Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-08-04
CHAPTER XIII.
MRS. MEAD RETURNS TO GREYSTONE.


"I know I'm doin' right Niver could I
bold up my head if they got saying it were
Judith Mead as helped Michaers girl to room
away and leave her character behind her,
said Mrs. Mead to herself as the wagon
drove off; and upon loosened truss of hay she
sat, right in tho center Of the vehicle. staring
out of the shadow at the prntty | tile inn
that was dropping belind.
It was eleven o'clock when they arrived at
the top of the High street Of Greystone.
"Thisll do, mister" exclaimed Mrs. Mead,
who had no opinion Of Johnny as d driver,
and was weary of the jolting inflicted on
her, and the miserably slow way they made;
aye needn't go no further"
Johnny, however, refused to take any
notice of her request There was an ale
house some distance down the street, and not
until the wagon was abreast of it did he cry,
"Whoa" Then dropping from his perch,
with trihe OF briskness In the action, he
came round to the back of the cart and
said, aye can get down here if ye lo:ke.
The old woman scrambled down as best
she could, and Johnny looked on with grin
at her boots. Thea correcting his smile as
she faced round upon him. he said:
"This here's the Wheatsheaf, and the fiavey
in the liquor is Us foine as though 'twar all
room stool"
"Ye're welcome to drink Us much as iver
they'll trust ye with" replied Mrs. Mead
tartly
"Aren't ye goin' to stand summatT cried
the man.
ayes, half pint O vinegar, if yere good
to drink it." answered the old woman.
"Go along. or I'll get ye drownt for a
WITCH" shouted the disappointed Johnny;
and off he went, chuckling audibly.
Not ten yards, however, could she go with
out meeting an acquaintance. Who should
this be but old Mrs. BrufP. going to her snuff
shop in George street, with her dinner in
paper parcel
"Good mornin', Mrs. Mead. How nre
you? IT'S all age sin l seen ye my way"
ann middlin' well, thank Zee, Mrs. Brutf
As to comm your way, what hath snuf 70
say to a lone o!d cratur' that counts her val
ley in fardens! The flies, they do tickle
truly Them and the dogs knows what's
good" exclaimed Mrs Mead, with glance
at the paper parcel "And doth not the par
son say that prosperity draws strange things
to it,"
"Ye're alters quizzing, Mrs Mead. Pros
perity, indeed! Five and fourpence was my
airnings last week; scarce three loaves in it
thanks to them wagabone French, as It's a
mussv for them amt man."
"Wcll, and ye give me no newss That two
gossips should roast i this heat with nothing
to say! But they're wonderful liars i Grey
stone," said Mrs. Mead
"News-to thee" crel Mrs. Bruff, with q
ludicrous toss of the head. "Why, here l
stand for truth; T., as you say, they're
dreadful liars i Greystoae."
"The truth O what:'
"But you know" exclaimed Mrs. Bruf.
looking at her old companion with absurd
incredulity in her face.
"I do not know" replied Mrs. Mead, with
the eagerncss of born gossip. II am this
minute arrived from Winston. and If any
thing hath happ'd Pm as strange to 1t as
unborn infant"
"Why, then" said Mrs. Bruff, speaking
slowly, and with evident sense Of superiority,
OTIS everywheres towd that Mike Strang-
fields wench hath run away for shame q
the wrong done her by DR.. Shaw's son. But
that's not it, neither Not twenty minutes
since l met Deacon Skelton, who says to me,
is it true, Mrs. Brutf. that my brother
Strangfield is dead! The Lord forbid l
says Il hope not, Mr.. Skelton' Pm afeard
he is, then,' he says. Jim Mason, he says,
him as keeps the Blue Posteses, had the
news from Tom Ratiles, as is cousin to the
Strangfelds' servint; Polly her name is
She was sent for the doctor, but came fust
in fright to her mother-who's kept her bed
sin April. poor wretch-an' says that
Strangfeld's fell down in fit, and's dead
man. Lord bless me. sir! says /"
"Thats news indeed!" exclaimed Mrs
Mead very pale, and catching up her dress
"If it's true, it's as strange a visitation as
any that iver read of in Holy Writ Good
by to- ye. You've put me in hurry. Mrs
Bruf. Lord save us! what wonderful things
happen in this life"
She was limping rapidly away before Mrs
BrufH could return her farewell
She was too experienced gossip herself to
believe in the accuracy of any story related {;
but then, likewise, she we'll knew that almost
never does any story get abroad without
foundation They may say there's fame