed
over Sandy Bar The two men, once SO
identified with its character, seemed to
have been quite forgotten. You will
never return to Sandy Bar" said Miss Fol
insbee the Lilly of Poverty Flat" on
meeting York in Paris" for Sandy Bar is
no more. They call it Riverside now land
the new town is built higher up on the
river bank. By-the-by, Jo' says that
Scott has won his suit about the 'Amity
Claim and that he lives in the old cabin,
and is drunk half his time. 0, | beg your
pardon" added the lively lady, as a flush
crossed York sallow cheek; but, bless
me, really thought that old grudge was
made up. I'm sure it ought to be.
1t was three months after this converse
ton, and pleasant summer evening, that
the Poverty Flat coach drew up before the
veranda of the Union Hotel at Sandy Bar
Among its passengers was one. apparently
a stranger, in the local distinction of we'll
ri n hno md ole flco vb0
demanded private room, and retired early
to rest. But before sunrise next morning
he arose, and, drawing some clothes from
his carpet bag, proceeded to array himself
in pair of white duck-trowscrs, white
duck -ovcrshirt, and straw hat When his
toilet was complete. he tied red bandanna
handkerchief in loop and threw it loose
ly over his shoulders. The transformation
was complete; as he crept softly down the
stairs and stepped into the road, no one
would have detected in him the elegant
stranger of the previous night, and but
few have recognized the face and figure of
Henry York, of Sandy Bar.
In the uncertain light of that early hour
and in the change that had come over the
settlement, he had to- pause for moment
to recall where he stood. The Sandy Bar
of his recollection lay below him, nearer
the river: the buildings around him were
Of later date and newer fashion. AS he
strobe toward the river he noticed here
school house and there church. A little
further on The Sunny South" came i'm
view-traDsfDrmed into n restaurant-its
gliding faded and its paint rubbed off. He
now knew where he was; and running
briskly down a declivity, crossed ditch,
and stood upon the lower boundary of the
Amity Claim.
The gray mist was rising slowly from
the river, clinging to the tree-tops and
drifting up the mountain side, until it was
caught among those rocky affairs, and held
a sacrifice to the ascending sun. At his
feet the earth, cruelty washed and SCARED
by his forgotten engines, had, since the
old days, put Oh show of greenness here
and there, and now smiled forgivingly up