Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-02-17
AY. FEBRUARY II, 1876.

sign-board bearing the inscription, "Gold
Brick Hotel-Mrs. Mundy," in struggling
black letters about foot long.
This woman stood with her arms akimbo-
and such arms!-watching Picciola with
much apparent curiosity and interest as she
drew near. A weather.beaten, homely face
she had, of the unmistakable lower. class
Irish type but gleam of genuine kindliness
and good-humor in her small light.blue eyes
encouraged the girl to ask her if she would let
her rest for short time in her house, as she
had come long way and was very tired.
Crest! Bless you, av coorse yemayp was
the hearty response. "Come in, come in, me
darlint. Judy Mundy wouldn't be refusin'
ye the shelter of her roof, and bit Of dinner,
besides, if ye're wantin it: I guess ye're hun
cry as we'll as tired, to judge from yer looks. /"
$50 1 am" said Picciola "but; have moth
ing to pay for meal with"
"Pay, indade-did l Ak ye for the payf"
rejoined the hospitable lady. "When bring
ye the bill, thin ye may refuse to settle it.
Set ye down there on the sofy, while fix ye
up nice little male, such as will rejoice the
heart of ye to partake Of"
Picciola sank, gladly, upon the "sofy"-a
hard and rudely constructed settee, with a
Aimsy apology for red cushion upon the seat,
and watched, with interest, the proceedings of
Mrs. Judy Mundy, as that worthy individual
hustled about, first mending the fire with the
aid of broken tongs, then setting thereon
an enormous kettle of water and frying.
pan containing some slices of meat. While
these were in preparation, she brought another
frying.pan, stirred away vigorously for half
a minute, at a mixture in an earthen dish,
then proceeded to make plateful of "slap-
jacks" tossing them up in the pan and catch
ing them on the reverse side with cool dex-
terity quite unattainable by any but prac-
ticed hand. The water having boiled, she
made some "tay," and the meat and the slap
jacks being now quite ready for consumption,
placed the whole array on table, set chair
in front of it, and with satisfied and trium.
phant expression, invited Picciola to make a
start"
II defy me inimies to say that can't cook
good male on short notice." she remarked,
vigorously wiping her crimson countenance
with a colored cotton handkerchief as she
spoke. "Don't be bashful, deary, but ate as
much as ye can it II do ye good, and ye can
talk afterward."
Thus admonished, the weary girl partook
thankfully of the refreshment offered her,
which, though somewhat coarsely prepared,
was by no means of kind to be despised, es-
cially with hunger for sauce. Mrs. Mundy
stood by, delighted at the disappearance of
the viands, as testimony of the skill in cook.
ery whereof she had boasted and kept pilng
fresh supplies on the plate of her guest, until
the latter declared that she had eaten as much
as she possibly could, and begged her to re-
4 frain. ...--.--..--~--,------- s.... ...-.-
"There now! Don't ye feel better ?" asked
the hostess of the "Gold Brick" kindly pat
ting her on the shoulder. eyer cheeks look
pumped out, to my eyes, a!rsa3y."
"Indeed, do feel BETTER" repi;sd Picciola,
"and 1 am so much obliged to you for your
kindness"
"Not at all, at all It wouldn't be in Judy
Mundy's heart to turn away weary traveller
from her door; above all, such slinder bit of
a thing as yerself Where do you come from,
and where are ye journeyin' to now, if
may ak YEP
II have come long way, FROM a valley
over on the other side of the mountains, and
have been walking for two days. 81 don't
know yet how far I may have to CO."
"And are ye all alone, darlintF Amt ye
afraid 70 walk so far through these wild places
by yerself'"
"Sometimes I am little afraid; not often" I"
"Ye re journeying to meet some frinds, it's
likely%
NO. am not going to meet any friends
at least, none that I know of" said Picciola,
hesitating. She was wondering how far she
might venture to conide in the landlady, and
whether it would be advisable to tell her her
story or not Perhaps she might learn some
thing from her of Alssquez; yet she feared to
make inquiries too openly, lest she might, in
some way, Illustrate her own object in doing
so. Mrs. Mundy's curiosity, however, was
fully aroused. The appearance of young,
beautiful and unprotected girl in "Cayote
Camp" was circumstance too unusual, Gn.
deed, it might be said, one totally without
precedent) not to excite wonder; and she now
brought all the ingenuity of her nation into
play to obtain the information for which she
thirsted, in regard to the object of Picciola's
journey.
"And yer people must be very rash, ma
vourneen, to sind ye off alone in this man
ner. Sure and was there none older than yer
self to undertake this toilsome march? ?"
II have no relations" said Picciola. IL
have lived for more than eighteen months
with lady who takes care of me-"
"And ye're not, runnin' away from her now,
avick, sure!"
"No, indeed am only going on an errand
for her. She is as good and kind as she can
be-"
"Ah!" said the puzzled landlady. Then
trying new tack, she resumed, "Did l un-
derstand ye to say ye had still long distance
to go?"
Il don't know exactly how far it may be.
The truth is, I am trying to hear Of some